Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!apple!olivea!oliveb!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89!David.Andrews
From: David.Andrews@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (David Andrews)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Talking Newspaper
Message-ID: <16019@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 1 Dec 90 04:58:52 GMT
Sender: news@bunker.UUCP
Reply-To: David.Andrews@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org
Distribution: misc
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA
Lines: 40
Approved: wtm@bunker.UUCP

Index Number: 12105

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 DM> I like this better than a reading service!  Pity it takes so  
 DM> much time and computer memory!  But when a very human-sounding 
 DM> synthesizer comes along, maybe it will one day 
 DM> be possible to read many papers and magazines through 
 DM> a touch-tone system! 
 DM> Of all the reading services in the country, 
 DM> which are the best, in your opinion? 
 DM> I'm disturbed by the trend of reading books on the air. 
  
Daveed,  Reading Services originally started reading books because it was taking
NLS so long to produce books, especially best sellers.  The justification was
that a Reading Service listener could be reading the book at the same time as
his/her friends were.  At that time, mid 1970's it would take from a year to a
year and a half in general for NLS to come out with books.  This time is now
down considerably, and while still not great is much improved.  Reading Services
take a while, because most don't start airing a book before it is recorded
completely, so with scheduling delays etc., it can be from three to six months. 
A number of services, particularly smaller ones get many books from the ARRS
Tape Exchange, which is currently not operating, but which can increase delays
even more.  I think that Reading Services should take a hard look at reading
books.  With everything that is going on, it is harder to justify.  
As to who is the best, that is a bubjective thing.  Overall, I think that the
Chicago services has readers second to none.  In terms of reader quality, I
think they are the best around.  Most services wither have low reading standards
and/or are run by people who are not primarily broadcasters, so the overall
presentation is amateurish.  In general, the last service I worked at, Audio-
Reader in Kansas was very well put together.  Its reader quality was not as good
as Chicago, being in a small town, they didn't have as many great readers, but
the overall sound, and packaging was very professional.
David Andrews

... Your Sound Alternative

--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89!David.Andrews
Internet: David.Andrews@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org


Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com