RECORDING FOR THE BLIND AND DYSLEXIC

ANNOUNCES AUDIOPLUS� TEXTBOOKS


After more than 50 years as the nation�s largest provider of textbooks and educational materials in accessible formats for students with print disabilities, RFB&D continues to lead the learning revolution with the development of digital textbooks on CD-ROM. Using the next generation of technology to provide better service to its members, RFB&D is now in the process of introducing new digitally recorded audio textbooks on CD-ROM. RFB&D�s growing digitally recorded AudioPlus� textbooks will be available to its members nationwide in September 2002. RFB&D anticipates a core collection of nearly 6,000 titles in digital format.

RFB&D�s AudioPlus� textbooks will offer significant benefits to members, including:

� Instant Access. Using a specially adapted player or software on a multimedia PC, a reader can go directly to a page

or move from chapter to chapter at the press of a button�there is no need to fast-forward or rewind through page

indicator beep tones, as required with analog tape.

� Better audio quality. Digitally recorded textbooks stay true to the original recording, and increasing or decreasing

the speed at which the book is played never alters pitch.

� Convenience. Digitally recorded textbooks can be delivered on CDs that can hold more than 40 hours of recorded

material. That means the contents of a standard textbook�requiring as many as twelve four-track analog cassettes�

will now fit on one CD.

Developing digital audio technology is a large research and development project requiring significant funding to re-engineer and test recording processes and systems in 32 RFB&D recording facilities across the country. RFB&D believes AudioPlus� digitally recorded textbooks are well worth the investment because of the state-of-the-art technological benefits members will enjoy. The ability to move quickly from one part of the text to another using computer-programming instructions will be invaluable.

 


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