Playback Tools

AMIS is the free open source DAISY playback software developed by DAISY for All project.

The first beta of AMIS 3 has been released for testing. It can be downloaded from the AMIS Project site http://amisproject.org/ Ambulant, the SMIL multimedia player developed by CWI (the national research institute for mathematics and computer science in the Netherlands) has been embedded in AMIS 3, which means it will be able to support video and other rich SMIL multimedia in addition to its capability as a DAISY book player.

Version 2.6 is available for download from the AMIS Project site http://amisproject.org/. Improvements have been made to the self-voicing interface, Jaws scripts, keyboard interface, overall stability, and viewing options such as highlighting and font enlargement.

Highlights of AMIS include its self-voicing interface, plug-in support, bookmarking, variable playback speed, full text searching ability, and support for skippability and escapability. AMIS supports Unicode and is available in multiple languages, including Hindi, Thai, Malay, and Sinhala.

Users can

• Navigate sections, pages, special items, and individual phrases of a book
• Change audio playback speed without distorting pitch
• Search the full text of a book
• Set bookmarks
• Resume reading where they last left off

AMIS development continues under the DAISY for All project, funded by the Nippon Foundation.

BookCourier is a portable reading device designed specifically for people with disabilities that make reading difficult. BookCourier's text-to-speech engine reads text files from a variety of sources, including Kurzweil 1000, Bookshare.org (DAISY 3 text), Grade 2 Braille, TNAUK (Talking Newspaper Association of the United Kingdom), word processors, email packages, and Internet browsers. BookCourier also plays spoken word MP3 files from providers such as Audible.com as well as DAISY 2.02 audio files. And, when you've read enough, BookCourier will play standard music MP3 files.

BookCourier's user-friendly interface has fast forward and reverse controls as well as bookmarks and other smart navigation controls that allow you to go wherever you want to be in a file. Depending on the file type and the mark-up provided by the content publisher, you can jump by time increments or by word, sentence, paragraph, page, section, chapter, or article. And if you have a question about a feature or a key function, BookCourier's built-in talking help and talking user guide are immediately available.

BookCourier is battery-powered and shipped with a 256MB flash memory card, but you can swap in cards with up to 2GB of space. The device also has a plug-and-play USB connection for transferring files from the PC using the supplied PC software.

Book Wizard Reader, software from the American Printing House for the Blind (APH), offers users the ability to read both DAISY 2.02 and DAISY 3, ANSI/NISO Z39.86-2002 digital talking books. Review the manual, download a demonstration copy, or purchase the software by going to the Website.

The ClassMate Reader from HumanWare is a portable DAISY reading system for K-12 students with reading difficulties. Released in October 2007, this tool was designed to help students in and out of the classroom to improve reading comprehension, increase reading speed and develop a strong vocabulary. It allows students refer back to previously recorded notes, tests or chapter summaries.

The ClassMate Reader is a unique, portable and lightweight system about the size of a portable gaming system with a large LCD screen. Students can listen to the audio version of their textbooks and study materials, while following the highlighted text on screen. This portable system is ideal for students in any learning setting, including the classroom, resource room, library, extended learning programs and at home. The system promotes phonetic recognition and fluency and will significantly boost the support of teachers who work with students who have dyslexia.

It has several features only found on PC-based software solutions such as text-to-speech, highlighting, dictionary, text and vocal notes and audio book navigation. The ClassMate supports a wide variety of electronic formats, including DAISY, NIMAS (National Instructional Material Accessible Standard) format, Bookshare.org, Audible.com, text, wav, MP3 and audio file formats. The player also provides integrated text-to-speech for reading books in text format. It uses a removable SD flash memory card or USB memory stick to store the electronic files. It can transfer files from a PC with a standard USB connection.

Additional information is available on the HumanWare Web site.

eClipseReader is a PC application for the DAISY 2.02, and DAISY/NISO 2002 and 2005 formats, supporting Windows? 98/ME/2000 and XP operating systems. eClipseReader plays Audio DAISY books and reads text only DAISY Media using SAPI 5 TTS voices in all supported DAISY formats. Audio Formats include: WAV, MP3, WMA and ASF audio. eClipseReader is also a Text Document Reader. All text only Media is read with SAPI 5 Text-to-Speech Voices. EClipseReader's flexible user interface can be customized to suit the needs of sighted users preferring point and click graphic controls and the visually impaired through its self voicing hotkeys and menu system. In multi-user mode, eClipseReader is a great solution for schools and libraries. Individuals may login on a single computer and maintain their own library of books, text notes, bookmarks, and operational preferences. Site and district licensing will be made available. For additional information about eClipseReader, including pricing, visit the Website.

