From gkearney at gmail.com  Sun Feb  1 01:21:47 2009
From: gkearney at gmail.com (Greg Kearney)
Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:21:47 -0700
Subject: [Dtb-talk] LaTeX2MathML
Message-ID: <23875CFF-2E3C-4DB0-AC67-BF51FE8A9B89@gmail.com>

With the advent of MathML support in DAISY I have put together a  
simple MacOS X program that will convert LaTeX math code into MathML  
code. This is a GUI for blahtex. It is a universal application (intal  
and PPC). You can get it and the Xcode source code from the following  
URL:

http://www.cucat.org/projects/latex2mathml/index.php

Greg Kearney
535 S. Jackson St.
Casper, Wyoming 82601
307-224-4022
gkearney at gmail.com






From gkearney at gmail.com  Mon Feb  2 04:49:33 2009
From: gkearney at gmail.com (Greg Kearney)
Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 21:49:33 -0700
Subject: [Dtb-talk] Human narrated version of the Qur'an (Koran) in DAISY
	format
Message-ID: <5FDDA774-FFCF-48B8-A496-578CD0A8A2AA@gmail.com>

I have done a human narrated version of the Qur'an (Koran) in DAISY/ 
NISO z3986 format which can be found at the following URL:

http://www.cucat.org/library/openbiblio/shared/biblio_view.php?bibid=27524&tab=opac

Navigation is by Surah at the the first navigation level in addition  
page number ins also by Surah permitting navigation directly to the  
Surah by number.

Greg Kearney
535 S. Jackson St.
Casper, Wyoming 82601
307-224-4022
gkearney at gmail.com






From vollmasu at hotmail.com  Fri Feb  6 14:59:49 2009
From: vollmasu at hotmail.com (Susan Vollmar)
Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 09:59:49 -0500
Subject: [Dtb-talk] DAISY with Kurzweil 3000 and Wynn scanning and reading
	software
Message-ID: <BAY136-W5371B0C1B23CF92A3C9719DCC10@phx.gbl>


I have a DAISY book from the CNIB. My student tried to open it in Kurzweil 3000 and in Wynn with no luck. What are we doing wrong?
Susan VollmarQualified Teacher of the Blind, Low Vision and Multiple DisabilitiesLambton Kent District School BoardChatham, ON
_________________________________________________________________
How fun is this? IMing with Windows Live Messenger just got better.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/messenger.aspx

From gkearney at gmail.com  Fri Feb  6 15:58:53 2009
From: gkearney at gmail.com (Greg Kearney)
Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 08:58:53 -0700
Subject: [Dtb-talk] DAISY with Kurzweil 3000 and Wynn scanning and
	reading software
In-Reply-To: <BAY136-W5371B0C1B23CF92A3C9719DCC10@phx.gbl>
References: <BAY136-W5371B0C1B23CF92A3C9719DCC10@phx.gbl>
Message-ID: <70DB6B61-06C2-421E-88D9-2C85B3E4D2E0@gmail.com>

Hello I may be able to help here. A couple of issues to consider.  
First does the book from CNIB have any kind of digital right  
management applied to it? I seem to recall that CNIB did that at one  
time but not any longer? What kind of computer platform are you on  
(Mac or PC)?

If you are on a Mac then Olearia should be able to play the book  
provided it does not have any DRM. It is also possible to play these  
books on other non DAISY devices. You may have to use DAISY Pipeline  
to manipulate them to do so however. Give me a call and I'll talk to  
you about it.

Greg Kearney
535 S. Jackson St.
Casper, Wyoming 82601
307-224-4022
gkearney at gmail.com



On Feb 6, 2009, at 7:59 AM, Susan Vollmar wrote:

>
> I have a DAISY book from the CNIB. My student tried to open it in  
> Kurzweil 3000 and in Wynn with no luck. What are we doing wrong?
> Susan VollmarQualified Teacher of the Blind, Low Vision and Multiple  
> DisabilitiesLambton Kent District School BoardChatham, ON
> _________________________________________________________________
> How fun is this? IMing with Windows Live Messenger just got better.
> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/messenger.aspx
> _______________________________________________
> Dtb-talk mailing list
> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info  
> for Dtb-talk:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/gkearney%40gmail.com




