| Audio books refer to human-read or | | | | advantages. They are great time savers for |
| computer-generated recordings of books' content on | | | | multitaskers, allowing people to do other things while |
| CDs, cassette tapes or digital formats. They have | | | | listening, such as driving, walking, working, riding and |
| become more and more popular, especially among | | | | even waiting in line at the supermarket. They are |
| children and among people with sight problems or | | | | popular when driving, too, as an alternative to radio. |
| other disabilities. They are used both as learning tools | | | | These books on tape are also very accessible for |
| and as convenient and exciting ways to read books. | | | | older, ill, recovering and disabled people, as they are an |
| According to some recent studies, the most frequently | | | | excellent and practical way to fill in their boring or |
| used purchasing method is to buy audio books online, | | | | unproductive moments and to bring them back the |
| as you save both time and energy. | | | | pleasure of reading. More than that, these audio books |
| Also known as books on tape, audio books are usually | | | | are a great opportunity for blind people, giving them the |
| distributed on cassette tapes, CDs or various digital | | | | chance to experience and enjoy a wide range of |
| formats, such as MP3 or Windows Media Audio. The | | | | popular books, stories, novels or information and helping |
| more advanced portable music players, like MP3 | | | | them to improve their education, to develop new |
| players or iPods, made them even more accessible | | | | hobbies, to learn new habits and to enrich their |
| and more enjoyable to people. These audio versions | | | | personal and professional life. Nowadays, they have |
| can be either purchased, rent or download. More often | | | | gained more and more popularity among business |
| than not, people rather get them online. Nowadays, | | | | people, acting as ideal mentoring tools on |
| there are a lot of specialized sites, which provide a real | | | | business-related topics. Nevertheless, beside their |
| library of books on tape. It is very efficient and energy | | | | practical advantages, there is also the entertainment |
| saving to buy audio books online, especially for busy | | | | side. |
| persons, as they just have to enter the site, to log in | | | | Books on tape are also used for education. They may |
| and to choose their book. | | | | range from home-schooling courses and learning |
| Audio books are usually considered dramatized | | | | meditation to language training and public speaking. |
| versions of printed books, as they stress upon a | | | | They usually focus on a particular skill, but they may |
| complete cast, music and sound effects. Depending on | | | | also aim at shifting the listener's life entirely. Audio |
| the recording type, there are two main categories of | | | | books are also considered an exciting form of |
| books on tape: human-read and computer-generated. | | | | entertainment and educational alternatives for children. |
| While the human-read versions are read by volunteers | | | | They are great learning tools, as they provide a large |
| and have a more personal involvement and impact, the | | | | vocabulary and increase their imagination and |
| computer-generated versions are read by computer | | | | communication skills, as well as their reading |
| voices and are associated with a larger variety. The | | | | comprehension. They can be easily used to stimulate |
| computer-generated voices used in these books are | | | | literacy and a love of learning in children. Audio |
| very similar to those on automated systems used by | | | | versions of books help children to develop a love for |
| the blind people, as well as some telephone automation | | | | information and knowledge and stimulate them to start |
| systems. | | | | exploring the exciting world of written books. More |
| Audio books are very appreciated, as they are not | | | | often than not, they are used as bedtime stories, |
| only amazing tools, but they have also a lot of | | | | providing a calming and relaxing atmosphere. |