10 replies to this topic

[munkypoop]

What is the best site and/or program to use on my laptop to download and read books? I am a quadriplegic, so everything is done with a voice recognition program, Dragon speak. I would like one that it's easy to use, not too expensive to purchase books, great selection of books, a way to save where you left off. I've never read a book digitally, so I have no knowledge about it. Thanks for the help!

[ClaraTaylor]

Investigate the Amazon Kindle application you can download onto your computer - perhaps this can be run with your voice recognition software.

[Nicus]

I download the pdf books and read it with ipad pdf reader or on laptop.

[Spinner]

Our state (and many other state's) library commissions has a talking book program for residents with visual or physical disabilities. They provide the player along with catalogs of all the books available. It works like Net Flix in that the books are sent then the user sends them back when they are finished, there are no due dates. The entire service is free and there are literally hundreds of books (and magazines) available with new titles being added constantly. All it took for my husband to sign up was a note from a medical professional verifying his disability. You can find more information online by doing a google search for your state library commission talking book service. It has been a great option for my husband!

[munkypoop]

Our state (and many other state's) library commissions has a talking book program for residents with visual or physical disabilities. They provide the player along with catalogs of all the books available. It works like Net Flix in that the books are sent then the user sends them back when they are finished, there are no due dates. The entire service is free and there are literally hundreds of books (and magazines) available with new titles being added constantly. All it took for my husband to sign up was a note from a medical professional verifying his disability. You can find more information online by doing a google search for your state library commission talking book service. It has been a great option for my husband!

is the only way it works as a talking book, or can you actually read it yourself instead?

[Spinner]

Our state (and many other state's) library commissions has a talking book program for residents with visual or physical disabilities. They provide the player along with catalogs of all the books available. It works like Net Flix in that the books are sent then the user sends them back when they are finished, there are no due dates. The entire service is free and there are literally hundreds of books (and magazines) available with new titles being added constantly. All it took for my husband to sign up was a note from a medical professional verifying his disability. You can find more information online by doing a google search for your state library commission talking book service. It has been a great option for my husband!

is the only way it works as a talking book, or can you actually read it yourself instead?

This program only has talking books. But there are local libraries that have electronic books that can be downloaded and read for free. I know the library where I work has a pretty extensive collection of electronic books that can be accessed online for free. Our local public library has a collection of ebooks as well. (Can you tell I'm a librarian? ;o))

[munkypoop]

Our state (and many other state's) library commissions has a talking book program for residents with visual or physical disabilities. They provide the player along with catalogs of all the books available. It works like Net Flix in that the books are sent then the user sends them back when they are finished, there are no due dates. The entire service is free and there are literally hundreds of books (and magazines) available with new titles being added constantly. All it took for my husband to sign up was a note from a medical professional verifying his disability. You can find more information online by doing a google search for your state library commission talking book service. It has been a great option for my husband!

is the only way it works as a talking book, or can you actually read it yourself instead?

This program only has talking books. But there are local libraries that have electronic books that can be downloaded and read for free. I know the library where I work has a pretty extensive collection of electronic books that can be accessed online for free. Our local public library has a collection of ebooks as well. (Can you tell I'm a librarian? ;o))

LOL. Kind of! But thank you very much. I will look into that!

[Spinner]

Oh and if your local library system doesn't have any e-books, check with your state library commission.

[Captain Pike]

Use the latest Dragon for dictating (version preferred 11.5) is really the only game in town. But I like to read – I enjoy to read actual, physical books. I like the feel and smell of a real book although they are difficult to deal with, being a C-5 quad. I've gotten pretty good with my tentacles. But more to your question, you can get kindle for the PC for free – a simple Google search will yield the link. They have many free books and obviously you can purchase everything else – almost everything is available for the Kindle.

I don't mind reading right off the page of my computer, and one of my favorite sites is http://www.online-literature.com
. At this site they have a great many works of classic writers. You won't find James Patterson or Jean Auel, for example – won't find contemporary authors (writers who have active copyright). If you have Dragon installed on your pewter, you can use many of its commands to help move through the online books. "Page down", "start scrolling", and " go to top", are commands I commonly use to read books displayed on the webpages at the link above.

I thank God for my ability to read – I have caught up on many great books and stories since I broke my neck. All the great classics I was assigned in high school and college and skipped through or don't remember are a joy to me today to review. Good luck and enjoy reading.

[munkypoop]

Use the latest Dragon for dictating (version preferred 11.5) is really the only game in town. But I like to read – I enjoy to read actual, physical books. I like the feel and smell of a real book although they are difficult to deal with, being a C-5 quad. I've gotten pretty good with my tentacles. But more to your question, you can get kindle for the PC for free – a simple Google search will yield the link. They have many free books and obviously you can purchase everything else – almost everything is available for the Kindle.

I don't mind reading right off the page of my computer, and one of my favorite sites is http://www.online-literature.com
. At this site they have a great many works of classic writers. You won't find James Patterson or Jean Auel, for example – won't find contemporary authors (writers who have active copyright). If you have Dragon installed on your pewter, you can use many of its commands to help move through the online books. "Page down", "start scrolling", and " go to top", are commands I commonly use to read books displayed on the webpages at the link above.

I thank God for my ability to read – I have caught up on many great books and stories since I broke my neck. All the great classics I was assigned in high school and college and skipped through or don't remember are a joy to me today to review. Good luck and enjoy reading.

yes I just found the Kindle download earlier today. And it is great that you don't have to purchase the software for Kindle just have to pay for books and whatnot! They even have Playboy and Maxim LOL! I need to catch up with some philosophy books. And yes I have Dragon 11.5 professional edition with the Bluetooth, it works rather well, especially compared to the old one, which sucked! Even the company said the old one sucked when they put out 11! But thank you!

[St. Peter]

Read and write gold.



kurzweill