http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqNgpJRVsFc

eBooks & AccessibilityThe University's Responsibility

Presentation Aim

Overview of research undertaken, to date, into the accessibility of eReaders and eBooks.

Concludes: with practical advice, resource links and recommendations for both Hartley Library and NHS University library staff.

Definition: Ability to access How easy is it for people with different

needs to access your services or materials?

Techdis, 2013

The presentation will focus on Print andSituational Impairment.

What is Accessibility?

Consumers who are disabled - significant but poorly addressed market, worth £80 billion p.a.

Average business: customers who are disabled may account for up to 20% of the customer base.

Risk of losing business to more accessible competitor is high, consumer experiences of people who are disabled affect the choices of family and friends.

Business benefits associated with accessibility include: rapidly expanding customer base; increased revenue, profits and a distinct competitive advantage.

Office for Disability Issues, HM Government – BIS: Department for Business Innovation & Skills, 2010.

The Business Case for Accessibility

Defintion: Assistive Technologies (AT) are:

“[A]ny device or system that allows an individual to perform a task they would otherwise be unable to do, or increases the ease and safety with which the task can be performed”. (Royal Commission, 1999)

What are Assistive Technologies?

Alternative Formats: Alternative Formats (altformats),

another way of describing accessible formats.

Multiple formats: no one type suits an individual, situation or type of disability - referred to as the Holistic Approach.

Further Terminology: Part 1

Further Terminology: Part 2

Fully or completely accessible?: Avoid terms like ‘fully’ or ‘completely’ accessible,

refer to a product or service as: accessible; partly accessible; or not accessible.

JISC Collections on ‘eLending’: Queried use of terminology by print world. It is about e-access not e-lending. Students don’t see using eBooks as borrowing.

Posted by a conference attendee, ebooks@cambridge, 2013

Definition: People with Dyslexia or sight problems, who

may require Assistive Technologies to help them gain access to text.

In the context of this presentation, eBook Content.

What is Print Impairment?

Experienced screen glare? Struggled to type on a

smartphone keyboard? Screen glare and

‘constrained’ use of mobile device keyboards, just two examples of Situational Impairment.

Overlaps do exist between Print and Situational Impairment.

What is Situational Impairment?

Anti-glare screen protectors reduce glare on tablets and smartphones.

Dedicated eReaders can be read in direct sunlight.

Overcoming Screen Glare

eReaders are able to view and adjust the style or size of text, alongside image display for multiple eBooks.

What is an eReader?

Research shows: eBooks have opened up doors, in terms of accessibility, for print impaired readers.

Prior to this being demonstrated we need to understand what an eBook is and how it integrates into the eBook ecology.

Ascension of eBook Accessibility

Definition: Electronic or digital

equivalentof a printed book.

Can be read on: Dedicated device, known as an eReader. Smartphones, Tablets or Computers,

known as multifunctional devices - through the use of applications or ‘apps’.

Based on R. Spinks., 17 Apr 2011

What is an eBook?

eBooks also come under the umbrella of eTexts: any digital document predominantly containing machine readable text, that can be displayed on an electronic screen or by an altformat device.

The eReader, eBook and eTexts

The eReader and eBook appearto be symbiotic.

Important: to be aware of text that can be read by a machine, and text that cannot. Machine readable text: simply the text typed

directly into a word document or power point presentation, known as editable text.

Converting the word document to a PDF, without embedding fonts correctly, reduces the machine readability of the text – becoming a picture of text that is no longer editable.

Machine Readable Text: Part 1

Legacy or archived documents cannot easily be scanned and made available digitally.

If a page of hand written text from an ancient scroll were scanned, a machine would not be able to recognise each individual hand rendered character on the page.

Machine Readable Text: Part 2

Hardcopy pages of typed text, possible to use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) scanning, not 100% reliable and may require considerable manual intervention to correct errors.

Virtual OCR: usually only attempted on digital documents where fonts have not been embedded correctly.

