The wonders of technology never cease...

I am way too cynical for my own good... but whenever I see articles like these, I keep thinking of my own son, whom I can't get to listen to an audiobook on the Ipod... he'd rather read it. There's a place for everything. And I'd love to have these tried out in the libraries in Ghana. But the premise really is a little strange... I mean, radios already do this... and they've been working well for like 100 years... and Christian groups are giving away little MP3 players with bibles on them all over the world... and Fry's sells a little MP3 player for like $9.95... well, this one so does have a cool design...

From International Reading Association blog...

Literacy Bridge begins testing Talking Books in Ghana

February 12, 2009

Think Kindle is exciting? Take a look at this book that talks, was developed entirely by volunteers and costs less than $10. Seattle-based non-profit Literacy Bridge launched its pilot program Wednesday, February 11, 2009, to test dozens of its Talking Books in Ghana. The digital audio player and recorder is designed as a tool to teach literacy when used with textbooks, and help rural people who can't read get access to information.

The man behind the project is Cliff Schmidt, a former Microsoft program manager who studied artificial intelligence and thought a lot about how literacy can play a role in moving people out of poverty. He left Microsoft to form Literacy Bridge.

In a place like Ghana, Schmidt thinks having spoken information at hand will help people avoid lengthy trips to visit clinics or other offices. Next he hopes to use the Talking Books to reach women in Afghanistan (90% of whom are illiterate), but ideally the device could be used anywhere in the world. Read more in The Seattle Times online.