From vollmasu at hotmail.com  Tue Feb 10 20:16:15 2009
From: vollmasu at hotmail.com (Susan Vollmar)
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:16:15 -0500
Subject: [Dtb-talk] DAISY with Kurzweil 3000 and Wynn scanning
	and	reading software
In-Reply-To: <70DB6B61-06C2-421E-88D9-2C85B3E4D2E0@gmail.com>
References: <BAY136-W5371B0C1B23CF92A3C9719DCC10@phx.gbl>
	<70DB6B61-06C2-421E-88D9-2C85B3E4D2E0@gmail.com>
Message-ID: <BAY136-W20BB9A1BF37F31FB1B948CDCBD0@phx.gbl>


Thanks Greg,
One of my students had Kurzweil 1000. We are going to try it with that software first to see if that helps. We are also going to request another DAISY book from CNIB to see if all of them act the same way.
SusanSusan VollmarQualified Teacher of the Blind, Low Vision and Multiple DisabilitiesLambton Kent District School BoardChatham, ON> From: gkearney at gmail.com> To: dtb-talk at nfbnet.org> Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 08:58:53 -0700> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] DAISY with Kurzweil 3000 and Wynn scanning and reading software> > Hello I may be able to help here. A couple of issues to consider. > First does the book from CNIB have any kind of digital right > management applied to it? I seem to recall that CNIB did that at one > time but not any longer? What kind of computer platform are you on > (Mac or PC)?> > If you are on a Mac then Olearia should be able to play the book > provided it does not have any DRM. It is also possible to play these > books on other non DAISY devices. You may have to use DAISY Pipeline > to manipulate them to do so however. Give me a call and I'll talk to > you about it.> > Greg Kearney> 535 S. Jackson St.> Casper, Wyoming 82601> 307-224-4022> gkearney at gmail.com> > > > On Feb 6, 2009, at 7:59 AM, Susan Vollmar wrote:> > >> > I have a DAISY book from the CNIB. My student tried to open it in > > Kurzweil 3000 and in Wynn with no luck. What are we doing wrong?> > Susan VollmarQualified Teacher of the Blind, Low Vision and Multiple > > DisabilitiesLambton Kent District School BoardChatham, ON> > _________________________________________________________________> > How fun is this? IMing with Windows Live Messenger just got better.> > http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/messenger.aspx> > _______________________________________________> > Dtb-talk mailing list> > Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info > > for Dtb-talk:> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/gkearney%40gmail.com> > > _______________________________________________> Dtb-talk mailing list> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Dtb-talk:> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/vollmasu%40hotmail.com
_________________________________________________________________
How fun is this? IMing with Windows Live Messenger just got better.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/products/messenger.aspx

From vollmasu at hotmail.com  Tue Feb 10 20:16:36 2009
From: vollmasu at hotmail.com (Susan Vollmar)
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:16:36 -0500
Subject: [Dtb-talk] DAISY with Kurzweil 3000 and Wynn scanning
	and	reading software
In-Reply-To: <70DB6B61-06C2-421E-88D9-2C85B3E4D2E0@gmail.com>
References: <BAY136-W5371B0C1B23CF92A3C9719DCC10@phx.gbl>
	<70DB6B61-06C2-421E-88D9-2C85B3E4D2E0@gmail.com>
Message-ID: <BAY136-W55C313B52496544ED9CBE6DCBD0@phx.gbl>


