First, as a backdrop Pace, Case Western, and Reed College Universities in the US were starting to use the Kindle as a replacement for textbooks.
But the Kindle's menus do not have spoken equivalents for non-signed users, so after law suits from organizations representing the blind, the US Justice Department wades in and forces a truce.
So, I assume there are a few people at Amazon very busy right now adding accessibility features into the Kindle's menu system (and it's associated PC software if that doesn't have it already).
This could be an insurmountable problem for touchscreen devices I guess, unless a feature could be added that read out what was under the user's finger allowing them to navigate and use a touch screen UI (in a special mode, that would not be easy to use gestures and drag and drop with).....
Sources:
Sources:
- Yahoo News at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100113/ap_on_hi_te/us_kindle_blind
- Engadget coverage at : http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/13/justice-department-settlement-puts-on-campus-kindle-use-on-hold/
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5 comments:
"Pace, Case Western, and Reed College Universities in the US were starting to use the Kindle as a replacement for textbooks."
Not true; they were testing the Kindle in a few classes. It was a pilot program, with no plans to replace textbooks.
"First, as a backdrop Pace, Case Western, and Reed College Universities in the US were starting to use the Kindle as a replacement for textbooks."
Not true; each school was testing the Kindle in a pilot program, with no plans to replace textbooks.
Hi "vossron".
I was (possibly incorrectly) echoing Engadget's statement:
"...using Kindles as an alternative to textbooks, who have now agreed to shelve the e-readers until such enhancements are in place as part of a settlement with the Justice Department"
I have no direct source of the different initiatives at those Universities.
If you do, or have more information, and are willing to share it - then I (and I think others) would love to hear more about them.
Thanks for the correction.
Yes, Engadget (apparently) didn't read the agreement; here's one of them:
http://www.ada.gov/reed_college.htm
The schools have agreed to not violate the ADA, which they wouldn't have done anyway.
(Sorry for the earlier double post; it looked like the first one was ignored, but when the second one also looked ignored, I figured it was a "feature." :-) )
Thanks. Makes interesting reading.
While reading, it occurred to me:
What measures do the Universities take to provide accessible alternatives to standard (printed) textbooks?
Do they provide Braille equivalents to all textbooks? Or is the need covered by a reading aparatus, or a version of the textbooks on a PC with screen reading software?
The DOJ's point 4 sounds a bit of a tall order to me:
"An electronic book reader will be considered fully accessible to individuals with visual impairments if all uses of the device that are available to individuals without disabilities are available to individuals with visual impairments in a manner, which ensures that its use the college setting is equally as effective for individuals with visual impairments as it is for others."
A visual tool (book) that is "equally as effective" if you are blind? Beyond Text-to-Speach, imagine diagrams and videos that could be shown.....Does that imply a textbook shouldn't have that type of content, as it won't be equally accessible to all?
Although I see later they fudge that demand with this statement:
"Students with visual impairments should enjoy ease of use that is substantially equivalent to that provided to sighted students."
Any sight-impaired readers/listeners to this blog who would like to give there opinion?
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