Vision Australia’s Library bridges the digital divide by providing immediate access to 45,000 book titles for people unable to access standard print by using simple technology.
The innovative 3G DAISY player’ bundles wireless broadband into players that people are already familiar with. The player connects directly to Vision Australia’s i-access® online library where the user has immediate access to a wide range of books, daily newspapers, magazines and other topical information.
The device does not need a computer or internet connection, making it ideal for users who cannot afford or who are not confident to use other online devices. It can also be used at any location.
“With the majority of our clients being older and with difficulties accessing content on the internet, we needed to develop a solution that would provide online access to a greater variety of information in a user friendly and effective way,” says Andrew Furlong, Technology Support Manager at the Vision Australia Library.
“The 3G solution means that people can now get information immediately wherever they are on a device they are happy to use,” he added.
The Vision Australia Library provides content to approximately 16,000 people across Australia.
To find out more about the 3G Daisy player or to join the Vision Australia Library call 1300 65 46 56 or visit www.visionaustralia.org/library
Stories from Vision Australia's Library members:
Phillip Moon, Chermiside, QLD
Phillip Moon is a 62 year old Vision Australia client and a military veteran. He served in the Royal Australia Air Force (RAAF) from 1970 for 16 years. During his service he worked with aircrafts and was exposed to an extremely dangerous chemical used in F-111 wings.
He has suffered many health problems as a result of his exposure to the chemical, including vision loss. Phillip’s vision impairment is in the form of tunnel vision. He has 10% useable vision in both eyes. He has been a client of Vision Australia for around five years and uses the Vision Australia library service to access books.
One of Phillip’s favourite authors is adventure novelist Clive Cussler. He also enjoys the Dreamland series by aviation thriller author Dale Brown.
Phillip uses the 3G Daisy player to listen to audio books and he says the machine is “Brilliant, amazing!” Phillip likes that the 3G Daisy player gives him access to a virtual bookshelf of novels provided by Vision Australia’s library collection.
Once Phillip finishes reading the novels on his virtual bookshelf he simply selects the ‘return’ option on the 3G Daisy Player, which automatically returns his old books and replaces them with new ones.
Daniel Warren, Buninyong, Victoria
At just 20 years of age, Daniel Warren is one of Vision Australia Library’s younger members.
Daniel’s low vision is a culmination of various eye problems. His side vision didn’t develop correctly. He also has severe long sightedness.
These eye conditions make reading standard print very problematic for Daniel. He has been a client of Vision Australia for six years and has used the Library service in that time.
He enjoys reading and uses the latest in audiobook technology, the 3G Daisy Player, to access books. The 3G Daisy player allows Daniel to select from a “virtual bookshelf” of titles.
He likes to browse the Vision Australia catalogue and choose books that spark his interest. Some of his preferred genres are Sci-Fi, Fantasy and the classics.
Aston Agostinho, QLD
Although he is only nearing his fourth birthday, Aston Agostinho, has already developed a great love of books and creative story-telling.
This is despite having low vision, caused by Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy – a genetic eye condition that affects the growth and development of the blood vessels in the retina.
“As a family, we love being able to spend time with our children reading books and talking about a story. Sometimes to make story time fun, we change the words around.”
Aston was introduced to Vision Australia’s Feelix Library when he was younger. Feelix is a unique library that caters for children aged seven and under, who are blind or have low vision. It enables young borrowers to enjoy the same stories as their sighted peers, while being introduced to braille and tactile materials, all essential for early literacy development.
“The great thing with the Feelix Library is that each kit contains toys related to the story. When Aston reads, he can also touch and feel elements of the story.”
Now that Aston is in a pre-prep program and attends kindergarten five days a fortnight, he is learning pre-braille and will go on to learn braille.
“It is so important for every child to have access to books. Parents of children, who are blind or have low vision, need to find out what resources are available to them, so they can start their child on the road to reading,” concluded Jackie.
Margaret Hansford, Seacombe Gardens, SA
Margaret Hansford, 82, is a client of Vision Australia and accesses audiobooks through the Vision Australia library service.
Margaret’s husband was a World War II veteran and joined the Navy when he was just 16 years old. At 20 he was sent to Hiroshima, just after the atomic bomb had been dropped.
“He didn’t know the danger of being there, he was walking around Hiroshima in shorts” said Margaret. “He was very unwell for the last 15 years of his life. He had many serious illnesses.” Margaret’s husband died two years ago. “I miss him very much.”
Margaret is legally blind due to an eye condition called Macular Degeneration. Macular Degeneration affects central vision and leaves peripheral vision largely intact. People with Macular Degeneration can’t see well enough to drive, read and have trouble recognising faces. Margaret says she also can’t watch TV and even has trouble seeing the food on her plate.
Margaret is an avid reader and she likes to have four books on the go at any one time, “I read half the night” says Margaret of her love of books.
She likes to read family sagas, crime novels, mystery novels and sometimes police dramas. “I don’t like biographies or non-fiction” said Margaret of her taste in books. “I don’t know what I’d do without audiobooks!”