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May 4, 2010
Dolphin EasyConverter – Tool to create alternate formats
Filed under: Alternate Formats, Digital Talking Books, Learning, Print Disability, Visual — techeditor @ 2:22 pm
EasyConverter is a tool by Dolphin to create alternate formats (altformat) of either printed documents or Microsoft Word, PDF, HTML or text files to large print, Braille, MP3 and Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY) versions.
EasyConverter is a good option for people who do not have an altformat creation experience. A teacher can help his/her students with visual and learning impairments to cope up in their studies by converting the printed documents and text files into altformat versions.
The interface of EasyConverter software presents easy to use icons which have the options of Scanning, choosing to convert an already saved Word or PDF file, options of altformats, a conversion button and a saving the converted file button.
The altformats which are created by EasyConverter are:
- Large Print: Helps you make the text in your document larger for easy viewing.
- MP3: Converts text into audible files of MP3 frmat which can be heard in any media player.
- Braille: Converts text into Braille for the blind.
- DAISY: Converts text into Digital Talking Books.
EasyConverter has Optical Character Recognition Editor (OCR) application known as the OminPage. This OCR editor makes scanning PDF and printed documents more precise and simpler.
Also included with EasyConverter, is Dolphin EasyReader is a digital talking book player. EasyReader makes it possible for users to listen and read content with the help of a combination of speech, images and text. Use the EasyConverter and help your students educate themselves in a simple manner.
So, if you have this product in mind, do write to us to give it a try at: sales@barrierbreak.com
No CommentsNovember 19, 2009
Accessibility Knowledge Series II – DAISY: Books Which Every One Can Read!
Filed under: Accessibility, Accessibility Knowledge Series, Alternate Formats, Assistive Technologies, Daisy, Elderly, Learning, Mobility, Print Disability, Visual — Shilpi Kapoor @ 2:17 pmDAISY: Books Which Every One Can Read!
Any one who has a problem in reading a normal print book can read the book prepared as a DAISY Book. Persons with blindness, low vision, Dyslexia, Learning Disability or those who cannot use both hands due to any disability and thus are not able to hold a book and turn pages can benefit from DAISY Books.
Types of DAISY Books:
- Master document that can be used for creating Braille, large print or DAISY Digital books. These are also called DAISY-xml documents.
- Audio Only DAISY Books: These are advance and new generation talking books.
- Full Text full audio DAISY Books: While listening the books, you can also view the text of what is being spoken.
- Text only DAISY Books: You will need to have a mobile phone or computer or a DAISY Player with Text to speech engine to read such DAISY Books.
Navigation in the book based on sentence, page, chapter or subsection is a unique feature of DAISY Books.
Another advantage of DAISY system is that once the source document is produced, Braille, talking book, large print or e-text versions of the book can be prepared with in minutes.
We can read these books on mobile phones, computers, CD players and dedicated DAISY Players. DAISY books are also available through internet or telephone based libraries.
We can produce DAISY Books using special software for production of DAISY Books. Many of these software are available free of cost. Some of these are sold by companies such as Dolphin Computer Access, Innovative Rehabilitation Technology Inc or Plextalk.
For information on DAISY Forum of India and list of organizations visit: www.daisyindia.org. Bookshare India also provides text only DAISY Books to its members. Or send e-mail to dfi@saksham.org
Reference:
http://www.daisy.org
http://www.saksham.org
http://www.daisyindia.org
This Accessibility Knowledge Series has been provided by Dipendra Manocha, Director of the Regional Resource Centre (New Delhi), DAISY for All
Disclaimer:The views expressed herein are solely those of the author as an individual with interest in accessibility and assistive technology and do not claim to represent those of Techshare India, BarrierBreak Technologies or Net Systems Informatics.
Contribute
Got an idea that would bring a change for persons with disabilities? Send it across to techshare@barrierbreak.com
February 11, 2008
Techshare India 2008 – an amazing experience
Filed under: Assistive Technologies, Print Disability, Techshare India, Uncategorized — Shilpi Kapoor @ 5:36 pmHello all,
Techshare India 2008 was a great learning experience for me. It was pleasure seeing such a huge number of delegates from across the world.
I was really touched when visitors at the exhibition were so enthusiastic to see the different products. Especially everyone would shown interest in all products even that is not meant for them. For instance, the powered wheel chair displayed at one of the stalls, I guess, almost everyone tried including me:) I got a feeling that I am driving a vehicle:)
I felt very pleased when people coming and visiting our stall to see the exciting accessible games developed in Flash. I heard lots of people with disabilities saying, it is the first time they get to play a cross word which is a popular game.
One of the most amazing experiences I had during Techshare is that a group of three people came to visit our stall and they are hearing impaired accompanied by an interpreter. But even she is hard of hearing and I was confused for a while as I am a person with low vision and I wasn’t sure how I could interact with them. But the interpreter showed me the way actually how I can interact with all four of them and I managed to show them our products including accessible games and explained about our services.
In the display, there were lots of products that make lives of PWDs much more independent such as Color Identifier which not only identifies the color of clothes and objects but even skin, hair etc.
Also, the magnification devices displayed at few stalls were amazing and be a great help to people with low vision to read visiting cards, books, news paper etc.
I must mention that virtual barber shop at experience zone is fantastic. It’s good to see people waiting to see this experience. This has been showcased to show the visitors the effectiveness of the audio when visual functionality does not exist.
Overall, I believe Techshare India was an unique opportunity to see the various gadgets available for people with disabilities and to learn how to create an inclusive society.
No CommentsOctober 18, 2007
ClassMate Reader, a tool to assist students with print disabilities
Filed under: Print Disability — Priti Rohra @ 1:17 pmClassMate Reader is an exciting new tool to assist students with learning, visual and mobility disabilities developed by Humanware. The tool is capable of playing books available in different electronic formats including NIMAS, DAISY, MP3, text, audio files, wav as well as books available on Bookshare.org and Audible.com etc.
ClassMate Reader is a portable, light-weight player with a large LCD display screen. It highlights words on the screen as they are being read out. It comes with in-built text-to-speech and Dictionary, which will help students to comprehend easily. Students can record their teachers explanation, input vocal and text notes and easily navigate to different sections of the book.
Students can now carry their books along with them and learn with ease!
http://www.humanware.com/en-usa/about_us/press_releases/classmate_reader
No Comments|
