Electronic Readings for Electronic Readings for Students with Reading Students with Reading

DisabilitiesDisabilities

Paul ChapinPaul Chapin

Curricular Computing SpecialistCurricular Computing Specialist

Amherst CollegeAmherst College

March 21, 2002March 21, 2002 NERCOMP NERCOMP

Copyright Paul Chapin 2002. This work is the Copyright Paul Chapin 2002. This work is the intellectual property of the author. Permission is intellectual property of the author. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-granted for this material to be shared for non-

commercial, educational purposes, provided that commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the author. To disseminate otherwise permission of the author. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the or to republish requires written permission from the

author.author.

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Reading DisabilitiesReading Disabilities

Blind or visually impaired.Blind or visually impaired. Motor impairments.Motor impairments. Reading related learning disability.Reading related learning disability.

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Audio TapesAudio Tapes

Tapes explicitly made for persons Tapes explicitly made for persons with disabilities.with disabilities.

Commercial tapes.Commercial tapes. Locally produced tapes.Locally produced tapes.

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Problems with Audio TapesProblems with Audio Tapes

Limited material availableLimited material available Format issuesFormat issues Navigation problemsNavigation problems SpeedSpeed Accessing some types of informationAccessing some types of information BulkyBulky

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Problems with Local Audio TapesProblems with Local Audio Tapes

Quality issuesQuality issues Recording facilitiesRecording facilities Unqualified readersUnqualified readers Uninterested readersUninterested readers

Relatively expensiveRelatively expensive

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Human ReadersHuman Readers

FlexibleFlexible Scheduling problemsScheduling problems Defeats goal of student Defeats goal of student

independenceindependence

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Electronic Text with Screen Electronic Text with Screen Reading Software - AdvantagesReading Software - Advantages

No tapes to deal withNo tapes to deal with Can deal with most standard formatsCan deal with most standard formats Ability to “write in the book”Ability to “write in the book” Improved navigationImproved navigation Improved speedImproved speed Ability to access material at the character Ability to access material at the character

levellevel

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JAWS DEMOJAWS DEMO

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Electronic Text with Screen Electronic Text with Screen Reading Software - DisadvantagesReading Software - Disadvantages

Tied to the computerTied to the computer Pronunciation problemsPronunciation problems Voice qualityVoice quality No standard text formatNo standard text format Limited amount of prepared material Limited amount of prepared material

availableavailable Question of cost and scalingQuestion of cost and scaling

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Copyright IssuesCopyright Issues

We assume that if we (or the We assume that if we (or the student) own a copy we can convert student) own a copy we can convert to electronic formto electronic form

Amherst College is not offering legal Amherst College is not offering legal adviceadvice

I am not offering legal adviceI am not offering legal advice

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Preparing a PaperbackPreparing a Paperback

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Scanning and EditingScanning and Editing

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Optical Character Recognition Optical Character Recognition (OCR)(OCR)

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Editing IssuesEditing Issues

Formatting:Formatting:

Standard page size and fontStandard page size and font

Identification:Identification:

Bibliographic information at start Bibliographic information at start of of

documentdocument

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Editing IssuesEditing Issues

Page Numbers:Page Numbers:

“…“…invention of a reliable 47 invention of a reliable 47 chronometer in the 1760s…”chronometer in the 1760s…”

BecomesBecomes

“…“…invention of a reliable (page 47) invention of a reliable (page 47) chronometer in the 1760s…”chronometer in the 1760s…”

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Editing IssuesEditing Issues

Illustrations and Maps:Illustrations and Maps:

Remove graphicRemove graphic

Keep captions and put at end of Keep captions and put at end of paragraphparagraph

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Editing IssuesEditing Issues

Footnotes:Footnotes:

Bibliographic footnotesBibliographic footnotes“…“…first occurred in 1879. first occurred in 1879. (footnote (footnote 3).” 3).”

Substantive footnotesSubstantive footnotes“…“…first occurred in 1879. first occurred in 1879. (footnote (footnote 3. This is 3. This is different…).” different…).”

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Comparative AnalysisComparative Analysis

Problems with the logsProblems with the logs Approximately 80-90 wpmApproximately 80-90 wpm Estimate that production about the Estimate that production about the

same as for audio tapessame as for audio tapes Student workers liked the workStudent workers liked the work

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Future Directions and AlternativesFuture Directions and Alternatives

Use of existing electronic textUse of existing electronic text Texas Text ExchangeTexas Text Exchange Gutenburg ProjectGutenburg Project Online journalsOnline journals

No hardware and software upgradesNo hardware and software upgrades Specialized softwareSpecialized software

Kurzweil 3000/WynnKurzweil 3000/Wynn

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ConclusionsConclusions

Results are encouraging. Well Results are encouraging. Well received by usersreceived by users

Concerns about scalabilityConcerns about scalability We really need publishers to step up We really need publishers to step up

and start providing this materialand start providing this material

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CreditsCredits

Frances Tuleja – Associate Dean of Frances Tuleja – Associate Dean of StudentsStudents

Gloria Yi, Jade Tam, Lucia Cucu and Gloria Yi, Jade Tam, Lucia Cucu and Xin Zheng – Student workersXin Zheng – Student workers

March 21, 2002March 21, 2002 NERCOMP NERCOMP

ReferencesReferences

http://www.amherst.edu/~pdchapin/http://www.amherst.edu/~pdchapin/accessibilityaccessibility

Paper Paper

nercomp_paper.htmlnercomp_paper.html Draft scanning guidelines Draft scanning guidelines

guidelines.htmlguidelines.html PowerPoint Presentation atPowerPoint Presentation at

nercomp_pres.htmnercomp_pres.htm

March 21, 2002March 21, 2002 NERCOMP NERCOMP

Questions?Questions?