Digital Talking Book Players

Digital Talking Book Players come in two types: software for your computer [1] and stand-alone portable players [2]. Here are some examples or each of these types of players. This is not an all-inclusive list; new products come out all the time. If you are not sure what a Digital Talking Book is or how to choose a player to listen to these books, please read about Digital Talking Books [3] on this web site before looking at these examples. A link on that page will bring you back here.

Digital Talking Book software (for your computer)

The American Printing House for the Blind has two products:

• Book Wizard Producer [4] provides all the features necessary to create several types of books. You can create books with audio only, text only, or text and audio. You can create books from scratch by recording your own voice directly into Book Wizard Producer, or you can import existing audio and HTML text files. You can make the navigation features of your new book as simple or as detailed as you like.
• Book Wizard Reader [4] is a software program to read digital talking books

Dolphin, an assistive technology company, also has both a reader and a producer software products:

• EasyReader [5] is used to read and listen to content through a combination of text, audio and images right on your computer. You can change fonts, colors, and text size and the speech is highlighted as it is read.
• EasyProducer [6] converts standard Word files into DAISY digital talking books (synchronised audio and text) that can be searched and navigated.

Innovative Rehabilitation Technology Inc. (I.R.T.I.) produces eClipseware software to read and produce Digital Talking Books:

• eClipseReader [7] supports over 30 formats of accessible media. In addition to book navigation, eClipseReader incorporates study tools that enables students to bookmark and take notes that can be reviewed in eClipseReader's powerful text document reader as an outline study guide that is automatically generated in the study process. The Study Outline may be exported to MS Notepad as a text file, for use with other applications such as MS Word, and Braille Translators. eClipseReaders unique user interface can be customized for both blind users preferring a keyboard interface and an simple graphic interface for sighted.
• eClipseWriter [8] turns electronic files in formats such as MS Word, HTML, .TXT, and .RTF and unlocked PDF into digital talking books or NIMAS document output. Also included is a talking word processor for authors to create their own original text or to edit existing copy. Formatting processes may be completely automated or by simple manual document mark-up that allows you to edit documents for more detailed structure with intermix audio, and graphic files into finished DAISY book providing a rich multi-media presentation.

Freedom Scientific's FSReader [9] is a software application for the PAC Mate PDA and the PC. Used with DAISY formatted talking books, the FSReader has powerful navigation options for reading. FSReader teams up with JAWS to deliver easy accessibility.

gh Player [10] offers a variety of accessibility features such as text-to-speech functionality, digital magnification, contrast enhancement, and synchronized text highlighting for a fuller reading experience.

Victor Reader Soft [11] Victor Reader Soft combines the audio and text mode that let you read the text on screen synchronized with audio and is fully accessible to print disabled persons.Victor Reader Soft offers basic and advanced features: browsing the table of contents, skipping from section to section or returning quickly to a page, insert bookmarks to return to a spot or mark important passages etc. It supports JAWS and Window Eyes screen readers.

Stand-Alone Digital Talking Book Players (hardware)

These portable devices can be used without your computer although some may provide connectivity to a computer to exchange files. There are other fine players available that we have not included on this list.

Plextalk offers both a player and a player/recorder for recording your own DAISY formatted Digital Talking Book.

• Plextalk-PTN1 Player [12] enables you to enjoy your favorite audio titles such as; Daisy Digital Talking Books, music CD's, MP3 CD's, or audio books on CD.
• Plextalk-PTR2 Daisy Player and Recoder [13] is designed to be a high quality recorder with the ability to create DAISY 2.02, audio only, books and Music CDs. It can play DAISY titles, Music CDs and Audio File CDs and CF cards. It can be used as a CD-RW or memory card drive when connected to a computer.
• Victor Reader ClassicX + Player [14] supports all DAISY navigation levels and has advanced functionality such as skipping instantly to a specific page and placing multiple bookmarks.