Re: are books from ammazon accessible for jaws users
- From: "Adrian Spratt" <Adrian@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:01:44 -0500
Several listers live in Eastern European and other EU countries, and they can
surely advise you better. Keep in mind that the US isn't the only
English-speaking country in the world, and many others use English as an
unofficial second language. I just now produced a page of Google search results
that may help you identify EU sources of accessible books that may be available
to you. If this search doesn't work, you could change the search terms. I'm
confident the US needn't be your only resource. Here's the link:
http://www.google.com/#num=100&hl=en&q=%22european+union%22%2C+books+accessible+to+blind%2C+czech%2C+%22united+kingdom%22&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&fp=a048890d3c90c6fc
----- Original Message -----
From: Zdenek Vopat
To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 8:20 AM
Subject: Re: are books from ammazon accessible for jaws users
I am from the Czech Republic part of the EU, but most of the scientific
literature is not in Czech but in English that is why books are being purchased
from the states. Zdenek
----- Original Message -----
From: Adrian Spratt
To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 2:06 PM
Subject: Re: are books from ammazon accessible for jaws users
Hi, Zdenek.
Unless you have reasons not to, you might get good advice if you tell us which
country you do live in. I moved to the US a long time ago in part to gain
access to the relatively large number of books accessible to blind people--I
was fortunate to have the opportunity. However, since then many countries and
regions of the world have dramatically increased this supply. Canada, the EU
and Japan come to mind.
A note on your term "US centric." Decades ago, the US dedicated enormous
resources and persuaded thousands of volunteers to create large libraries of
accessible books, especially ones needed by high school, college and graduate
students. US copyright laws were also amended to this end and became more
favorable than laws in other countries. But as I say, since then several
countries and regions of the world have pursued and achieved similar ends.
Meanwhile, to maintain some semblance of relevance to this list, you should be
able to obtain materials online or perform OCR on scientific books and thus
render them accessible to JAWS. If you don't have OCR capability, perhaps your
employer could pay for that in lieu of e-books that aren't yet accessible.
Good luck to you.
----- Original Message -----
From: Zdenek Vopat
To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 7:43 AM
Subject: Re: are books from ammazon accessible for jaws users
No I do nnot live in the states and it is a pitty that so many services for
thqe blind are US centric, my employerr is willing to buy electronic books for
me from amazone or barns or other online bookstore but they must be accessible
first. Zdenek
----- Original Message -----
From: Adrian Spratt
To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 1:10 PM
Subject: Re: are books from ammazon accessible for jaws users
It's hard to tell exactly what you're asking. If you live in the US, plentiful
scientific books can be obtained from RFB&D in Princeton, NJ. The NLS has
numerous scientific books of more general interest. both organizations supply
downloadable books that can be played on specifically authorized devices, such
as the Victor Stream and numerous other models that other manufacturers have
since released. If you live in another country, you will need to consult other
sources.
If you are looking for a way to play electronic books, you will probably need
to wait. Amazon's Kindle was the subject of a lawsuit against Arizona State
University and other parties that was recently settled. ASU has agreed to cease
requiring Kindle-based course materials until Amazon makes Kindle fully
accessible for visually impaired students. One can hope that this leverage will
induce Amazon to give priority to accessibility, but at this time the device is
not available to us. I believe Barnes and Noble's new competing device is
similarly hard to access, but I don't have specifics and could be misinformed.
If nothing else, I hope I've helped you clarify for you what the question is
that you need to ask.
----- Original Message -----
From: Zdenek Vopat
To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 3:26 AM
Subject: Re: are books from ammazon accessible for jaws users
Hello the problem is that I don't need itt for popular titles but scientific
new titles. Anyone can helpp further? Maany thanks. Zdenek
----- Original Message -----
From: Pat L
To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 3:03 AM
Subject: RE: are books from ammazon accessible for jaws users
Zdenek,
I assume you are looking for something other than Kindle, which has copyright
problems at the moment. However in addition to Audible downloads, one
alternative is MP3 CDs that Amazon sells for many popular titles. It will
require loading onto a player such as a Victor Reader stream or an iPod; but is
quite enjoyable after that.
HTH, Pat
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Zdenek Vopat
Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 9:00 AM
To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: are books from ammazon accessible for jaws users
Hello listers: I would like to buy books from Amazon, is there anyway I can get
the books from them in electronic form that would be accessible with jaws? If
so, how do I go about it, whom do I contact and so on. Your help is
appreciated. Zdenek
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