Audio books are emerging as a hot favorite in both the USA and the UK. According to a US Market data Enterprises market report, more than acim were sold during the course. The projected annual increase in spend on audio books in the USA is conservatively estimated to be between the 4.5% to 5% marks.
In the UK, the Audio Publishers Association (APA) estimates that they will be doubling the size of the UK market for audio books from £75m to £150m within the next three years.
That is a lot of audio books, by anybody’s definition. One of the many reasons for this upsurge in the sale of audio books lies in the advantages to be had.
1. Visual impairment Given a choice between the sizable and cumbersome Braille books available and audio books on CD, the vast majority of visually impaired people would opt for the latter. When it comes to new releases, purchasing an audio book online or downloading audio books from the internet, is markedly simpler and quicker than waiting for these titles to appear in Braille.
2. Studies Not all high school and college students are avid readers. This can be problematic considering the copious amounts of reading required from students. Fortunately, many of the prescribed text books for high school and college students are available as audio books. This allows students to make notes while they listen. This is much quicker than the to-and-fro process needed when reading the printed word. Note taking while listening to audio books supports the learning process, as both the visual and aural senses are engaged.
3. Kinetic, ADHD and ADD learners Kinetic, ADHD and ADD learners need to move about while studying. Audio books present the ideal solution to learners who fall within these three categories. The learners can move about to their hearts’ content while the content is being presented. No more striding up and down, book in hand, battling to follow the lines in the moving book.
Parents of ADHD and ADD learners could consider downloading audio books to their children’s MP3 players or iPods. The learners can then listen to the audio books through their earphones. This will eliminate those sounds that would normally attract the learner’s attention and disrupt his or her concentration.
4. VDU strain VDU strain is a major contributor to premature sight deterioration. Most people spend a lot of time looking at their computer screens while at work and, when they get home, they perpetuate the strain by sitting in front of their television screens. The truth is that listening to audio books is much more relaxing than watching TV. You can lie back, close your weary eyes and allow your audio books to tell the tale.
5. The time factor In between household chores, family commitments and the pressure of work, most people simply do not have the time to indulge in reading. This makes audio books a very attractive option. You can very easily listen to a favorite title while commuting to and from work. It makes the journey seem quicker. Time spent attending to household chores could also become ‘reading’ time – courtesy of one of the many audio books available today.