The Talking Book is a simple, durable and portable audio computer, designed to be sold for less than $10.
With
this device, users play and record dozens of hours of messages, copy
recordings between devices, and use interactive audio applications such
as multiple-choice quizzes and audio hyperlinks.
In remote regions, the
Talking Book is creating change in the following ways:
In schools, students read along with audio books,
engage in practice tests, and listen to embedded vocabulary definitions
-- enhancing their literacy skills, reading confidence, and interest in
school.
In villages, users listen to agriculture and health
guidance
created by local experts and record their own messages to document
personal expertise. Because users can copy recordings between devices,
they are able to share knowledge with peers. By applying the newly
acquired knowledge,
users improve their lives—achieving greater crop yields and improving
the health of their families.
Interactive Digital Audio Device (Talking Book Device)
The
audio device will soon cost roughly the same price as a radio. Its
affordability will enable full participation by everyone in this
information network and will allow children and adults to practice
their literacy skills at home. With the advance in electronics
technology and price decline in components, such an affordable device
is finally viable.
The device includes the following features:
Users can store and play multiple audio programs.
Users can record new audio programs.
Users can copy the audio content to/from the device.
Users can playback the audio at slow speeds for reading practice of an associated text document.
Users can audio-hyperlink to another portion of the program for more detail or a related piece of information.
Users can answer multiple-choice questions, enabling interactive learning.
The device accepts power from standard, locally available
batteries, but also accepts new batteries that can be recharged with
solar power.
This device puts power in the hands of the poorest families. Due
to its low cost, most families
will soon be able to afford to purchase their own device. For now, families receive subsidized devices with preloaded content through
programs sponsored by NGOs or government agencies. Having this
technology in the home allows scenarios such as:
Children forced to work the farm instead of attending school now have a literacy learning option.
Children in school and adults in night literacy classes now have the ability to practice outside the classroom.
Family literacy programs become much more realistic if parents with
low literacy skills can hear a book read aloud before they read it to
their children.
Children of illiterate parents can follow a reading of a book or
test whether their reading was correct by comparing against the
recording.
Interactive practice exercises make learning fun in ways normally
only possible with computers or expensive consumer electronic games.
Content Distribution
Content distribution
allows locally produced literacy and information
content to be shared throughout a region. Since Talking Book devices use digital
content, there is zero marginal cost for each copy, and the
distribution cost is minimal.
At the village-cluster level, content is distributed through two complementary mechanisms:
Device-to-Device Copy: Any user can easily exchange content with
another user by simply connecting the two devices and pressing a copy
button. This feature encourages "viral distribution" from one
interested person to the next, amplifying distribution at no cost to
the larger system.
Extension Agent Visits: Agriculture extension agents and community
health workers carry Talking Books with them to share recordings with
people in nearby villages. Each time they meet someone with another
Talking Book, they can easily share the latest recordings with them.
In many cases, these representatives will take recorded feedback from
area residents to bring back for the content authors to listen to and
learn what is working and what is not.
At the national level, content distribution among NGO and government sites
scattered throughout the country will leverage existing conventional
and ICT infrastructure. For example, small district offices will take advantage of any
existing Internet access points or mobile phone networks to transmit
and receive batch content updates.
Through the
creative use of device features and existing infrastructure, the
Talking Book content distribution system will become self-sustaining.
Revenue streams from audio advertisements and content distribution fees will support the low cost structure.
Literacy Bridge's notice of solicitation required by the charitable solicitation act is on file with the secretary's office of the state of Washington; any additional financial disclosure information can be obtained from the office of the secretary by calling 1-800-332-4483.
