What is Daisy

DAISY is an internationally recognised accessible multi-media publishing system, compatible with the World Wide Web. This new way of publishing is opening up a much wider choice of reading for individuals who are blind and others who are unable to use standard-sized print.

For decades, the audio cassette (and before that the vinyl record) was the only way in which the majority of individuals unable to read print could access information. But, for anything other than reading a book from one end to the other, these analogue formats were simply inadequate.

DAISY is an acronym for Digital Accessible Information SYstem. The original concept for DAISY was born from the need for accessible audio that could be used by individuals unable to read print, as easily and efficiently as a sighted person uses a printed book.

At its inception in the early 1990s, the ‘A’ in ‘DAISY’ represented the word ‘Audio’. Much has happened since then, taking DAISY far beyond simple digital audio, and making DAISY truly ‘a better way to read’.

DAISY talking books can be helpful for students of all ages:

DAISY provides an enriched multimedia reading experience that is completely accessible and navigable
DAISY offers text and audio synchronization
DAISY audio recordings can be made by professional or volunteer narrators, or can be generated as synthetic speech
DAISY can support Braille output
DAISY provides adjustable character display
DAISY meets both simple and advanced reading needs

DAISY is for EVERYONE who needs accessible information and for EVERYONE who loves to READ

DAISY multimedia can be:

A talking book or computerized text, also a synchronized presentation of text and audio produced according to DAISY Standards. While reading a DAISY book, a reader can go to the next or previous page, chapter or sentence. These books can be distributed on a CD/DVD, memory card or through the Internet.

You can listen to DAISY books on:

Standalone DAISY Players
Computers using DAISY playback software such as AMIS
Mobile phones
Tablets (Android/Apple/Windows)
MP3 players – with limited navigation
iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad

A computerized text DAISY book can be:

Read using refreshable Braille display or screen reading software
Printed as Braille book on paper
Converted to a talking book using synthesized voice
Printed on paper as large print book
Read as large print text on computer screen

How is DAISY multimedia useful for students?

Readers can place multiple bookmarks and move around quickly, therefore DAISY is ideal for locating material quickly when studying.
The DAISY structuring allows essays and papers to be completed to academic standards with footnote details and bibliography.
Some digital DAISY playback devices have the ability to record, so you can record lectures.

To know more