[bksvol-discuss] math equations, handwriting, and geekiness in xml was Re: HarperCollins donations
- From: "Noel Romey" <nromey@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:32:56 -0500
Hey guys,
I understand and applaud the fact that we will have these publisher quality
books. However, I wonder how some things will convert. I went through all
of the books on the list, and I too, like Cindy have several books (mostly
ones I have scanned) in the collection. I don't mind them being replaced,
but for Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson, I'll have to get the excellent
bookshare version before it disappears. This book was worked on quite
extensively (validated I should say) by Pratik Patel. What I'm worried
about is if the xml files that we're getting from publishers include
mathematical equations and other things that contribute to the work. I know
that Crypto has such mathematical equations, and I know that Pratik manually
inputted / fixed them from my scan.
Also ... Thud! By Terry Pratchett has some handwritten samples in it if I
remember correctly. I manually typed these in as I've had to do for many of
the Discworld books. What happens with this as it's a graphic in the
typesetting of the book. I guess I should thank God that it's the only
Discworld book (that I could tell) on the list.
Any way we can preserve books like these and ones that have picture
descriptions? Any way we can meld the best of both worlds? I'm just
worried that omitting these things could have a detrimental effect on the
work if it's not included in these pq books, and I'm worried that the manual
editing and insertion of this stuff will all go to waste and be lost forever
if completely replaced.
Did Bookshare staff think of these specific oddities? Sure, pq books and
xml, marked up for easy navigation is wonderful for plain jane books without
frills, pictures, handwritten passages, and geeky mathematical and chemical
equations, but what about those few, the proud, and the weird? Should us,
the geeks in the bookshare audience and usership be left out in the cold?
Thoughts?
Noel
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