Machine Readable Text: Part 3

Reflowable Text: Part 1

Another important aspect of editable text is that it can reflow.

Important: eBooks or eTexts allow the reflow of text; whereas PDFs do not.

Reflowable text: Not only as a direct result of the user or reader altering font size within an eReader, but it is also about responsive design, or the page adapting to each device screen size.

The above shows a before and after image of reflowable text. Notably the tree stump is no longer shown.

Reflowable Text: Part 2

Dedicated eReader or multifunctional device manufacturers: for example, Amazon or Apple

eReader Application Development: proprietary or open source led.

Authors: Generate content Publishers: eBooks usually published in-house, can be

out sourced. Libraries and Aggregators : Generally catalogue,

store and distribute vast eBook collections. Online eBookstores: where an individual can go to

purchase and then download an eBook to be read on an eReader.

The basic eBook Ecology:Stakeholders

In understanding how the eReader and eBook integrate with the eBook Ecology a Web domain analogy can be used, perhaps more familiar to stakeholders who are not acquainted with the mobile eReader and eBook domain.

eReader and eBook integrationinto the eBook Ecology

Metadata is used in the background to help discover or search for the eBook.

The Web Domain AnalogyPart 1: Search Engine &

Metadata

<meta><tags>eg<metaname = “description”/>

The Web Domain AnalogyPart 3: Browser & eBook Reader

Only five main browsers, but over 150 eReader applications & dedicated devices combined.

The Web Domain AnalogyPart 4: Web Page & eBook Content

Notably, eBooks intended for multifunctional devices can display multimedia content, such as video clips.

Web pages and eBook pages have their own formats, and are very similar to each other, these formats are made up of scripting languages that help todisplay and style the information that theuser or reader sees.

The Web Domain AnalogyPart 4: Web & eBook Formats

Web Formats

eBook/eText Formats

The Web Analogy FrameworkPart 5: Interoperability

Theme layer: Web Domain Attribute layer: eReader/eBook Domain

Search EngineMarket Place – eBooks are

searched for & discovered at an eBookstore

Metadata Metadata provides interoperability

Browser (User Agent) eBook Reader – the application or

dedicated eReader acts as a browser

Web page eBook Content – equates to the content of a Web page

HTML , CSS ePub, PDF, AZW (Compressed Mobi)

Inte

ropera

bi

lity

According to Techdis: Legal obligation for organisations to ensure that

no-one is disadvantaged because of a disability. Requirement to make reasonable adjustments

to ensure that as many people as possible can access your services. Adjustments should be anticipatory, which means they need to be in place before you are aware that a disabled user is having problems.

Techdis, 2013

The University’s Responsibility

The University Library’sAccessibility Aim

The University Library is aware of this responsibility and provides the following statement on its website:

‘We aim to make our resources and services accessible to all Library users.’

http://www.southampton.ac.uk/library/about/accessibility.html, 2013

Web 2.0 Standards: Web Content Accessibility Group

(WCAG) 2.0

Software or Application Standards: The Voluntary Product Accessibility

Template (VPAT) for Section 508.

http://www.web2access.org.uk/test, 2013

Existing Accessibility Standards

Web 2.0 Guidelines: Web Accessibility Group JISC Techdis WebAIM

Software or Application Guidelines: Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (CEUD) IBM software accessibility checklist ISO Standards (as used by Becta)

http://www.web2access.org.uk/test, 2013

Existing Accessibility Guidelines

HOT OFF THE PRESS: The International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF)

ePub3 standard endorsed by the International Publishers Association (IPA) March, 2013.

ONIX Accessibility metadata standards:Codelist 196 ratified January, 2013.

WIPO: “Agreement reached on provisions of new treatyto ease access to books for visually impaired persons.For adoption on June 27 [2013]”http://www.wipo.int/dc2013/en/news/2013/news_0010.html

CLOSE EYE ON: Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) – inclusion for the

blind and people with dyslexia, no indication, as yet,for the elderly. May, 2010.

