It is dangerous to put too much faith into any one system. For this reason, platform independence is a necessary component of a system that intends to stand the test of time. Any International standard should take into consideration the various specifications and make sure that any system can take advantage of data produced on a variety of platforms. It is easy to produce data that will only work with one playback device. Many vendors want this to happen.
Interoperability means that many systems can work together in a competitive relationship.
The Japanese company Plextor started in 1994 to develop a CD-ROM based player for digital talking books. Plextor company have announced sale of their new and modified Plextalk machine in April 1998. This version is very much built on the knowledge and user inputs from extensive user testing. The interface is currently in French and English and is planned for other languages. The unit has a high-tech and professional look.