[bksvol-discuss] Re: Your Suggestions for Books to Add to the Collection
- From: Scott Rains <scottr@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2010 12:24:26 -0700
Bob,
Great suggestion so here's a glimpse into how we are addressing that.
Math formulas are particularly difficult to work with. They scan as images and
cannot be OCR'd further. They must be translated into either language or
MathML. Neither process can be automated.
You may have seen me refer to working with a subgroup of Bookshare volunteers
on image description. You may also have heard that we just opened a 5 year $5
million-funded project on image description called DIAGRAM.
Over the long term DIAGRAM will address these problems. Even in the short term
any translation of formulas that we do must be hand edited into the text
one-by-one.
To give you a sense of what all this means: Earlier this week we had a report
on the progress made by a math professor I recently recruited as a volunteer.
He has completed one page in the textbook he is working one. It took him one
week.
You have a great suggestion and we are committing a great deal of resource to
solving the technical hurdles involved in representing math. So far it is safe
to say that you are not likely to see to many math books available -- but my
guess is that you will find them first at Bookshare!
Scott Rains
Benetech Fellow, Bookshare Volunteer Department
________________________________________
From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Bob W [rwiley45@xxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2010 11:59 AM
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Your Suggestions for Books to Add to the
Collection
A couple of areas that are sorely lacking is in the areas of math and
science.
If bookshare could develop methods of producing books on algebra or physics,
or similar disciplines, then I think there are a lot of folks who would
join, as these areas are not covered by other organizations.
Just my opinion.
Bob
----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott Rains" <scottr@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2010 12:31 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Your Suggestions for Books to Add to the
Collection
> Hi Sue,
>
> 3,000+ titles ePubs from Simon and Schuster did not pass our quality
> standards. I tried to search for Oxygen in that database but it is not
> easily searchable. A good guess is that the book yu are looking for is in
> that set because it had bad metadata.
>
> Scott Rains
> Benetech Fellow, Bookshare Volunteer Department
> ________________________________________
> From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Sue Stevens
> [siss52@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 4:26 PM
> To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Your Suggestions for Books to Add to the
> Collection
>
> Hi Scott,
>
> There is a book I would love too see in the collection. It is Oxygen by
> Carol Cassella. What is odd is that the follow-up book, The Healer, or
> maybe just Healer, has been submitted by bookshare staff as a PQ book. So
> why do they not submit the first one, Oxygen? It was a bestseller, and of
> course no one would want to scan it because Simon and Schuster is the
> publisher. Can someone request it from them, please?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Sue S.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Scott Rains" <scottr@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 3:30 PM
> Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Your Suggestions for Books to Add to the
> Collection
>
>
> The question is what is *not* in the collection that would be popular with
> specific potential members that you know.
>
> Scott Rains
> Benetech Fellow, Bookshare Volunteer Department
> ________________________________________
> From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Bob W
> [rwiley45@xxxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 1:26 PM
> To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Your Suggestions for Books to Add to the
> Collection
>
> I think the best way to tell what readers are reading is to look at the
> "most popular books". My guess is that members read the same thing that
> nonmembers read (if they can get a hold of it).
>
> Bob
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Scott Rains" <scottr@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 2:32 PM
> Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Your Suggestions for Books to Add to the
> Collection
>
>
>> This is a new thread in the general discussion on recruiting new members:
>>
>> What books would potential members that you know like to see in the
>> collection?
>>
>> In other words, what could we add that would make it easier for you to
>> recruit new Bookshare members?
>>
>> I am interested in specific titles or series. Our priority interest is in
>> non-educational books.
>>
>> With your answers to the questions here we are trying to learn from your
>> networks to discover some of the gaps in the Bookshare collection. Please
>> ask around. Reach out to those you think may find Bookshare valuable and
>> post what you discover.
>>
>> Obviously, some of these books are already in the Wish List. Even if they
>> are please mention them.
>>
>> Scott Rains
>> Benetech Fellow, Bookshare Volunteer Department
>> ________________________________________
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