Ascension of eReader & eBookAccessibility Standards &

Copyright Law

Opening Doors!

Research indicates: eReaders have begun to open up doors for print impaired and situationally impaired readers or users.

What accessible modalities already existfor eReaders in both the Print and Situational Impairment modalities?

eReader AccessibilityPart 1: Modality

Print Impairment modalities for eReaders:

1. Internal Screen Reader

5. Magnify/ Zoom 9. Search within eBooks

2. Internal Screen Reader Speak Rate

6. Font Size 10. eBook Annotation with audio file save

3. Text-to-Speech (TTS) 7. Font Style 11. Margin Adjustment

4. TTS Speak Rate 8. Font / Background Colour

12. Highlighting text

Situational Impairment modalities: White on black or high contrast Brightness Dedicated eReaders can be read in direct sunlight

Device and app dependent: Important: although the above modalities

already exist, they are dependent on what device or ‘app’is used.

eReader AccessibilityPart 2: Modality

eReader AccessibilityPart 3: Kindle Keyboard

According to RNIB, in March 2013: Amazon confirmed Kindle Keyboard no longer part

of their range. Smaller retailers or second hand outletsmay still have devices available until stock exhausts.

Kindle Keyboard also has a feature called VoiceGuide, giving access to the menus and to the list of books on the device.

Amazon allows publishers to turn off TTS on their eBooks – happening less frequently. Information on TTS is available for eBook titles, explicitly stated in the information for each eBook on the Kindle Store.

Navigation is poor while TTS is running, also not possible to use the dictionary or search facilities.

http://www.rnib.org.uk/livingwithsightloss/reading/how/ebooks/accessibility/Pages/ebook-accessibility.aspx#H2Heading1, RNIB, 2013

eBookstore ‘apps’ – login problematic. Dedicated eReaders may not provide

accessible menus or sub-menus. Digital Rights Management (DRM) time out:

causing problems for people with accessibility requirements requiring extended access periods. METALL, 2012

eReader: wireless connection to a Braille Display/DAISY Reader or other AT. Whitehouse, 2011

eReader AccessibilityPart 4: Anticipation of Needs 1

User requirements: able to move from OS of the mobile device, to the ebook content via the eReader application. Devices with gestural interface require tactile and audio feedback.

Gestural equivalents: VoiceOver (MAC internal screen reader) - double tap etc. The Android mobile platform does offer a limited set of short-cut keys, available in Talkback, Soundback and Kickback.

Audio alerts with visual cues. Access to help documentation on eReaders

is generally limited and inaccessible.

eReader AccessibilityPart 4: Anticipation of Needs 2

The International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF) ePub standards formally addressing accessibility issues for eBook content.

The ePub3 standard has come under the stewardship of the DAISY Consortium. (Whitehouse, 2011)

Garrish, authored Accessible ePub3 (2012), clearly aimed at publishing stakeholders: involved in the technical development; production; and publishingof eBooks.

eBook Formats: Part 1 - ePub3

Accessible ePub3 (2012), highlights support for the following in the ePub3 format: Image alternative description. Changing logical reading order. Semantics – skipping non primary

contentor footnotes.

Native support for MathML & ChemML(particularly useful for STEM subjects).

eBook Formats: Part 2 - ePub3

The ePub3 format also supports the following: Page Numbering Navigation Enhanced Text-to-Speech (TTS)

IMPORTANT: Integration with ONIX accessibility

metadata standards.

Accessible ePub3 , Garrish, 2012.The eBook version Accessible ePub3 can be downloaded for free at the following link: http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920025283.do

eBook Formats: Part 3 - ePub3

eBook Formats: Part 4 - ePub3What is ONIX?