Thanks Greg,
One of my students had Kurzweil 1000. We are going to try it with that software first to see if that helps. We are also going to request another DAISY book from CNIB to see if all of them act the same way.
SusanSusan VollmarQualified Teacher of the Blind, Low Vision and Multiple DisabilitiesLambton Kent District School BoardChatham, ON> From: gkearney at gmail.com> To: dtb-talk at nfbnet.org> Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 08:58:53 -0700> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] DAISY with Kurzweil 3000 and Wynn scanning and reading software> > Hello I may be able to help here. A couple of issues to consider. > First does the book from CNIB have any kind of digital right > management applied to it? I seem to recall that CNIB did that at one > time but not any longer? What kind of computer platform are you on > (Mac or PC)?> > If you are on a Mac then Olearia should be able to play the book > provided it does not have any DRM. It is also possible to play these > books on other non DAISY devices. You may have to use DAISY Pipeline > to manipulate them to do so however. Give me a call and I'll talk to > you about it.> > Greg Kearney> 535 S. Jackson St.> Casper, Wyoming 82601> 307-224-4022> gkearney at gmail.com> > > > On Feb 6, 2009, at 7:59 AM, Susan Vollmar wrote:> > >> > I have a DAISY book from the CNIB. My student tried to open it in > > Kurzweil 3000 and in Wynn with no luck. What are we doing wrong?> > Susan VollmarQualified Teacher of the Blind, Low Vision and Multiple > > DisabilitiesLambton Kent District School BoardChatham, ON> > _________________________________________________________________> > How fun is this? IMing with Windows Live Messenger just got better.> > http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/messenger.aspx> > _______________________________________________> > Dtb-talk mailing list> > Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info > > for Dtb-talk:> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/gkearney%40gmail.com> > > _______________________________________________> Dtb-talk mailing list> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Dtb-talk:> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/vollmasu%40hotmail.com
_________________________________________________________________
So many new options, so little time. Windows Live Messenger.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/products/messenger.aspx

From JFreeh at nfb.org  Fri Feb 13 03:38:09 2009
From: JFreeh at nfb.org (Freeh,
	Jessica)
Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 21:38:09 -0600
Subject: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to Authors
 Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
Message-ID: <auto-000085724071@mailfront1.g2host.com>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org

National Federation of the Blind Responds to Authors Guild
Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2

Baltimore, Maryland (February 12, 2009): The National Federation of 
the Blind, the largest organization of blind people in the United 
States, today responded to a statement put out by the Authors Guild 
advising its members to consider negotiating contracts prohibiting 
e-books to be read aloud by the new Amazon Kindle 2, which 
incorporates text-to-speech technology. The Authors Guild argues that 
the reading of a book out loud by a machine is a copyright 
infringement unless the copyright holder has specifically granted 
permission for the book to be read aloud.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, 
said: "The National Federation of the Blind supports all technologies 
that allow blind people to have better access to the printed word, 
including the ability of devices like the Kindle 2 to read commercial 
e-books aloud using text-to-speech technology. Although the Authors 
Guild claims that it supports making books accessible to the blind, 
its position on the inclusion of text-to-speech technology in the 
Kindle 2 is harmful to blind people. The Authors Guild says that 
having a book read aloud by a machine in the privacy of one's home or 
vehicle is a copyright infringement. But blind people routinely use 
readers, either human or machine, to access books that are not 
available in alternative formats like Braille or audio. Up until now, 
no one has argued that this is illegal, but now the Authors Guild 
says that it is. This is absolutely wrong. The blind and other 
readers have the right for books to be presented to us in the format 
that is most useful to us, and we are not violating copyright law as 
long as we use readers, either human or machine, for private rather 
than public listening. The key point is that reading aloud in private 
is the same whether done by a person or a machine, and reading aloud 
in private is never an infringement of copyright.

"Amazon has taken a step in the right direction by including 
text-to-speech technology for reading e-books aloud on its new Kindle 
2," Dr. Maurer continued. "We note, however, that the device itself 
cannot be used independently by a blind reader because the controls 
to download a book and begin reading it aloud are visual and 
therefore inaccessible to the blind. We urge Amazon to rectify this 
situation as soon as possible in order to make the Kindle 2 a device 
that truly can be used both by blind and sighted readers. By doing 
so, Amazon will make it possible for blind people to purchase a new 
book and begin reading it immediately, just as sighted people do."



###



About the National Federation of the Blind

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind 
is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind 
people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives 
through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs 
encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force 
in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In 
January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind 
Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the 
United States for the blind led by the blind.




