BARD Support Arrives on Orbit Speak Plus and Orbit Player This July

Orbit Research has announced that BARD support is finally coming to the Orbit Speak Plus and the Orbit Player. Voice of the Blind has learned that the update lands on July 15 through a free software update on both devices.

For users who have been waiting on this feature, the announcement puts it simply: "The long wait is over!"

What's Changing

The BARD Mobile app from the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, known as NLS, will be built directly into both units once the update installs. Users will be able to browse the full BARD collection and download titles directly over Wi-Fi, without needing a separate phone or computer to manage the process.

Electronic braille titles downloaded through BARD will be read aloud using text-to-speech, giving Orbit Speak Plus and Orbit Player owners another way to access the library's catalog of books and materials directly from the device itself.

Why It Matters

BARD has long been one of the most important resources for blind and print-disabled readers in the United States, offering access to thousands of braille and audio titles through NLS. Bringing that access natively onto the Orbit Speak Plus and Orbit Player removes a step for users who previously relied on other hardware to get BARD content onto their devices.

The update is scheduled to roll out on July 15 and will be delivered as a standard software update to existing units, according to Orbit Research.

Voice of the Blind will continue following this story as more details on the rollout become available.