What Format Do You Need: A Detailed Guide for Students and Coordinators
Format (From Least to Most Complex Production): Large Print PDF Image Only ENDNOTE 1
Users: Visually Impaired
Technology Required: Hardware: Computer
Technology Required: Software: Adobe Acrobat
Pros/Cons: Useable only on computer
Format: PDF Text Accessible ENDNOTE 2
Users: Visually Impaired, Learning Disabled, Blind
Technology Required: Hardware: Computer
Technology Required: Software: Adobe Acrobat (Read Out Loud feature)
Pros/Cons:
BEGIN LIST:
- Useable only on computer
- Complex material not easily readable
- Very little navigation
END LIST.
Format: Electronic Text (Word, HTML, ACSII) ENDNOTE 3
Users: Visually Impaired, Learning Disabled, Blind
Technology Required: Hardware: Computer
Technology Required: Software: Screen readers such as JAWS, ReadPlease, etc. Magnifier such as ZoomText
Pros/Cons:
BEGIN LIST:
- Useable only on computer
- Navigation contained within text and file hierarchy
- Not useful for complex texts such as physics or math
END LIST.
Format: Digital Audio (MP3) ENDNOTE 4
Users: Visually Impaired, Learning Disabled, Blind
Technology Required: Hardware: Computer or MP3 player such as an ipod
Technology Required: Software: MP3 software such as Winamp or Windows Media Player
Pros/Cons:
BEGIN LIST:
- Portable
- Can be played on almost any device
- Navigation by page number and chapter only
- Requires perfectly edited etext to produce
- Not useful for complex texts such as physics or math
END LIST.
Format: DAISY digital talking book ENDNOTE 5
Users: Visually Impaired, Learning Disabled, Blind
Technology Required: Hardware: Computer or portable DAISY player
Technology Required: Software: DAISY software
Pros/Cons:
BEGIN LIST:
- Portable
- Full function navigation
- Essential for complex texts such as physics or math
- Can be produced in human voice
- Can be produced as full text with synchronized audio
- The most resource and time intensive format to produce
END LIST.
ENDNOTES:
1) Large Print PDF is an image based PDF only. However, large print (print) takes much longer to produce. For example, figures, equations, formulas, tables, boxed text, sidebars, lists, images and other special items may be to be enlarged separately.
2) PDF Text Accessible can be problematic for more complex texts; especially those texts that have more than 2 columns and various figures, images, tables and formulas and have not been tagged properly. Other screen reader software can navigate well tagged Text Accessible PDF.
3) Electronic text has the language tags for figures, tables, boxed text, sidebars, lists, and block text added. Depending on the needs of the student figures, tables, equations/formulas and other special items are described according to international standards. Please remember that simply scanning a text does not make the content readable to students. Electronic text may or may not be structured.
4) Digital Audio (MP3) required a well edited electronic text. For example, all page numbers, language tags, etc must be close to perfect to produce a good digital audio product. CILS only produces synthesized voice digital audio.
5) DAISY is required to produce the most complex books such as math and physics; those books that would take too long to produce in electronic text due to the amount of equations and terminology required to transcribe. CILS also produces DAISY with full text and synthesized voice. These type of book are useful when full navigation and full text is required such as in different types of manuals.
Feel free to contact us for a print copy of these guides for you and your clients