[bcab] Re: e-books

There is an article on E-books on wikipedia at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebook
 
As described in the article, several different formats are used many of which 
require specific software to access them and not all of these software 
applications are screen reader friendly.
 
Many E-books are issued in PDF format and some of these have additional 
security applied which prevents screen readers from accessing them.
 
A text editor, primarily written for blind programmers, has been created and 
made freely available by Jamal Mazri.  I may have spelt his name wrong but he 
is an incredible force in VI software production in the USA.
 
The editor is called EdSharp and, if I remember correctly, can be downloaded at:
http://www.empowermentzone.com/edsetup.exe
 
This editor has an open other format item in the file menu which will attempt 
to convert some formats in to structured text including PDF documents.
 
Since EdSharp uses dot net technologies, you may find the installer also 
downloading extra Microsoft components before being able to complete the 
process.
 
Documentation also comes with the program and I recommend reading this 
carefully if you wish to use the editor for anything other than just reading 
text.
 
HTH,
 
Phil Medway
 
ICT accessibility developer
 
Deployment team
 
Core ICT
 
Oxfordshire County Council

 
Tel: 01869 347639
 
Mobile: 07980 519990
 
-----Original Message-----
From: bcab-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bcab-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of 
John M Hull
Sent: 24 September 2007 06:57
To: bcab@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bcab] Re: ebooks


Guy,
No one seems to have taken this question up so I will comment on the basis of 
my limited experience.
I am not too sure about the difference between an Ebook and the electronic text 
of a book supplied by the publisher. I get a few books electronically in this 
way, although publishers are slow and appear reluctant. The only time I know 
that what they sent me was in fact an Ebook, I found that it was in pdf, and I 
could not get it open, because the system said it was too large. I didn't know 
how to solve that problem and that's where the matter rests.
It would be interesting to have views from more experienced people.
John
 
-----Original Message-----
From: bcab-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bcab-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of 
Guy
Sent: 17 September 2007 18:32
To: bcab@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bcab] ebooks
 
Has anyone tried reading ebooks, whether microsoft reader, adobe digital 
editions or mobipocket ones? If they work with screenreader I'll get a coule I 
won't from WH Smith's ebook store.
 
 
Guy 

Oxfordshire County Council - rated a four-star 'Excellent' council by the Audit 
Commission

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