ONIX: an industry-standard message that accompanies a publication, providing distributors with both content and distribution metadata. Market and sell the ebook: with the new accessible features

the ebook includes. Retailers make information available: in the product

description,so readers can determine if the ebook will meet their needs.

Integration into eBookstore search engines: allowing readers to narrow their results based on their needs. Garrish, 2012

ONIX and MARC (the library metadata standard) being mapped,merging Publisher and Library metadata to and enabling interoperability.Godby, 2010

The ONIX publishing metadata standard, developed by EDItEUR,formally addressing accessibility issues in the production ofeBook content.

Notable: Three properties not directly related to the content of the EPUB in the ONIX Code List 196: Compatibility tested (Code 97) Trusted intermediary contact (Code 98) Publisher contact for further accessibility

information (Code 99)

Accessible ePub3, Garrish, 2012

eBook Formats: Part 5 - ePub3Accessibility Metadata

ONIX Helping to Inform Stakeholders

IMPORTANT: If codes 97, 98 & 99 are properly

usedin the ePub3 metadata, it will enable stakeholders to determine if an eBook is accessible prior to purchase.

Benetech has announced that it proposes to develop standards of accessibility metadata for educational content. Building on the work of the Learning Resource Metadata Initiative (LRMI).

EDItEUR and Elsevier, among others, are part of the working group alongside the Bookshare group, providing accessible ePublications to people with print impairment.

Benetech Accessibility Metadata

‘Apps’ to identify the ONIX codes 97, 98 & 99 and to display information in-app , through descriptive audio feedback.

The same information to be made available on in-app eBookstores or dedicated device eBookstores.

Could libraries influence ‘app’ ordedicated eReader development?

ePub 3.0 and ONIX:Anticipation of Accessibility Needs

SmartPhone:79.3% not recommended6.1% recommended smartphone of which 3.3% found  very useful14.3% did not respond

Tablet:80% not recommended5.3% recommended, 2.7% found very useful14.3% did not respond

Student DSA Survey – Wilkinson,S., Viney,D., Draffan,EA 2012

Student mobile technology synchronising with Institutional ITC

Website access on mobile device: (number of visits in one month)

iPhone: 1199Android: 502iPad: 488iPod: 154Other: 178

80% of respondents utilised smart phones, of that 80% the breakdown was as follows:

Android: 42.3%Blackberry 34.6%iPhone: 11.5%Windows: 3.8%Other: 7.7%

Student Mobile Phone Browsing

http://www.in-traction.com/mobile-browsing-a-student-survey/, 2011

Happy to use technology when given the equipment, time and skills.

Best when able to take it home – take ownership and control desktop settings.

See improve-ments and gain confidence.

Students Attitudes:Using Desktop Technology

Font S

ize (1

7)

High Contra

st (10)

Magnifier

(6)

Font s

tyle (

6)

Use Colour (

3)

Pointer ch

ange

s (2)

Large

icons (

2)

Hot key

s (1)

Sticky

keys

(1)

Bright s

creen

(1)

34.7%

20.4%

12.2% 12.3%

6.1%4.0% 4.0%

2.1% 2.1% 2.1%

Type of changes to settingsthat were mentioned.

Over 50% make changes to their settingsAbove Statements: from myTextbook.org

http://www.altformat.org/mytextbook/, 2011

http://www.lexdis.org.uk, 2011

Pros: Light & fast boot up Font changes and TTS Personalised toolkit Multiple options for similar strategies Generally inexpensive to try another app Long lasting battery for reading at will.

Pros and consof the e-text reader and the i-world

Cons: Audio poor in classroom, improvements with

the new accessible ePub3 format. No multitasking: May not be able to combine

such TTS, text highlighting, font & line changes as well as annotations.

Desktop software: more within one program Remember to sync devices with one

computer& not all apps accept accessible formats.

