NLS: That All May Read

NISO Working Papers

National Information Standards Organization (NISO)

Digital Talking Book Standard

Currently, talking books for blind, visually-impaired, physically-handicapped, and otherwise print-handicapped readers are generally distributed on analog cassette. The next-generation technology for this application will be digitally based, bringing many improvements in sound quality and document navigation. NISO Committee AQ http://www.niso.org/committees/committee_aq.html was formed to develop a standard for digital talking books (DTBs) to ensure compatibility among the many authoring and playback systems expected to be developed.

NISO has posted the draft standard for public comment at http://www.niso.org/

A key part of the standard is the Document Type Definition (DTD) for Text Content of DTBs, which is included here along with an expanded version for easier reference. Two other documents referenced below were created in the early stages of the standards effort to define user requirements for document navigation systems and playback devices. Finally, a report on digital rights management issues prepared by a NISO DTB working group is included below.

NISO DTB Standard -- Supporting Documents

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Posted on 2011-01-03