Rhun,
When you say manuscript I assume you mean handwritten and that some sort of paleography skills (analysing and reading that handwriting) will be involved.
I know that these manuscripts can often be in different languages such as latin which is another issue to consider.
Gregor is correct that Kurweil 1000 is an excellent program to use for scanning documents and I believe that it will recognise latin - but we are initially talking fonts and not handwriting.
The problem lies with actually scanning the documents in the first place as often limited physical contact is allowed (i.e. you are ot permitted to touch the document too much) and so capturing the image via a standard scanner may not be permitted for fear of damaging the manuscript. If scanning is allowed the canon Lide 60 scanner is good because it is portable and simply plugs into the USB port of a computer without the need for its own power source, making it more portable. Of course if portability is not an issues then something like the Optibook 3600 or even an A3 size scanner would be better.
If a scanner is not feasible then something like the Magnilink S series MLS OCR or MLS Student Addition would be good to capture the image and then convert it via a saved file in Kurzweil 1000.
This device is available from Professional Vision Services, see- http://www.professional-vision-services.co.uk/ and click on products to find the range of devices they make.
Now OCR will only work with fonts (or Braille) i.e. regular forms and not with handwriting unless I am mistaken. In which case the Magnilinks are still good becuase they can enlarge and more importantly in this case give the ability to alter contrast or to invert text, e.g. white on black which may be more accessible. I realise you say not magnification, but you are setting a very hard challenge and I am trying to provide a holistic and cost effective suggestion for you / your student.
The other approach would be human support, but then this would have to be managed with great care and the acamedic supervisor would have to be clear about what skills are being required and tested of the student and whether having human support would comprise the exercise. However the course accessibility needs to be considered and determined with the latest elements of the DDA in mind.
I would also add that if computers and assistive technology are being recommended then it is essential that an appropriately specified computer is provided and that appropraite training is offered and arranged in the use of the technology - not just how the buttons work and what they do but also how to apply the technology to studying.
Speaking as a trainer I find more and more that assessors seem to be specifying machines that are not suitable to run the recommended assistive technology. I am out working / training students on a daily basis and this is what my comments are based on. This is a shame because it seem to defeat the object of the DSA exercise. However the DSA exercise is going to change and I suspect not for the better and we don't seem to be doing much about it! I hope I am wrong about that - we shall see.
Perhaps you could post your question on the NADP - Assessors List / main list or ask someone (with posting rights) to submitt your question to the ASASA assessors list to broaden the search. (I am not permitted to post to the second list for unexplained reasons).
Anyway I help my earlier comments at least are helpful and that a workable outcome is found for your student.
Another useful site I found was http://www.panix.com/~kestrell/classics.html - seem like exellent stuff.
Best wishes,
Alex
Alex Larg
07931 561 877
Freelance Assistive Technology Trainer
Freelance Study needs assessor
Former Disability Officer
MNADP
----------------------------------------
> Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2007 16:14:25 +0100
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Late medieval manuscripts
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> Rhun
>
> You could try and use an application such as Kurzweil that will keep an image of the scanned document - (or electronic copy of the document) but is able to read out loud the text within it - the text is saved in the "background" and is not visible on the screen. Not tried it with manuscripts but it might work.
>
> Thanks
>
> Gregor
>
> ***************************************************************
> Gregor Thomson
> IT Officer (Electronic Information Support and Training)
> Imperial College London Library
> Imperial College London
> SW7 2AZ
> [log in to unmask]
> 020 7594 1564
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rhun Ap Harri [rha]
> Sent: 01 June 2007 15:45
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Late medieval manuscripts
>
> Has anyone any solution please?
>
> How can late medieval manuscript and early modern font be made accessible to a visually impaired person - excluding any form of magnification or tactile imaging.
>
> Any information welcome.
>
>
>
> -------------------------------------------
> Rhun ap Harri
> Swyddog Anabledd PCA/UWA Disability Officer.
> Prifysgol Cymru Aberystwyth University of Wales.
> Ystafell G7/Room G7 Cledwyn Building.
> Campws Penglais Campus.
> Aberystwyth Ceredigion SY23 3DD.
> Ffôn: / Tel:01970 628537.
> Ffacs: / Fax: 01970 621759.
> www.aber.ac.uk/welfare-disability
> -------------------------------------------
>
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