Literacy Bridge
Hardware
When powered on, the localized verbal instructions lead users through the audio user interface. To access recordings, users are guided by audio prompts and respond with key presses. For instance, pressing the right and left arrows navigate through categories (for example, “health”, “agriculture”, “stories”) and once in a category, the up and down arrows rotate through individual messages.
The current version of the Talking Book is 12 cm x 12 cm x 6.5 cm deep and weighs 225 grams without batteries. Devices are typically powered by two, zinc-carbon, size-D batteries, which we have found in rural markets throughout Ghana for $0.35-0.40. These batteries supply 12-15 hours of typical use. Power can be conserved using earphones, but a built-in speaker enables group listening. To improve robustness and affordability, the device has no display.
Recordings are stored on an internal microSD memory card, which typically provides 17-70 hours of capacity.
Software
The software on the Talking Book is the heart of the device. Because it is a computer, we can work with our partners to customize the software to precisely fill their needs. A few examples of the flexibility of the software are listed below.
Programmable
One of the most powerful aspects of the Talking Book is the ability to play and create what we call “audio applications”. Unlike typical recordings, these applications allow users to engage with the device in a more interactive way. For example, with the current device you can create multiple choice quizzes and audio hyperlinks. However, because the device is a computer, we can create virtually any interactive game you can imagine. Audio activities using a hierarchical structure or random functionality are just a few of the possibilities. We work with our partner organizations to create applications that suit their needs (used most commonly for literacy practice in schools and adult literacy programs).
Statistics
Talking Books gather a variety of usage statistic in the field: they track how often recordings are copied and played, and they enable users to rate recordings. When two Talking Books are connected, the usage statistics are copied between the devices. This way, a single Talking Book will contain the usage statistics from all of the devices it has connected to. We added this functionality to enable our partners to connect a single Talking Book to their computer and view usage statistics for all of their devices through the Audio Content Manager. By reviewing and acting upon this data, our partners are able to increase the effectiveness of their recordings and their programs.
Updates
We continuously improve and add features to the Talking Book. Most of these improvements find their way to the devices in the form of software updates. So how can we get these enhancements to Talking Books that are already deployed in the field? The answer is simple: It is just as easy to update the Talking Book’s software as it is to share content. Simply connect two devices using the built-in cable and everything else happens automatically.