The Telex EzDAISY is designed for simple operation in a compact portable player. For those readers who mainly read leisure books, the EzDAISY offers large easy-to-use buttons allowing you to skip by chapter and page. Along with DAISY 2.0, 2.02 and 3.0 CDs, the EzDAISY will also play MP3 and standard audio CDs. A six-line LCD screen displays disc details for "at-a-glance" monitoring. Lightweight headphones are included.

Please call (In the U.S.) for more information on all Telex products: 800-828-6107 or +1 952-887-7498. You can also send email to duplication@telex.com.

The gh PLAYER® 2.2 Premium Version provides the functionality present in gh PLAYER® 2.2, and also includes these additional important features:

• Full MathML support
• Import DAISY XML/DTBook (output from "Save As DAISY XML")
• Import text file
• Save DAISY book
• Bundled Nuance Voices

The gh PLAYER® 2.2 and 2.2 Premium provide people with disabilities access to multiple information sources, with improved features and easier navigation. Full details are provided on the gh LLC Web site.

The gh PLAYER® 2.2 is a Section 508 compliant software player that is designed with accessibility as a priority. This software supports the following file formats:

• NIMAS
• Simple text (.txt)
• DAISY 2.02
• DAISY 3.0
• ANSI-NISO (Z39.86-2002)
• DAISY/NISO 2005

The gh PLAYER® provides people with disabilities access to multiple information sources. The gh PLAYER® now has improved features and easier navigation. Full details are provided on the gh LLC Web site.

Instituto Nacional Para Ciegos (INCI) in Colombia has developed several tools to assist blind people. Of special interest to those interested in DAISY technology is the INCI Reader. This software allows blind or print disabled people to read DAISY Digital Talking Books. You can read the text by phrases, pages or chapters or leave one bookmark.

This product can be downloaded freely from the INCI Web site: http://www.inci.gov.co/publicaciones/software.htm. Send email to dtecnologico@inci.gov.co for more information.

The Korea Braille Library has developed the KBLL Reader 1.0 with the Sims Line, a software developing company in Korea.

KBLL Reader supports only audio and NCC DAISY books. The software is able to set book marking, control speed and volume, and allows the reader to move to chapter, page, or sentence. KBLL Reader can also search word and number (for instance page).

If you close the KBLL Reader to end reading, it automatically says the end page of reading. If a user uses KBLL Reader in a common place, like a library or school, this function is very useful. Because many users use KBLL Reader together, nobody set book marking.

We provide KBLL Reader to users, libraries and schools free of charge. Everybody can download KBLL Reader free of charge, at http://infor.kbll.or.kr/.

KBLL Reader currently supports only Korean, so we are considering supporting other languages. We also are considering having KBLL Reader 2.0 support audio and full text.

For more information, send email to youk@kbll.or.kr.

The Kurzweil 1000 currently can read and write DAISY 3.0 ANSI/NISO Z39.86-2002 documents. Kurzweil 1000 features such as notes, internal hyperlinks, and multi-level bookmarks, are all available and preserved in those documents. The Kurzweil 1000 does not currently play audio files, so it will ignore those portions of a DAISY document that are only represented by audio. The Kurzweil 1000 allows customers to search for material in some online repositories and then to download content they select. Visit Kurzweil's Web site for specific details regarding which repositories are supported. If the online repository is BookShare.org (available to U.S. residents only at this time), the encrypted file can be decrypted within the Kurzweil 1000, and is then maintained as a ZIP file, providing a convenient way of packaging the multiple files that make up a DAISY document. Any file that can be opened in the Kurzweil 1000 (and it can open files in well over 100 different formats), and any file that can be created (using a scanner, using the virtual printer, or just typing away) can be saved as a DAISY 3.0 ANSI/NISO Z39.86-2002 document, complete with notes, bookmarks, and internal links.

