Digital Talking Books on a PC: A Usability Evaluation of the Prototype DAISY Playback Software
Sarah Morley · 1998 · Proceedings of the Third International ACM Conference on Assistive Technologies (Assets '98) · doi:10.1145/274497.274527
Summary
This paper describes the design and usability evaluation of the first PC-based DAISY (Digital Audio-Based Information System) playback software, developed at the request of the Swedish Braille and Talking Book Library. The DAISY system represented a major advance over traditional audio-taped talking books by enabling structured, non-serial access to recorded audio content. Books are coded at multiple levels — phrases, groups (paragraphs), pages, and hierarchical section headings — allowing readers to jump quickly to different parts rather than fast-forwarding through linear tape. The software provided keyboard-driven navigation commands for reading control (play/stop, phrase-by-phrase, group-by-group), structural navigation (next/previous section at multiple heading levels, jump forward/back 15 sections), orientation commands (section information, current position, page information, goto page), bookmarks (up to 9 numbered bookmarks with search), speed control (5 preset speeds from Low to Turbo), and a visual interface showing indented section headings. The author conducted a detailed usability evaluation with 13 blind and partially sighted participants who completed realistic tasks across 2-3 different books, using a combination of observed performance, 5-point usability ratings, and semi-structured interviews.
Key findings
The DAISY Playback Software received strongly positive overall ratings: ease of learning 3.77/5, overall ease of use 4.00/5, ease of remembering commands 4.00/5, and how much participants liked the software 4.46/5. Reading commands were rated highly (ease of reading 4.72/5), and participants found the system consistent, logical, and requiring very few keypresses. However, navigation through headings was rated very difficult (2.46/5), revealing the system's most significant weakness: the lack of structural information for auditory-only users. Sighted users could see the indented heading hierarchy on screen, but auditory users received no cues to distinguish between section levels, could not tell whether sections contained sub-sections, and found it confusing when navigating commands jumped unexpectedly to different heading levels. Participants also could not distinguish between a heading and body text while reading. The evaluation identified several solutions: adding non-speech sounds (earcons) to indicate section level, sub-section presence, dead-ends, and playback state; providing overview commands for book structure; and adding orientation commands to announce current position context. Most participants preferred keyboard shortcuts over numpad equivalents since shortcuts were more memorable and grouped logically.
Relevance
This paper documents a pivotal moment in accessible publishing — the transition from analogue talking books to structured digital formats that would eventually become the DAISY standard used worldwide today. The usability findings remain directly relevant to modern audio navigation design. The core problem identified — that hierarchical structure obvious in visual displays is invisible in audio-only presentation — is a universal challenge in non-visual interface design that applies to screen readers navigating web pages, audio-based document readers, and voice interfaces. The specific recommendations (non-speech sounds for structure, dead-end indicators, orientation commands) anticipated features that are now standard in screen readers and DAISY players. For accessibility practitioners, the evaluation methodology — combining task performance, rating scales, and qualitative interviews with blind participants — provides a useful model for inclusive usability testing. The paper also demonstrates how early user evaluation can identify fundamental design issues before a standard becomes entrenched.
Tags: DAISY · digital talking book · usability testing · blind and low vision · auditory navigation · accessible publishing · structured audio · screen reader
Standards referenced: DAISY