Everyone is entitled to equality in our society. This also includes information. Without sufficient aids the visually impaired have difficulties accessing the information in daily newspapers and books.

So far most newspapers and talking book libraries use cassettes or CDs to deliver information to the visually impaired. This is an old system that is limited, slow and cumbersome. The Internet Daisy Player PuhElias will provide the visually impaired with improved service levels, faster delivery of information and decreased distribution costs.

How it works

By using the PuhElias-system a visually impaired subscriber can have daily news delivered to his home in a spoken form every morning, the same day the newspaper is published. The box automatically retrieves the content provided by the publisher over the Internet.

Content is either manually recorded with PuhElias specially designed software or can automatically be produced using speech synthesis. All recordings are digitized and stored on a server for later distribution. The box uses Internet audio streaming technology for book playback, which eliminates download delays.

PuhElias is also equipped with a slot-loading cd/dvd-player/burner and can read audio-books in either Daisy or Audio CD format. From 2008 and onwards the entire content production and distribution system will follow the Daisy standard. Streaming of Daisy books over the Internet and server-systems for third-party publishers will be available shortly thereafter.

Requirements

PuhElias requires an Internet connection speed of at least 256 kbps. In its standard layout the box has a built in RJ-45 connector, four USB ports, ie. all standard PC connectors. The box can also connect through wireless networks or mobile networks with special adapters.

Navigation

To listen to the latest newspaper or book the user needs to push only one button and the box will start reading the default media from top to bottom. Audio CDs or Daisy CDs inserted into the player will automatically start playing. The box has an input device that uses twelve buttons to navigate the different types of content. The navigation technique is similar to standalone Daisy players and works the same way for all content sources.

Features

The box does not require a PC. It has a built-in loudspeaker but can also be used with headphones or connected to an external audio system. The box provides the user with feedback through a narrating voice that describes the actions and commands executed. Using the control panel the playback tempo can be adjusted without pitch distortion. The user can also pause playback, repeat the last sentence and browse old newspapers. The volume level is adjusted using an analogue knob on the front panel.

The customers, boxes and subscriptions are administered through a web interface. Updates to the firmware are automatically installed over the internet. The system provides statistics and tailored reporting functions.

Future proof design

The PuhElias box is prepared for many different add-on modules and can be modified and extended in the future. The PuhElias software uses open standards and can easily be customized to different needs. A PC-client will be developed in 2008 and thereafter a client for mobile phones.

The system has been in use in Finland since 2003 and will have approximately 450 users by the end of 2008, including 9 newspapers. The users have been very satisfied with the new system that delivers daily newspapers to their homes every morning. The quality is also far better than the old cassette-system and the navigation as simple.