The Kurzweil 3000 supports searching, downloading, decrypting, and opening of BookShare.org documents, but its support for them is somewhat limited at this time. Its support of DAISY will be somewhat more robust in its next release.

For more information, along with the latest information about expanded support for DAISY content, see the Kurzweil Website.

The Milestone 311 from Bones GmbH is a DAISY 2.02 player, voice recorder and MP3-player. It is a portable, multi-purpose device about the size of a credit card (85 x 54 x 14mm), developed in close cooperation with the major Swiss organizations for the blind.

DAISY: This pocket-size device provides full access to heading levels, page numbers, phrases, etc. It also supports bookmark setting and switch between books on the memory card.

MP3: The Milestone 311 provides accessible MP3 navigation, supported by audible prompts. Folder names can be tagged with recorded voice. A USB cable connection supports the transmission of MP3 files from and to a computer without the additional software being required.

Voice Recorder: The Milestone's small internal speaker produces crisp, clear audio even in noisy environments. The integrated two hour recording capacity can be extended to hundreds of hours with an SD memory card. Folders are supported. MP3 files are generated and can be accessed on a computer.

This product also offers an RFID add-on "Speakout" that allows users to tag and identify daily living objects such as medication, CD's, and food labels.

The Bones Web site will be updated to provide information in English in March 2008. Until then, information on distributors may be found here: List of Distributors for the Milestone (Word file - in English).

The Plextalk TK-200, with built-in high quality speaker and adjustable playback speed, is ideal for leisure reading. Large buttons and a unique CD caddy-loading drive make for simple operation and easy listening.

The Plextalk Model PTN1 is a DAISY 2.0 and 2.02 hardware player ideal for leisure-reading. It has a high-quality built-in speaker and comes with a fully rechargeable battery to provide listeners with up to five hours of playing time.

Using the Plextalk PTN1, a person with low vision or other print disability can navigate to a particular point in a book from the table of contents or the index, by browsing headings, selecting pages, or by setting and reviewing bookmarks. Users can make a bookmark index consisting of up to 10,000 bookmarks. In addition, users are able to fast forward, rewind, and even speed up the audio narration. One of the new features in this product is the ability to move through DAISY content quickly by, for example, ten pages, or ten minutes.

The PTN1 is currently shipping in Europe and North America, but check Plextor's Web site for available dealers.

Plextor's PTR2 replaces the PTR1 and is designed to be a high quality recorder with the ability to create DAISY 2.02 books with audio, headings and pages, as well as music CDs. It can also play DAISY books, music CDs, Audio File CDs and CF cards. It can be used as a CD-RW or memory card drive when connected to a computer. For quicker and easier editing of DAISY content, the PTR2 is supplied with the Plextalk Recording Software (PRS). This package provides all the necessary tools to record, edit and finalize audio DAISY 2.02 books. This portable unit has a built-in microphone and an optional external microphone, providing recording versatility.

The PTR2 can be operated in 2 main modes: "Normal" mode and "Book Creator" mode. It is possible to switch between these 2 modes at any time. Normal mode has a simplified interface and makes the process of recording very straightforward. This mode is ideal for a beginner or for someone who wants to make a recording quickly and easily. Book Creator mode provides all of the necessary tools to create a fully structured DAISY 2.02 book including insert, punch in and overwrite recording, phrase editing and the ability to set heading levels.

Featuring direct page and bookmark navigation, the Plextalk TK-300 enables fast and efficient reading. The high quality speaker and adjustable playback speed provide comfortable listening.

The Scholar, Digital Talking Book Player is designed for print-disabled users of all ages. It is the first hardware player to play DAISY 2.0, 2.02 and now 3.0 formats. It is a highly compact DAISY CD Player that also accepts standard CDs and MP3 CDs. The player features automatic format detection. Scholar provides instant access to specific page numbers and chapters in the DAISY structure, and includes a full numeric keypad with "book-marking" feature. It is ideal for use with academic books. A six-line LCD screen displays disc details for "at-a-glance" teacher monitoring. Major navigation functions have large tactile rubber buttons. Lightweight headphones are included.

Please call (In the U.S.) for more information on all Telex products: 800-828-6107 or +1 952-887-7498. You can also send email to duplication@telex.com.

This free software player supports DAISY 2.0 and 2.02. Learn more about it and download it at http://tab1.tab.or.th/daisy/.

