| The goal of technology is to make people's lives | | | | them accessible to most blind people. |
| easier, more convenient, and better. Nowhere is | | | | Technology really can help improve and enhance |
| this more prominently demonstrated than in audio | | | | people's lives: in the case of audio books, it has |
| books for the blind. | | | | helped blind and visually impaired individuals obtain |
| Our society has always been visual and is | | | | knowledge in a way that they couldn't just five or |
| becoming increasingly so: from newspapers and | | | | ten years previous. |
| books to computer screens, blind people have | | | | Art, music, drama, history, geography, economics, |
| faced the struggle of accessing information that is | | | | current events, fiction, biographies, poetry - no |
| readily available to most other people. The ability | | | | genre, subject, or style is off limits when it |
| to read a book or newspaper is taken for | | | | comes to audio books. Visually impaired people |
| granted by many of us, but it is a pleasure that is | | | | have access to the world of knowledge that was |
| often denied the blind. | | | | previously housed in books, newspapers, or |
| Today's biggest technological advancements - | | | | magazines. |
| computers and internet access - provide an | | | | In the area of education, audio books have been |
| opportunity to view even more information, but in | | | | particularly helpful and effective. Core subjects of |
| a format that is difficult for those with visual | | | | reading, writing, math, and science are able to be |
| impairments. Braille, of course, is one method that | | | | learned through audio books, making easy access |
| blind people can enjoy written language and learn. | | | | to education a right enjoyed by the blind and |
| However, this tactile form of reading is expensive, | | | | visually impaired. |
| making it unhelpful for many who are blind. | | | | There is more to audio books than education. |
| With one seemingly simple advancement, doors to | | | | They can be accessed solely for the pleasure of |
| gaining information, being entertained, and staying | | | | hearing a story. Thousands of titles are available in |
| current with the news were thrown open: enter | | | | audio formats, including popular and contemporary |
| audio books for the blind. | | | | authors, classics, fiction, non-fiction, and much |
| For the first time, visually impaired people could go | | | | more. |
| online and download their choice of books. The | | | | With all the technological advancements being |
| mass production of audio books for the blind, the | | | | made, it is easy to forget the people that are an |
| opportunity came to learn in a way that had | | | | integral part of the equation. Audio books for the |
| never been available before. In addition, the audio | | | | blind are an example of technology at its best and |
| books were inexpensive or even free, making | | | | most helpful. |