Radio Talking Book Service of interest

Check out the Radio Talking Book Service for Minnesota, and also see if there's an RTB in your area. Excerpt from Minnesota site:

Radio Talking Book ( RTB ) is a closed-circuit reading network broadcasting twenty-four hours daily to more than 7,500 handicapped persons (with a potential of 35,000) in Minnesota and South Dakota. Through satellite distribution, thousands of listeners nation-wide receive RTB broadcasts via their local radio reading services. Receivers are available on loan without charge to those who are eligible and who want to keep up to date with the latest word in newspapers, magazines and best-sellers.

The purpose of the Radio Talking Book is to provide current newspapers, magazines and the latest best selling books at the same time that they are available to the print reading public. Materials chosen reflect the broad spectrum of interests and information currently available to all consumers. The Radio Talking Book provides these materials in an unabridged form. Programs are heard on closed-circuit radio receivers loaned, free of charge, to eligible listeners. Designed for ease of operation, the radios are tuned to the signal serving the listeners’ community and are operated by turning one dial. Radio Talking Book is such a unique idea that it has served as a model for similar programs in over 100 communities across the country.

(Pointer from David Faucheux.)

For our blind readers in Europe

For our blind readers in Europe: “The VISAGE project is an EU-wide initiative but our part of the project is to assist four visually impaired entrepreneurs as they come up with the ideas for, plan and start these new micro businesses. We are currently trying to recruit these four Team Leaders.” Contact:

Alastair Irvine
New Business Advisor
Action for Blind People
Tel: 07834 258031

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Somewhat related--and inspirational: Blind Cool Tech: success stories.

New report on talking book gizmos

From Tom Peters:

Greetings, everyone. The final report on the MIDTB project to field test the accessibility and general usability of various digital audio systems and playback devices has been released. URLs:

--HTML version of the full report.

--Microsoft Word format.

--Links to both HTML and Word versions of the four separate sections.