SYDNEY--(Business Wire)--
Amidst complaints of Amazon`s Kindle inaccessibility for blind readers,
ReadHowYouWant, a new technology publishing company from Australia, is leading
the way in accessible publishing by using proprietary XML conversion software to
repurpose books into a number of formats to meet the varying needs of readers
who are blind, visually impaired, or have print or learning disabilities.
Now readers can choose between as many as ten different formats before they buy
a book at www.readhowyouwant.com, including electronic braille, synthesized
audio MP3; optimized, large print, 24 point bold EasyRead print-on-demand books,
and DAISY-a talking book format that produces audio along with the written text.
DAISY books play on DAISY players, which are either standalone units or computer
applications. DAISY is ideal for vision-impaired and blind readers, dyslexic
readers, and for readers who are unable to hold a conventional book or turn
pages. Testing is also being conducted on several specialized formats for
readers with dyslexia and eye-tracking issues.
"Technology now offers the possibility of access to hundreds of thousands of
books for blind and visually impaired readers. It is unacceptable that The
Kindle and other mainstream reading devices have been designed with no
consideration given to the requirements of universal design. The introduction of
the Kindle DX in some universities discriminates against blind and visually
impaired students, and educators should join with the University of
Wisconsin-Madison and Syracuse University in rejecting this as a textbook
replacement until it is accessible for all students," says Tricia Roth, CEO of
ReadHowYouWant.
ReadHowYouWant is reaching out to visually impaired readers through partnerships
with leading assistive technology companies HumanWare and PLEXTALK. HumanWare's
products include BrailleNote, a productivity device for blind people in
education, in business and in their personal lives; digital talking book
players; and a unique "auto-reader" for people with low vision. PLEXTALK is the
producer of the PLEXTALK Pocket and other digital talking book players.
"Through our PLEXTALK Pocket partnership with ReadHowYouWant, we are able to
offer even greater access to and increased mobility for reading thousands of
books available for download from ReadHowYouWant's extensive library," says
Deana Valdez, Sales & Marketing Manager, PLEXTALK North America.
Through its partnership with over 70 leading trade and university publishers,
www.readhowyouwant.com/braille currently offers some 4,500 titles in braille,
DAISY, and audio MP3 formats-from current bestsellers to health, political,
spiritual, mystery, business, and history books. Readers can browse, sample
different formats, and choose the format that is best for them. "New titles are
being added weekly as the number of publishers partnering with ReadHowYouWant
continues to grow," reports Roth.
ReadHowYouWant
Maureen Watts, 503-922-0778
mwatts@readhowyouwant.com
Copyright Business Wire 2009
