Case studies
DAISY talking book players
DAISY players play DAISY audible books and replace the old audio books on cassette tape format. DAISY is an acronym standing for 'Digital Accessible Information System'. These digital reading systems help make audio books accessible to individuals with visual difficulties that affect their ability to read printed material.
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Help and advice
DAISY books can be obtained on CDs, DVDs, memory cards, memory sticks or downloaded. The book can be played on a standalone DAISY player, or by using DAISY software on a computer. Users of DAISY books can navigate through the recording/book by sections, sub-sections, chapter or pages. Bookmarks can be inserted at any point, and there is a 'resume' option which continues playback from the point the reader last reached, (rather than going back to the beginning which is what happens with conventional CDs).1,2
For details on DAISY software refer to the RNIB's guide).
Note that some CD players can play the audio content of a DAISY audio CD but that they will not give any of the navigation, bookmarking or other advanced features.
RNIB's Talking Book Service offers over 18,000 audio books, on DAISY CD paid for by annual subscription and delivered postage-free. They offer a DAISY player on loan for an additional subscription. Alternatively, if you wish to purchase a DAISY player read the RNIB guides to the DAISY format and Choosing a DAISY player.
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