Pros and consof the e-text reader and the i-world

The Publishers Licensing Society (PLS)Accessibility Newsletter: Issue 16 Released June 2013http://www.pls.org.uk/services/accessibility1/Pages/accessibilitynewsletter.aspx

In Issue 15, September 2012 - the Publishers Association urged that:

“Text to speech is routinely enabled on all eBooks across all relevant platforms, at least where there is no audio book edition commercially available.”

PLS-AN, Issue 15 September 2012

Conclusion:Resources and Recommendations

Conclusion: Practical Advice

Repurposing & Conversion:Mulitple resources are available to libraries for repurposing, converting or finding accessible eBook curriculum material. Azzapt, Calibre, Dolphin Easy Converter and

Load2Learn will be demonstrated next in the presentation.

Prior to this happening: DAISY Pipeline converter, useful for STEM subject

altformat conversions, but aimed at developers. Two other converters are available: Robobraille &

Benetech's Bookshare.

Azzapt

InaccessibleDocument

Enables the repurposing of inaccessible documents into altformats, but is still in the Beta testing stage.

Calibre

The Document to be converted Calibre also enables you to open eBook files to check

metadata and to convert from ePub to AZW (Mobi)Kindle formats.

Dolphin Easy Converter

Navigation, text to speech or real audio plus the ability to annotate.

Inaccessible

Document

Enables conversion to altformats and is designed for libraries to use.

Load2Learn

Enables the learner or teacher to search the Load2Learn online catalogue by subject or category.

Conclusion: Practical Advice – Accessibility

of eReaders & various formats

Product TypeTest Average

Formats

Adobe Digital Editions 1.8.3 (Windows desktop)

Application 93%PDF, ADE 2.0 supports ePub

Blio 3.3 for iPhone 4.0 Application 96% ePub, PDF

epub reader firefox add on Web 2.0 Service 78% ePub

iBooks 2.1.1 for iPad 1 (iOS 5.1.1) Application 96% ePub, most PDFs

iBooks for iPhone 4.0 Application 96% ePub, PDF

Kindle Cloud Reader Web 2.0 Service 62% AZW (Mobi)

Stanza 3.2 for iPhone 4.0 Application 87% ePub, PDF

Web2Access, eReader Tests, 2013Please note: there is a work around for the conversion of the Kindle format, developed by a personal contact who is a screen reader user. eReader comparison chart available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_e-book_readersComparison of eBook formats: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_e-book_formats

Extensive resources available at Techdis for both libraries and publishers, particularly: Techdis Recommendations for more inclusive

library resources.http://www.jiscTechdis.ac.uk/Techdis/resources/detail/Libraries_at_the_Heart_of_Inclusion

Publisher Lookup UK – Techdis, 2013http://www.publisherlookup.org.uk/

McNaught (Techdis) recommends: RNIB – The Accessibility of eBooks

http://www.rnib.org.uk/livingwithsightloss/reading/how/ebooks/accessibility/Pages/ebook-accessibility.aspx#H2Heading1

Conclusion:Resources and Recommendations 1

Familiarisation with what publishers need to do: gives library staff an advantage; and also helps develop communication and good working relationships with publishers complying with accessibility requirements.

University of Southampton: publishing accessible research eBooks or eTexts?

Conclusion:Resources and Recommendations 2

http://access.ecs.soton.ac.uk Research – evidence based – LexDis Free and open source – ATbar – 2nd version

just released, Accessible pen drive menu for portable apps.

Testing eReading devices – http://www.web2access.org.uk/activity/41/

Can we help?

Libraries are at the heart of inclusion. (Techdis, 2012)

With Accessible technology and training available: people with print impairments are more likely to use your eReader and eBook services.

Move towards: The International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF) ePub3 and ONIX metadata compliance standards.

Always aim for machine readable text.

Take home message

Q&A

Are there any questions?

ECS Accessibility ebook research:

Dr M. Wald mw@ecs.soton.ac.uk

E.A. Draffan ead@ecs.soton.ac.uk

Neil Rogers Neil.E.Rogers@gmail.com

Thank you