TPB Reader is a DAISY 2.0 and DAISY 2.02 compliant software player designed to be easy to learn even by those with little or no computer experience. Even though it is easy-to-use, the software is powerful enough to satisfy more "advanced" users.

Feature highlights include:

• Auto-detection of available books. TPB Reader automatically scans the system and presents available DTBs to the user in a bookshelf;
• Ncc-only and Full Text view modes;
• Time Scale Modification - ability to speed up or slow down the narration without affecting the pitch;
• Fully selfvoicing - external speech synthesizer is not necessary;
• Stylesheets - the user may apply his/her own or predefined Cascading Stylesheets (CSS) to control the visual display of the text;
• IPP Support - TPB Reader can play protected DAISY DTBs; and
• National Language Customization - The user interface (auditory and textual prompts) of TPB Reader can be translated into any language.

TPB Reader is made available at no cost worldwide. However, TPB (The Swedish Library of Talking Books and Braille) does not offer end-user support outside Sweden.

TPB Reader works on Windows® operating systems.

For more information and download, visit www.tpb.se/verksamhet/talbocker/lasprogram/.

Victor Reader Classic is a simple and easy to use portable player ideal for leisure reading, best-sellers, novels, magazines, newspapers, etc. It offers basic navigation features like browsing the table of contents, skipping from section to section or from page to page.

This HumanWare hardware player is the professional solution for more demanding environments such as schools, libraries, public areas. Designed for professionals and students, it's essential for reading complex and highly structured books like textbooks, reference works and school manuals. It supports all DAISY navigation levels and has advanced functionality such as skipping instantly to a specific page and placing multiple bookmarks. The Classic + offers a slot drive mechanism for the CD drive as well as a full numeric keypad to rapidly and accurately navigate throughout books.

The Victor Reader Classic + with recording is an advanced new DAISY player with a recording function, so users can take vocal notes simply and efficiently. Students and professionals can place vocal notes in books, record course lectures, make to-do lists, record audio content from other devices, and more.

Users can record either with the built-in microphone or an external mike. Recordings can be stored in the internal memory, or on a flash card that can be removed and transferred to or from a PC.

The numeric keypad lets users easily navigate through complex works with indexes or tables of contents, such as reference or textbooks. The new Classic + with recording also boasts a durable ergonomic design and comes with an integrated handle, auto insert/eject CD loader, high-quality speaker and long-life rechargeable battery.

The new ClassicX and ClassicX + models are enhanced with additional usability and reliability features which continue to distinguish them as premium DAISY desktop CD players.

Key new features in the ClassicX series include:

• ClassicX and ClassicX + now have a user replaceable battery
• Battery performance is enhanced. The battery can be recharged in only four hours and provides ten hours of play time
• The new models use a larger, stronger laptop style AC connector
• The connector socket has been moved to the back of the player making it easier to locate. Its larger size also facilitates inserting the connector and distinguishing it from the headphone and line-out jacks.
• The players now have an indicator light when the power is on and while recharging
• A new dedicated Sleep key has been added for easy access. A light will come on when Sleep is activated and will blink during the last minute of the Sleep timer.
• The new ClassicX and ClassicX + come in a darker charcoal gray case to further contrast keys. The case still includes the popular integral carrying handle.

The new ClassicX series still provides all the functionality that has made their predecessors the most popular DAISY talking book player in the world. Simple and easy to use, these DAISY players are ideal for reading leisure books, magazines, or newspapers. The ClassicX + also allows to read highly structured reference books.

Victor Reader lets read DAISY audio books much like print books:

• Move from chapter to chapter, section to section or page to page by simply pressing a key
• With ClassicX +, you can even enter and skip directly to a page number from the table of contents
• Set your own bookmarks and return to them later
• Read at your own pace with the variable speed control
• You can also play MP3 and commercial audio CDs

The Victor Reader ClassicX and ClassicX + include a built-in speaker and sleep timer, a power adapter, and a rechargeable battery. The battery can be recharged directly in the unit. The players come with an integral carrying handle for easy transport.

Additional information about HumanWare's ClassicX and ClassicX + DAISY Digital Talking Book players is available on the HumanWare Website.

