Latest version of texthelp has a nice touch in that it lets you do realtime virtual ocr and tts on images of text - just right click select 'make accessible' although I think they call it something different and it does it all for you and without using up any trees.
Of course kurzweil and adobe acrobat (rather than reader) do have this virtual ocr feature but there are still other steps in the process you have to do manually and of course you have to think of it as a solution yourself in the first place.
Adrian Higginbotham
Project manager: Learning services
Becta
Tel: Direct dial 024 7679 7333 - Becta switchboard 02476-416994.
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web: http://www.becta.org.uk/
BECTA, Millburn Hill Road, Science Park, Coventry, CV4 7JJ
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of George Bell
Sent: 18 January 2008 15:30
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Pdf's and K3000 files
Spot on, John! The major screen readers these days can indeed read the vast majority of PDF files, but with a few provisos.
First, one should ideally be using Adobe Reader Version 8 where most files can be saved as text if required. However, some network/system administrators are slow to upgrade.
Second, it should be understood that some PDF files are in fact just scanned images. It is not unusual for example to see newspaper articles this way. There is nothing you can do here, but print, scan and OCR.
Third, authors very often go totally overboard with protecting their PDFs (which in some cases is understandable), some to the extent where you are not even allowed to save or print.
Fourth, many people think PDF is an editing application like Word for Windows. It's not. A few seconds before a PDF came into existence, it may have been a Word, Excel, Publisher, or whatever file. Hence it may be worth asking the author if they would be prepared to release the original.
Finally, there is a bit of a learning curve both in terms of both navigating PDF files with a screen reader, and creating them. However in neither case is it exactly rocket science.
George W F Bell, Managing Director
Techno-Vision Systems Ltd
76 Bunting Road Ind. Est.
NORTHAMPTON, NN2 6EE
Tel: 01604 792777
Fax: 01604 792726
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
Web: http://www.techno-vision.co.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Conway
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 2:36 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Pdf's and K3000 files
excuse my ignorance, but aren't people supposed to provide "accessible" PDF, or alternative formats? doesn't using Omnipage Pro mean scanning paper copies and using OCR to convert to text which seems a lot of work for someone, especially for a blind person, and normally Omipage retails for around £60 I think.
john
Dr John S Conway
Principal Lecturer /Disability Officer / Chair, Research Committee Royal Agricultural college, Cirencester, Glos GL7 6JS
01285 652531 fax 01285 650219
http://www.rac.ac.uk/?_id=590
________________________________
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. on behalf of diana maniati
Sent: Fri 18/01/2008 14:00
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: FW: Pdf's and K3000 files
Dear Nasser,
I am a screen reader user (jaws) and I have the same problem. Many of the documents I need to read for my work are PDFs. I was wandering if you could send me a copy of this software or if you could advice me were can I find it.
Many thanks
Diana
Diana Maniati
Disability Advisor
Room C118
Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College Beaconsfield Road
Southall
Middlesex
UB1 1DP
Tel: 020 8231 6371
----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Nasser Siabi
Sent: 18 January 2008 13:01
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Pdf's and K3000 files
Hi Claire
I think you will be able to do most of this by using the Omnipage OCR software. If you need a copy I will gladly send you one free of charge.
Best wishes
Nasser Siabi
Managing Director
Microlink PC (UK) Ltd
Direct: 02380 240 316
Mobile: 07870603128
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-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Claire Wickham
Sent: 18 January 2008 11:18
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Pdf's and K3000 files
Andy (or anyone else): I am searching for software that will enable a VI student to convert PDF files to word and make the files usable e.g. avoiding the line breaks that occur if you cut and paste. What is the best option and how do I get hold of it please?
You can contact me at [log in to unmask]
With thanks,
Claire
Claire Wickham
Senior Disability Officer
Disability Resource Centre
University of the West of England
Frenchay Campus
Coldharbour Lane
Bristol BS16 1QY
Tel: 0117 328 3737
Textphone: 0117 32 83644
Fax: 0117 32 82935
Please note that this e-mail was written using speech input and may contain some small voice recognition errors.
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Andy Mcmahon
Sent: 15 January 2008 09:57
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Pdf's and K3000 files
Hi,
I may be able to help with PDF files, you can change the flow layout.
If you send me a few examples(off list), I will test them, and send back instruction.
Also could also use a PDF2Word conversion programs which will strip the text to a word file, and you can modify to your own preferences.(does not work with all PDF files)
Hope this helps
Andy
>>> Elaine Eldridge <[log in to unmask]> 14
January 2008
>>>
I'm print impaired and my eyesight has improved to the point that I can read times new roman 14pt magnified 2x on a 37"
gas plasma screen
which I think equates to 26pt Times New Roman when printed.
I can't however get pdf's and scanned books to magnify enough before they go off one side of the screen - the ideal would be to be able to
resize and repaginate them.
Has anyone come across this before and found a way to get around it??
There are usually three elements to deal with - the text, images and tables.
We thought of getting a printer to blow it up onto A2 or A1 but this would cost around £30 per page!!!! A3 printing isn't large enough.
Kind regards
Elaine
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