Gadgets And Electronic Aides
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Accessible MP3 Players
Multi Media Mobile Phones
There are a number of 3rd generation Symbian phones which can run Talks and which have MP3 players onboard. Some require SD flashcards to hold the music, the Nokia N91 has a dedicated 4gig hard drive. Click here for a list of 3rd generation phones.
The Book Port
Although originally designed to convert text-to-speech, the Book Port also plays mp3 files, with complete accessible navigation. That said though, it's largest capacity is a 4GB compact flash card - the card provided is 256mb. The device also doubles as a Braille note taker, but has no built in radio. Click here for further info on the Book Port.
IAUDIO and Rockbox - a powerful MP3 device made accessible
The IAUDIO X5 mp3 player with Rockbox installed on it allows you to access the menu and alter the settings to your liking. However, Rockbox will only speak the contents of the menu, not the names of files and folders, that's to say songs and albums you put on it. It does spell them, but that takes some getting used to and it also takes time. In order to have the names of files and folders spoken, you need a second software called Voicebox. It's quite easy to handle. Click here to read up on and download Voicebox
Rockbox is not a speech add-on for the IAUDIO firmware. It replaces the firmware, so it's a media player of its own. There are a few shortcomings such as no speech or audible signal in recording mode, but since Rockbox is being constantly improved, the shortcomings might well be dealt with at some point.
The IAUDIO does not have any USB ports as such, but rather a customised shrunken interface, presumably to keep the device as small as possible. This means that you can't connect to someone else's computer unless you carry the interface adaptor with you. The same applies to the line-in and line-out, as well as the power socket. The little adapter provides all these connection options. The IAUDIO allows you to record from the built in FM radio, the built in microphone and the line-in Jack. In order to record with an external microphone, you need an extra amplifier, called a pre-amp.
When linking the IAUDIO to another audio device via the adaptor, a slight hiss or high-pitched screech noise is transmitted with the sound. This can be avoided by plugging into the ear-phone jack, in stead of the line-out one. Unfortunately the hiss can sometimes also be heard when recording onto the IAUDIO. This can not be avoided.
The IAUDIO comes with 20, 30 or 60 gb disc space. It can be obtained from Back From The Future on Aungier Street Dublin, who will install Rockbox on demand. They will also ship it for an extra €15 postage and packing.
If you would like to listen to a demonstration of Rockbox, click here to go to the Talk Around magazine website, then click on Audio and tab down to the Rockbox feature.
Click here to check out the Rockbox website.
Other Players And Further Info
The following link takes you to a private website with info on further accessible media players and a blog with latest developments.
Digital Broadcast Receivers
Digital Audio Broadcast Radios
The Pure Sonus 1XT has a very pleasant female speech output. So soft and low in fact, that the radio seams to be meant for the bed-side table. Also the sleep mode slowly fades out the sound, so as not to rouse you from your slumber by switching it off abruptly.
It does work in the Republic of Ireland. However, it does not have a Text To Speech synthesizer. It can only speak the station names available in the UK. Here in the Republic, or anywhere else, it spells the station names, For instants: l y r i c f m. At the moment it can only receive R T é stations.
The clock is set automatically via the radio signal. It has to be said, that the clock signal in the Republic for some reason is a Minute late. The signal has also been known to stop temporarily, so you may want to rely on an extra alarm clock.
The radio itself is easy to handle and fully accessible. It has 2 alarms which can be set for week days or weekends. It has an optical output for recording and it has a data input for software updates. So perhaps once DAB is taken more serious in the Republic of Ireland, it will be possible to download local station names to it.
A brief touching of the metal handle will tell you the time and 2 brief taps will tell you the alarm settings.
The Radio can be obtained from Dixon's and Curry's, as well as Cobolt Systems, a seller of audio devices in the UK.
Hightec for the Household
Colour Detector
The Colour Detector is a talking device which speaks the colour of any surface it is held against. It is mostly used to find out the colour of clothing, thus enabling a blind person to combine items of clothing or avoide putting on clashing ones. It can be purchaced from the NCBI.
