2012.18

NLS Model DS1 Digital Talking Book Player

Rectilinear dark charcoal gray plastic chassis with rounded edges; pull-out white plastic carrying handle on front beneath mouth of white-lined cartridge slot; round speaker grill on top, flanked by two sets of arrow buttons, left set labeled "Tone," right set labeled "Speed"; raised line below speaker; set of colored buttons below raised line; red button labeled "Power"; white crescent moon-shaped button labeled "Sleep"; rectangular green button labeled "Play/Stop" flanked by white arrow-shaped buttons labeled "RW" and "FF"; paired of vertically arranged yellow arrow=shaped buttons labeled "Volume"; seal of Library of Congress embossed above "LIBRARY OF CONGRESS/NATIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE FOR THE BLIND AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED"; headphone and USB jacks on right side of chassis; black plastic power cord in recess on back of chassis; four rubber feet and battery compartment on base; label above cord recess, "DS1-0239232/09.10"; USB auxiliary cable.

H-2 W-6.125 D-9 inches

2010

National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

Japan

The NLS introduced its digital talking book machine in 2009 to replace cassette technology available since the early 1970s. Initially, the service tested 5,000 machines, then began distributing them free-of-charge nationwide in late 2009. APH began manufacture of talking books on the digital cartridges used by the machine in 2010. The NLS introduced two models. The DS11 is the basic model, lacking navigational controls available on the DA1. In addition to recorded books on digital cartridges available from the NLS, the USB jack on both units allowed users to download content from the internet and listen on the player.

Museum Purchase, 2012.18.