Week 4 Accessibility and Equity Audio book

(Text to speech tools)

When I am thinking text to speech tools, I remembered I tried to use an Audiobook. I signed up for the audible free trials. At first, I thought it is a convenient way to absorb information while I cannot use both hands. However, it turned out that I did not remember at all after I listened and it requires a lot of concentration, making me tired. I realized I am good at absorbing information by watching rather than listening. Nevertheless, it gives more opportunities to access books who have a disability. I think the demand for audiobook will grow as people become busier and cannot concentrate on reading books. Some people want to access books while they are walking or riding trains.

Information gathering through books is also diversifying and being replaced by digital and audiobooks. I use physical books and digital book. While I am in Canada, it is difficult to access Japanese books and Manga so I use kindle tablet. It helps to save the shipping cost and I do not have to carry heavy books.

Moreover, there is a useful tool called “word-wise” to read books in English. The Word Wise explains the difficult word by giving short definitions. I used to avoid reading books in English because I get annoyed every time I encountered words that I do not know. It takes time to look it up in the dictionary but this Word Wise tool can save time to look it up.