Books in the Sky (BiTS)
A Pilot project between Royal Society for the Blind of South Australia Inc and Audio-Read Pty Ltd.
Commitment to Community Service
The RSB is the primary provider of services to South Australians who are blind or vision impaired, providing a full range of rehabilitation services to over 9,800 people.
The goal of all RSB services is to enable people who are blind or vision impaired to live independently and participate in the life of the community.
Increasing Accessibility and Choice
The RSB provides an analogue cassette tape library service which operates in isolation from mainstream library services. The selection of titles is generally by telephone with delivery via post.
There are very few alternatives available to people who are blind or vision impaired, with most Public Libraries being inaccessible with no coordinated collection of talking books.
Creating New Opportunities
In response to the limited supply and with newly created technologies, the RSB in partnership with Audio Read Pty Ltd, has introduced a revolutionary accessible digital information service - the Books in The Sky System (BiTS).
Following a successful pilot in 2004, the RSB has “rolled out” the system in three public libraries and two RSB sites. Further pilots are occurring with a number of other agencies and councils within Australia.
Introducing The BiTS System
BiTS is a closed system of compression, encryption and transfer of digital information. It has the ability to transfer or receive any digital information and convert it into an audio format.
As a result it is able to provide readers with books or other current information at the same time as general community.
The RSB model utilises the Public Library systems to distribute materials which will enable people who are blind or vision impaired to keep abreast of community issues.
The two major components of the BiTS system are the Audio Navigator, and the Content Management System.
- The Audio Navigator - A portable audio playback device. The Audio Navigator is easily operated by people who are vision impaired or general library users. It has the ability to play both pre-recorded or synthesised voice and can hold a significant amount of information.
- The Content Management System - A suite of hardware and software applications, that manages the delivery of content through broadband transmission.
Why choose BiTS?
BiTS provides real-time access in an indexable audio format of any information or books to any location in an unlimited range of languages.
BiTS contains many easy to use features, including:
- quick downloading of material available at any time.
- a simple and portable reading solution suitable for people with a vision impairment.
- protection of copyright and content.
- all information is protected by high level security coding and an automated audit trail of usage.
- unlimited copies with no deterioration.
- single master storage capacity.
- a significant reduction in distribution and holding costs.
For more information contact:
The Royal Society for the Blind (RSB)
254 Angas Street
Adelaide SA
AUSTRALIA 5000
Katherine Howard - Project Officer Digital Library Services
Telephone: 0011 618 8223 6222
Facsimile: 0011 618 8223 7836
Email: Khoward@rsb.org.au
Audio-Read Pty Ltd
Level 4, Suite 65
330 Wattle Street
Ultimo NSW
AUSTRALIA 2007
Tony Blackwood - Director
Telephone: 0011 612 9212 5535
Facsimile: 0015 612 9212 5536
Email: anthonyb@audio-read.com.au