DIGITAL TALKING-BOOK MACHINES (DTBMs)

 

The digital talking-book machine (DTBM) is the centerpiece of the digital-based delivery system. A DTBM is used to play a digital book: the user loads a cartridge into a playback machine, then accesses and plays the content. DTBMs offer several advantages over older cassette machines, including smaller size, lighter weight, longer operating time on battery power, greater reliability, more durability, lower cost, and—in conjunction with DBs—improved audio quality and more rapid and comprehensive navigation of content.

The DTBM is about 6 inches wide by 9 inches long by 2 inches thick and weighs two pounds. The body of the player is grey to create maximum visual contrast between the background of the case and the colors of the controls. It can be operated on A/C power or on power from a rechargeable battery. The announcements played by the machine can be set for English or Spanish, and user guides in both print and braille will be provided in a plastic envelope with each unit. A user guide in audio format is stored on the DTBM, as is an audio library service guide. Further descriptions of the players' features may be found on the NLS web site.

Two models of DTBMs will be produced by the manufacturer, a standard model (DS1) and an advanced model (DA1). The advanced model is exactly the same size as the standard model, but has a second row of controls between the power, sleep, and volume controls and the speaker. These additional controls on the advanced player are for setting and retrieving bookmarks and for navigating.