The National Association of Radio Reading Services is considering changing
its name to the Association of Information and Reading Services as
distribution of audio content may increasingly be via cable, telephone
dial-in, or even the Internet.    The theme for the annual NARRS
convention is "The Digital Environment" for reading services.  More may be
read at http://www.ukans.edu/~arnet/narrs.htm

Anyone with experience with digital recording and distribution or with
opinions on how a reading service could use such technology should contact
RIS at 412 488-3944 or [log in to unmask]

and here is the meeting announcement


From [log in to unmask] Fri May  1 09:53:22 1998
Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 09:29:44 -0400 (EDT)
From: Cynthia S Paoletti <[log in to unmask]>
To: VIPACE LIST:  ;
Subject: VIPACE meeting, May 15

The monthly VIPACE meeting (the Visually Impaired Pittsburgh Area
Computer Enthusiasts group) is scheduled for Friday, May 15. Our starting
time has changed slightly to accommodate the university reservation
schedule. Therefore, the meeting time will be at 6:30pm until 8:30pm.

Where?
University of Pittsburgh
William Pitt Student Union, room 609
3959 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh PA (in the Oakland section of the city)

Presenter?
The following message explains the meeting agenda.

From: RIS David <[log in to unmask]>
To: VIPACE

Thanks for letting RIS (Radio Information Service) be a part of your
group's information distribution mechanism. This requested meeting offers
VIPACE an opportunity to get in on the ground floor (with your opinions)
about some exciting changes to come at RIS.

RIS is about to implement a change from storing its audio product on tape, to
storing it on PC hard drives.  I think you'll instantly realize that this will
make RIS audio product much more transportable in ways other than its FM-SCA
broadcasts.

RIS is very interested in building our computer based audio storage system
in a manner that will allow us to serve listeners better. To that end, RIS
asks to meet with your members and discuss how the audio will be put to
best use in digital format. RIS has some ideas already, and in fact are
already making plans on implementing the new system.

Before RIS finalizes those plans, we want the VIPACE group involved to
shape the usefulness of the new system -- as would best help us all. As
Dave Noble from RIS stated, "Let's keep this dialog going."


Everyone is invited to participate in sharing their ideas to help out with
the new changes of the RIS system. Dave Noble will be our guest from
RIS, and I hope we can make this an educational experience for all. And
please take note of the time-change which is a half-hour later than usual,
from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

Thank You Everyone,
Cindy