Technology Upgrades
With many of our computers having the status of digital dinosaurs, we began to start having more and more problems; crashes, inability to run new software, and SLOW systems dragging us down. In March of last year our Program Director initiated a proposal for a complete hardware upgrade, and after receiving approval from our Board of Directors we began purchasing in June.
We have completely upgraded all our computer workstations for the Administrative, Aural Transcription, and Braille Transcription Departments. Our old Windows XP and Vista systems have been replaced with shiny new computers running the Windows 7 operating system. This has additionally allowed us to upgrade much of our operating software, not only making our operations much more efficient, but enabling our workers to be trained on industry standard applications.
Digital Conversion Project
We have been performing Aural Transcription services since the inception of our organization in 1960 and as a result have accumulated a unique collection of recorded books. Our recordings have been made utilizing the most current technologies of whatever decade they were produced in, this means reel-to-reel, 4-track audio cassette, and now digital recording and mastering technologies.
A problem we have been having with some of our older recordings is that the physical media that they were stored on is beginning to degrade. To prevent the loss of any more of these irreplaceable recordings we have begun the Digital Conversion Project, an effort to transfer all of these recordings from analog to digital and digitally remaster them to achieve the best possible quality. This process can only be done in “real time,” so it will be an ongoing project for quite some time, but we are hoping to have 6 stations running simultaneously to speed the process.
Expanded Library Services
We are always looking for ways to better serve our clients, and we think we have found a winner. Earlier this year our Program Director initiated a proposal for a major expansion to our lending library service, and after receiving approval from our Board of Directors we began purchasing commercially produced audiobooks to augment the recordings in our library. This will allow us to check-out these audiobooks to our clients in the same way that books are checked out from a traditional library, except as always we will provide “door-to-door” service. We currently have approximately 300 audiobooks cataloged and we plan to continually expand this offering.
Braille Transcription Department
Since the creation of the Braille Transcription department in 2003, we have continued to expand our fields of study into more challenging and exciting formats. We continue to get more and more of our staff certified in Braille Transcription. Former workers are now prospering in the outside community and applying these valuable skills. A recent study showed that out of all the former inmates who re-offend across the nation, not one of them was a braille transcriber. It just proves that when an individual is given the opportunity to become a part of something greater than themselves, especially when it involves helping someone less fortunate, that anything is possible.
Currently we have upgraded our operating systems so that we may now produce computer-generated tactile graphics. Using computer drawing programs, we can now produce an image in a standard Word Document and then process that document directly through our embosser. This has become a more cost-effective and efficient process compared to the previous process. The old way involved the transcriber having to draw the image by hand using spurring tools and even gluing patterns on the paper that would then have to be thermoformed. The downside to this old process was that if multiple copies of an image were needed, each page had to be copied one at a time. Using the computer-generated process, endless copies could be made in just a matter of minutes. And in the event that a change had to be made to the drawing, it could be done much more productively.
With each passing year, we become more proficient in our abilities to produce top quality braille materials. As we become more familiar and experienced in the use of computer-generated tactile graphics, it is our immediate goal to implement this technology into our Nemeth Braille Code, as well as maps, graphs, charts, etc.
Aural Transcription Department
The aural transcription department has always had a reputation for transcribing some of the most obscure literature imaginable. For years, the majority of our customers have sought out our services primarily because we seemed to specialize in recording the books that no one else did. As much as we enjoy the challenge of antiquated historical texts containing a dozen foreign languages I am pleased to announce that we are now expanding our focus to include a much expanded children's literature section. Unlike much of our earlier work, these audio recordings are highly theatrical, containing vocal characterizations, music and formats which are geared toward younger listeners. We are also making an effort to adapt all of our new recordings to conform to industry standards by increasing the number of tracks per audio disc and offering our books in an MP3 format.
Brailler Repair
Our Brailler Repair department has been growing in leaps and bounds. Together we pool our energies, skills, expertise, and experience in order to provide the highest quality of service to all our customers. We offer an industries best warranty; guaranteeing our services for 180 days.
This year we’ve made some improvements to our service. First off, we’ve gone to great lengths to improve our turn-around time for repairs. It now takes us only about 5 days to repair a machine and send it back to our customers (an industry best!). Second, we’ve added the option of brailler painting to our restoration services. Third, we’ve improved our brailler technician training program so that we continue to provide the highest level of service to our customers. And finally, we’ve been able to donate (free of charge) Perkins Braille Writers to various individuals and schools.