From rwatson at ogleveeltd.com  Fri Feb 13 12:14:44 2009
From: rwatson at ogleveeltd.com (rick watson)
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 07:14:44 -0500
Subject: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to Authors
	Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
In-Reply-To: <auto-000085724071@mailfront1.g2host.com>
References: <auto-000085724071@mailfront1.g2host.com>
Message-ID: <002101c98dd4$a7cc3150$f76493f0$@com>

Good morning listers,
I would like to urge everyone to contact technical support for the kindle
and ask that the menus be made usable through the text-to-speech engine.
The technician whom I spoke with said that he would pass along this
information. This is an opportunity for us as visually impaired people to
get access to a wide range of books. There are currently 230000 books
available for purchase on kindle's site.
Rick


-----Original Message-----
From: dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Freeh, Jessica (by way of David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>)
Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 10:38 PM
To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to Authors
Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org

National Federation of the Blind Responds to Authors Guild
Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2

Baltimore, Maryland (February 12, 2009): The National Federation of 
the Blind, the largest organization of blind people in the United 
States, today responded to a statement put out by the Authors Guild 
advising its members to consider negotiating contracts prohibiting 
e-books to be read aloud by the new Amazon Kindle 2, which 
incorporates text-to-speech technology. The Authors Guild argues that 
the reading of a book out loud by a machine is a copyright 
infringement unless the copyright holder has specifically granted 
permission for the book to be read aloud.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, 
said: "The National Federation of the Blind supports all technologies 
that allow blind people to have better access to the printed word, 
including the ability of devices like the Kindle 2 to read commercial 
e-books aloud using text-to-speech technology. Although the Authors 
Guild claims that it supports making books accessible to the blind, 
its position on the inclusion of text-to-speech technology in the 
Kindle 2 is harmful to blind people. The Authors Guild says that 
having a book read aloud by a machine in the privacy of one's home or 
vehicle is a copyright infringement. But blind people routinely use 
readers, either human or machine, to access books that are not 
available in alternative formats like Braille or audio. Up until now, 
no one has argued that this is illegal, but now the Authors Guild 
says that it is. This is absolutely wrong. The blind and other 
readers have the right for books to be presented to us in the format 
that is most useful to us, and we are not violating copyright law as 
long as we use readers, either human or machine, for private rather 
than public listening. The key point is that reading aloud in private 
is the same whether done by a person or a machine, and reading aloud 
in private is never an infringement of copyright.

"Amazon has taken a step in the right direction by including 
text-to-speech technology for reading e-books aloud on its new Kindle 
2," Dr. Maurer continued. "We note, however, that the device itself 
cannot be used independently by a blind reader because the controls 
to download a book and begin reading it aloud are visual and 
therefore inaccessible to the blind. We urge Amazon to rectify this 
situation as soon as possible in order to make the Kindle 2 a device 
that truly can be used both by blind and sighted readers. By doing 
so, Amazon will make it possible for blind people to purchase a new 
book and begin reading it immediately, just as sighted people do."



###



About the National Federation of the Blind

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind 
is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind 
people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives 
through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs 
encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force 
in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In 
January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind 
Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the 
United States for the blind led by the blind.


_______________________________________________
Dtb-talk mailing list
Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Dtb-talk:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/rwatson%40ogleveel
td.com




From f.wurtzel at comcast.net  Fri Feb 13 14:37:16 2009
From: f.wurtzel at comcast.net (Fred Wurtzel)
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:37:16 -0500
Subject: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to
	AuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
In-Reply-To: <002101c98dd4$a7cc3150$f76493f0$@com>
Message-ID: <mailman.0.1593442448.11571.dtb-talk_nfbnet.org@nfbnet.org>

Hi,

Do you have contact details?

Thanks.

Warm Regards,

Fred

-----Original Message-----
From: dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of rick watson
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 7:15 AM
To: 'Discussion of Digital Talking Books'
Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to
AuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2

Good morning listers,
I would like to urge everyone to contact technical support for the kindle
and ask that the menus be made usable through the text-to-speech engine.
The technician whom I spoke with said that he would pass along this
information. This is an opportunity for us as visually impaired people to
get access to a wide range of books. There are currently 230000 books
available for purchase on kindle's site.
Rick


-----Original Message-----
From: dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Freeh, Jessica (by way of David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>)
Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 10:38 PM
To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to Authors
Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org

National Federation of the Blind Responds to Authors Guild
Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2