The new ClassicX and ClassicX + models are enhanced with additional usability and reliability features which continue to distinguish them as premium DAISY desktop CD players.

Key new features in the ClassicX series include:

• ClassicX and ClassicX + now have a user replaceable battery
• Battery performance is enhanced. The battery can be recharged in only four hours and provides ten hours of play time
• The new models use a larger, stronger laptop style AC connector
• The connector socket has been moved to the back of the player making it easier to locate. Its larger size also facilitates inserting the connector and distinguishing it from the headphone and line-out jacks.
• The players now have an indicator light when the power is on and while recharging
• A new dedicated Sleep key has been added for easy access. A light will come on when Sleep is activated and will blink during the last minute of the Sleep timer.
• The new ClassicX and ClassicX + come in a darker charcoal gray case to further contrast keys. The case still includes the popular integral carrying handle.

The new ClassicX series still provides all the functionality that has made their predecessors the most popular DAISY talking book player in the world. Simple and easy to use, these DAISY players are ideal for reading leisure books, magazines, or newspapers. The ClassicX + also allows to read highly structured reference books.

Victor Reader lets read DAISY audio books much like print books:

• Move from chapter to chapter, section to section or page to page by simply pressing a key
• With ClassicX +, you can even enter and skip directly to a page number from the table of contents
• Set your own bookmarks and return to them later
• Read at your own pace with the variable speed control
• You can also play MP3 and commercial audio CDs

The Victor Reader ClassicX and ClassicX + include a built-in speaker and sleep timer, a power adapter, and a rechargeable battery. The battery can be recharged directly in the unit. The players come with an integral carrying handle for easy transport.

Additional information about HumanWare's ClassicX and ClassicX + DAISY Digital Talking Book players is available on the HumanWare Website.

Victor Reader Soft is a computer application for reading digital audio books. It provides several unique features for fast and easy navigation through a book structure as well as saving information within the book such as bookmarks, text annotation and customizing the display parameters. Victor Reader Soft combines the audio and text mode that let you read the text on screen synchronized with audio, and the software is fully accessible to print disabled persons.

The Stream is HumanWare's most portable, powerful DAISY/NISO and MP3 player. It is a hand-held (117 x 66 x 22mm) player using an SD flash memory card for storing content. It connects to computers as a USB device to transfer book and music files. The Stream also has an embedded text-to-speech capability to play text only or synchronized full text/full audio DAISY books, simple text and html files. Variable speed playback is supported for all recorded and text formats. Other advanced DAISY features including Go To Page, Go To Heading, simple bookmarks, highlight bookmarks, and processing skippable elements. It also built-in voice recording capability for recording voice notes, audio bookmarks, etc.

VictorReader Stream is updated, new features are added and new versions are made available. For full details and the most recent news on the Stream, visit the VictorReader Stream page on the HumanWare site.

The Victor Reader Vibe is a player based on an MP3 mass-market product on which VisuAide's software is integrated. Small, portable and powerful, the Victor Reader Vibe is a portable CD player designed for students and professionals. Victor Reader Vibe is well suited for both the visually impaired and print disabled. Users can navigate faster and far more efficiently through reference works and complex textbooks. In addition to basic navigation features, Victor Reader Vibe lets you skip straight to a specific page, insert bookmarks to return to a specific section or mark important passages. Victor Reader Vibe's compact size and rechargeable batteries allow you to take and use it anywhere.

The Victor Reader Vibe player includes earphones, a power adapter, a carrying case and rechargeable batteries. Users can recharge their batteries directly in the unit. Victor Reader Vibe is an exceptionally accessible device with embossed tactile markings and with controls grouped in easily recognizable zones.

Based on the popular Victor Reader Vibe, the world's first mainstream MP3 player adapted to play DAISY books, the Victor Reader Wave has the same advantages of an adapted mainstream player with its portable design and affordable price but it includes many enhancements over the Vibe:

• The popular clam shell style lid of the Vibe remains but has been modified to use the familiar telephone style keypad of the Victor Reader Classic+ player.
• Enlarged file system to play complex DAISY books.
• Expanded memory to store hundreds of bookmarks.
• Saves playback position of DAISY, MP3 and music CDs.
• Audio prompts have been added for MP3 CD playback.

Learning disabled users will benefit from a larger screen with text feedback for commands and display of book title and current section heading.