Texas School for the Blind
& Visually Impaired
Outreach Program
www.tsbvi.edu
512-454-8631
Superintendent William Daugherty
Outreach Director Cyral Miller
DAISY Files: Why Carry All That Paper?
Date:
October 13, 2009
Time:
1:30-3:30 PM
Location:TETN Broadcast # 35063
Presented by
Patrick van Geem, Technology Consultant,
Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired Outreach
[email protected]
Developed by
Patrick van Geem, Technology Consultant
Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired
Outreach Program
Why Carry All That Paper?
How to order, read, manage and produce DAISY format information
What is DAISY?
Digital Accessible Information SYstem
A standard for producing accessible and navigable multimedia documents.
Why DAISY?
To produce written materials in digital voice output format
To provide a structure for easy navigation
To provide print disabled readers access to more written information
Features Included in DAISY Books
Human narration voice output
A mark-up file (xml or html)
Time points
Navigation controls
Six Types of DAISY Books
Full audio with Title element only
Full audio with Navigation Center
Full audio with Navigation Center and partial text
Full audio and full text
Full text and some audio
Text and no audio
Full Audio with Title Element Audio only
No navigation structure
Linear audio (like MP3 files)
Only the title is announced
Direct access point is not available
Full Audio with Navigation Center
Audio file only
Provides navigation structure
Some provides page navigation
Full Audio with Navigation Center and Partial Text
It is an audio file
File has structure to navigation system
File contains some text
Audio and text components are synchronized
Text is used in keyword search, index, and glossary
Full Audio and Full Text
Has a complete audio and text structure
Audio and text are synchronized
Can be used to generate Braille
Full Text and Some Audio
Contains complete text and some audio
Used as a dictionary (audio for pronunciation)
Audio and text are synchronized
Text and No Audio
Can be used for Braille production
Contains a navigation structure in electronic text only
Ways to Listen to DAISY Files
Stand alone DAISY Players
Computer playback software
Mobile phones
MP3 players - limited navigation
Accessing Digital DAISY Files
Read by using a Braille display or screen reading software
Braille book on paper
Converted to a talking book
Printed on paper
Large print text on screen
Benefits for Students
Bookmarking: locating materials more efficiently when studying.
Able to use APA standards for essays and other papers
Record lectures and talks
Where do I get these DAISY books?
Bookshare www.bookshare.org
Figure 1Illustration of the Bookshare home page website.
Bookshare: Delivery of Service
It is an online library of digital books (catalog/search).
All books are copyrighted.
Account is for people with qualifying disabilities.
50,000-60,000 books are ready for downloading.
417,000 requests for downloads of textbooks.
Bookshare: Who is served?
People with Visual Impairments
Text-to-speech (reader applications)
Materials in Braille or large print
People with Physical Disabilities
Single switch technology (easier to navigate)
People with Learning Disabilities
Full text available in digital format
Reading support software applications
The Share part of Bookshare
Obtain books through purchase or donation.
Volunteer or staff scans books into computers.
Books are proofread for scanning errors.
Staff does a final review of the books.
Books are uploaded to the Bookshare website.
Bookshare: Accessible Digital Formats
DAISY 3 text file
Talking book format (DTB)
Various voice-out methods (reading software, reading devices, screen readers)
BRF (Braille Refreshable Format)
Hard copy embossing
Refreshable Braille devices
National Library Service
www.loc.gov/nls/reference/factsheets/webbraille.html
Figure 2 Illustration of the National Library home page website.
Web-Braille Available Information
Many books are in Braille
Some music scores are available.
All Braille magazines are available.
Who Is Eligible?
Visually Impaired Individuals with 20/200 acuity or less qualify
Individuals with a reading disability qualify
Has to be a legal US resident or citizen
Can use the TSL* ID number for registration
*Texas State Library-Talking Book Program
Where to locate books
Online Catalog: www.loc.gov/nls/catalog
Keyword search (title, author, or subject)
User ID/password (download protection)
Braille Book Review: www.loc.gov/nls/bbr
Links are setup for incoming books
Can search here for new books
NLS Web-Braille
In what format are the files?
All files are format in contracted Braille (ASCII-computer Braille)
Each file contains one volume
Each volume contains a BR number
All files on Web-Braille are .brf files
Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic
www.rfbd.org
Figure 3 Illustration of the RFB&D homepage website
RFB&D: Service Delivery
Is an accessible audio book library
Serves visually impaired and dyslexic
Have titles in every subject and grade level
Contains core textbooks used in K-12
Contains textbooks used in colleges
RFB&D: File Format
Audio textbook files: Windows Media Player
Audio DAISY files
DAISY CD
Downloadable DAISY files (.zip)
Downloadable WMA files (linear audio)
RFB&D: Member Benefits
Free access to large audio book library
Human-narrated with description of images
24/7 online member services
Various downloadable formats
Audible Books
www.audible.com
Figure 4 Illustration of the Audible Home page website.
Audible Books: Services
Big provider of digital spoken word
Up to date (current events)
Popular magazine/best seller books
Narration by professional readers
MP3 files only (Chapter navigation)
Open to all (monthly fee)
Plays only on stand alone players
DAISY Voice Out Devices: How do you listen to these files?
Figure 5 Braille Note mPower
Figure 6 Braille Sense
Figure 7 PacMate (QT and BT)
Portable Braille PDA/Notetakers
Contain some type of book reader.
Get support from both RFB&D and Bookshare
Read Braille, MP3, text* and DAISY files.
Include a Braille display features
Contain internal and external storage systems
*.doc, .docx, .txt, .rtf word-processing files
Digital CD Players (RFB&D Accessible)
Figure 8 Victor Reader Wave
Figure 9 Victor Reader (Classic X and X+)
Figure 10 PlexTalk PTR2 Player/Reader
Digital CD Players: Features
Plays digital CDs
Button navigation (page, chapter & section)
Sturdy and light (5 lbs.)
Battery rechargeable (replaceable)
Good for leisure and textbook reading
Not real expensive ($300-900)
Various voice settings features
Recording (PlexTalk PTR2)
Portable Digital Players
Figure 11Booksense
Figure 12 Victor Reader Stream
Figure 13 Plextor Pocket
Portable Digital Players: Features
Portable (small and light weight)
Telephone keypad navigation
External SD Memory Card storage
Not expensive ($200-400)
Support many file formats
(.xml, mp3, .txt, DAISY, .aa, mp4)
Audio recording (all devices)
Long battery life (12-15 hours)
One has a radio (BookSense)
Digital Playback Software
Easy Reader (Dolphin Access Systems)
gH Player (GW Micro)
eClipse Reader (ITRI Technologies)
AMIS (open source DAISY reader)
Victor ReaderSoft (PC and Mac)
Relatively inexpensive (free-$129)
Upload on several computers
Many voices available (Neo-speak)
Various ways to configure voices
Able to bookmark (1000+)
Navigation structure available
Bookshare/RFB&D supportive
Importance of Software Players
(Study Skills and Literacy)
Flip through pages (like a book)
Allows search by pages, sections, words, and paragraphs.
Able to examine spelling and pronunciation of words
Helps with fluency and comprehension.
Making A DAISY File from Word
Why do you want to do this?
Nothing else to do
Learn more about DAISY file.
Teach students how to use a DAISY file.
Turn hardcopy notes into digital files.
Braille papers vs. digital files.
Making a DAISY f
