Yes it's a bizarre solution to what shouldn't be a problem. Also very
expensive - £289 (http://www.inclusive.co.uk/pagebot-for-kindle-p5196) while
the cheapest Kindle itself is £111. So that's £400 - you're cheaper buying a
netbook and loading the free Kindle for PC software albeit it's a heavier
solution with rubbish battery life compared to the Kindle itself.
Since the Kindle has a mini-USB port on it anyway it seems clear to me that
the obvious solution is for Amazon to build in alternative USB access to the
Kindle itself so that USB pointing devices / switches can access the Kindle
directly. This suggestion has been incorporated into the Right to Read
Alliance Accessible eBook specification (see attached).
Colleagues from RNIB have scheduled a meeting with Amazon accessibility
people in the states in the near future and I've asked Richard Orme of RNIB
to raise this issue with them.
PS Are folk aware that there's a new version of the Kindle for PC software
now available, with text-to-speech? See
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kin_pcacc_surl&docId=1000632481.
Paul
_______________________________________________
Paul D. Nisbet
Senior Research Fellow
Communication, Access, Literacy and Learning (CALL) Scotland
Moray House School of Education
University of Edinburgh
Paterson's Land, Holyrood Road
Edinburgh EH8 8AQ
Tel. 0131 651 6236 Fax 0131 651 6234
email [log in to unmask]
CALL Scotland: http://www.callscotland.org.uk
SQA Digital Exam Papers: http://www.AdaptedDigitalExams.org.uk
The Scottish Computer Voice: http://www.theScottishVoice.org.uk
Books for All: http://www.booksforall.org.uk
WordTalk reader for Word: http://www.wordtalk.org.uk
________________________________________________
--
The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in
Scotland, with registration number SC005336.
-----Original Message-----
From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Judge Simon (BARNSLEY
HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST)
Sent: 31 May 2011 08:40
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Switch operated book reader
Thanks for the link John, interesting.
Does anyone else think this is a bit retrograde though? i.e. accessing
buttons through actuators?!!!!! It is essentially a page-turner for e-books!
Unbelievable.
This is something someone like BATA should campaign on getting manufacturers
to provide some kind of interface to these devices.
We have previously successfully 'hacked into' one of the Sony e-books to
provide switch access - It may be that a side-effect of the low power
consumption of these devices is that they use 'real' switches and are thus
easier to 'hack'. Our electronics engineer Graham did find it _very_ fiddly
to do though as there is little spare room in the casing!
Cheers
Simon
-----Original Message-----
From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Woulfe
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2011 8:32 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Switch operated book reader
At last things seem to be moving on the switch operated book reader front
with this from Assistive Technology.
http://www.inclusive.co.uk/pagebot-for-kindle-p5196
The price is quite steep; but it's a big step forward.
Regards
John Woulfe
Access and Development Manager
Penn Hall School
www.pennhall.co.uk
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