Stand-Alone Device to Access Audio Content over the Web
Published: Jun 22, 2007
A UK-based assistive technology charity plans to launch a stand-alone device that provides access to selected news and entertainment audio Web content without the need for high IT skills.
The ‘SpeakOn device, developed by a-technic, will be about the size of a digital TV set-top box and will plug in to a phone socket to play its output through any standard speaker, TV or stereo. It will use software developed by a-technic trustee Professor Isaac Porat, from the University of Manchester, to present choices of content and allow for download automatically from the Internet.
Content offered will include DAISY-formatted books, MP3 music files, Internet radio stations, Podcasts and other Web-based content including online newspapers. Users will not need to access websites directly, making the system well-suited for vision-impaired users without high IT skills.
The device will be operated by a simple keypad similar to that of a phone. Four raised navigation buttons arranged around a moveable knob will allow users to scroll and select their choice; for example, tracks from a music playlist or articles from an online newspaper.
“Subscription deals are still being sought for music download and audio newspaper content, but once they are in place, the device will be released at a price of no more than $877 USD,” a-technic founder and chairman Chris Mairs says.
Source: E-Access
