The use of digital talking books by people with print disabilities: a literature review

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyse empirical studies regarding the use of digital talking books (DAISY books) as well as the possibilities and limitations that users with print disabilities encounter when using these books. Upon fulfilment of this purpose, it is also possible to identify research needs in the area of talking books.Design/methodology/approach: An analysis of 12 empirical studies concerning the use of DAISY books is conducted. The concept of affordances is employed in the analysis, which focuses on 1) users of talking books, 2) talking books as objects, and 3) the social settings in which talking books are used.Findings: First, the reviewed literature indicates that the navigational features of the DAISY talking book appear to provide unprecedented affordances in terms of the users' approaches to reading. However, the affordances of talking books depend, to some extent, on whether the users have visual impairments or dyslexia/reading and writing difficulties. Second, the reviewed literature illustrates that the affordances provided by talking books depend on the settings in which they are used, both in terms of specific social situations and wider sociopolitical contexts.Originality/value: Although the need for assistive reading technologies, such as digital talking books, is large, research in this area is scarce, particularly from a user perspective.This article describes the results of those studies which have actually been conducted on this topic and highlights areas that require further study.

Is the Digital Talking Book Program meeting librarian and patron expectations?

“…(Nasmith et al, 2008:676). Lundh and Johnson (2015) contend that the need for assistive reading technology, such as DAISY Talking Books is large; however, research in the area is scarce (Lundh et al, 2015: 54). Lundh et al (2015) conducted a literature review on empirical research that studied the use of DAISY Books, and the authors reviewed 12 studies that met their criteria (Lundh et al, 2015: 57).…”

“…Lundh and Johnson (2015) contend that the need for assistive reading technology, such as DAISY Talking Books is large; however, research in the area is scarce (Lundh et al, 2015: 54). Lundh et al (2015) conducted a literature review on empirical research that studied the use of DAISY Books, and the authors reviewed 12 studies that met their criteria (Lundh et al, 2015: 57). The authors focus their study around the theory of affordances which is understood as the perceived possibilities that arise due an encounter between an individual, an object, and an environment (Lundh et al, 2015: 56…”

Two King Lears: The Meaning Potentials of Writing and Speech for Talking Books

“…There are no exact figures of how many people have print-disabilities, but there are estimates indicating that the proportion could be between five and ten percent (at least in the US, see Petri, 2012, p. 42). Little research, however, has been carried out looking at how talking books are read and how people learn to use them in their daily lives (Lundh & Johnson, 2015). Therefore, in an ongoing research project, the documentary practices of people with print-disabilities are being explored, with a focus on their reading of talking books.…”

Novel Experiences: On Page, In Ear, On Screen

“…She argues that the aspects of connectivity, interactivity and access interplay to cultivate engagement-both reader-to-book and reader-to-reader. Lundh and Johnson (2015) review a number of studies on the affordances of talking books, 3 arguing that the affordances of different 2 Those who prefer reading digitally may start off on the wrong foot with Joshua Cohen's (2015) novel Book of Numbers, which begins: "If you're reading this on a screen, fuck off" (p. 5).…”