Literacy Bridge
We built the world’s most affordable, durable, audio device designed specifically for people who cannot read and who live without electricity. Local experts spread knowledge reliably and easily with no information loss. Rural teachers complement their lessons with interactive applications and audio books.
The Talking Book shares vital knowledge among poor, rural communities.
Overview
Distributed by local organizations
Our field partners purchase Talking Books to record information about agriculture, health, and education in their local languages and dialects. They then distribute the devices by hand to willing participants and offer a short demonstration on how to use it.
Listen, repeat, share
Recipients can navigate simple audio menus by touch and then listen to the information they are interested in. They can repeat audio they need to hear again, play it back for family and friends, or simply lend the small, durable devices out.
Interactive reading
Learning becomes more self-directed when users can adjust the speed of the audio to suit their pace or be prompted by ‘audio links’ to hear word definitions and answer multiple choice questions.
Connect and exchange audio
Any two devices can be connected to copy audio from one to another. With no additional services or technology, new information is able to spread wherever people have Talking Books at hand.
Record on-demand
Anyone can record their own audio onto the Talking Book to expand on existing ideas, share new information, or relay feedback to the organizations that provided the devices.
Durable and accessible
The Talking Book is small and portable so it is easy to transport and share. The device was also built to survive life in dry dust storms and tropical rain.