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NLS Press Release

Draft Digital Talking Book Standard Released for Public Review

A committee of the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) has completed a document entitled "File Specifications for the Digital Talking Book." NISO has posted this draft standard on its web site www.niso.org/Z3986.html for a thirty-day public comment period ending March 20, 2001. The committee, chaired by NLS research and development officer Michael Moodie, is made up of representatives from nearly two dozen organizations committed to making print materials available to blind and physically handicapped readers in an accessible form.

"File Specifications for the Digital Talking Book" defines the formats of the many files that will make up a digital talking book (DTB). It is a technical specification intended for use by developers of DTB playback devices and authors of software used to produce and distribute DTBs. Following the public review period, the specification is scheduled to be updated based on comments received and then sent to NISO with the request that it be accepted as a national standard. The standard will guide the development of the next generation of talking books at NLS and other partner agencies.

Comments on the draft standard should be directed to Michael Moodie at:

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Posted on 2006-02-24