Baltimore, Maryland (February 12, 2009): The National Federation of 
the Blind, the largest organization of blind people in the United 
States, today responded to a statement put out by the Authors Guild 
advising its members to consider negotiating contracts prohibiting 
e-books to be read aloud by the new Amazon Kindle 2, which 
incorporates text-to-speech technology. The Authors Guild argues that 
the reading of a book out loud by a machine is a copyright 
infringement unless the copyright holder has specifically granted 
permission for the book to be read aloud.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, 
said: "The National Federation of the Blind supports all technologies 
that allow blind people to have better access to the printed word, 
including the ability of devices like the Kindle 2 to read commercial 
e-books aloud using text-to-speech technology. Although the Authors 
Guild claims that it supports making books accessible to the blind, 
its position on the inclusion of text-to-speech technology in the 
Kindle 2 is harmful to blind people. The Authors Guild says that 
having a book read aloud by a machine in the privacy of one's home or 
vehicle is a copyright infringement. But blind people routinely use 
readers, either human or machine, to access books that are not 
available in alternative formats like Braille or audio. Up until now, 
no one has argued that this is illegal, but now the Authors Guild 
says that it is. This is absolutely wrong. The blind and other 
readers have the right for books to be presented to us in the format 
that is most useful to us, and we are not violating copyright law as 
long as we use readers, either human or machine, for private rather 
than public listening. The key point is that reading aloud in private 
is the same whether done by a person or a machine, and reading aloud 
in private is never an infringement of copyright.

"Amazon has taken a step in the right direction by including 
text-to-speech technology for reading e-books aloud on its new Kindle 
2," Dr. Maurer continued. "We note, however, that the device itself 
cannot be used independently by a blind reader because the controls 
to download a book and begin reading it aloud are visual and 
therefore inaccessible to the blind. We urge Amazon to rectify this 
situation as soon as possible in order to make the Kindle 2 a device 
that truly can be used both by blind and sighted readers. By doing 
so, Amazon will make it possible for blind people to purchase a new 
book and begin reading it immediately, just as sighted people do."



###



About the National Federation of the Blind

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind 
is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind 
people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives 
through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs 
encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force 
in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In 
January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind 
Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the 
United States for the blind led by the blind.


_______________________________________________
Dtb-talk mailing list
Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Dtb-talk:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/rwatson%40ogleveel
td.com


_______________________________________________
Dtb-talk mailing list
Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Dtb-talk:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/f.wurtzel%40comcas
t.net




From rforetjr at comcast.net  Fri Feb 13 14:55:11 2009
From: rforetjr at comcast.net (Ray Foret jr)
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 08:55:11 -0600
Subject: [Dtb-talk] [nfb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds
	to Authors Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
In-Reply-To: <auto-000085724071@mailfront1.g2host.com>
References: <auto-000085724071@mailfront1.g2host.com>
Message-ID: <BB6D06F271E944D3AD6B9897F64ADAFD@OwnerPC>

I can't help but wonder.  Has the Author's guild had their heads buried in 
the sand since 1934 or earlier?  Could they honestly be so stupid as to not 
have ever been aware of public law 89-522?  Were they un-aware that, for 
years, we, the blind, have been using talking books beginning in 1934 with 
vinyl phonograph records and with cassettes beginning at least in 1967 or 
so?  Wince comes this crazy outlandish statement that reading books allowed 
is a violation of copy right?  Are they really and consciously against the 
blind; or, perhaps just un-aware?  Well, what ever the case may happen to 
be, perhaps they will awaken to their senses now that we have responded in 
this fashion.  If not, then what?  Do we sue the entire author's guild; or, 
just target those individuals directly responsible for making that 
statement?  Something just strikes me all wrong about this sudden 
declaration upon the part of the author's guild; I mean really, that they 
should now just come right strait out and say that reading books allowed is 
a violation of copy right.  Smacks of prudential arrogance, in my humble 
opinion!!!  I also can't help but wonder.  How would they feel if one of 
their members went blind and did not want to or could not (for what ever 
reason) learn Braille?  Ah, then what?  Mind you, I don't wish that on any 
of their members; still and all, part of me can't help but ask the question. 
What next if they resist?  Well, no doubt we'll be taking further action I 
dare speculate.  I guess it gets harder "at the top of the stairs"; so to 
speak.  Most of me would, as I say, prefer to believe that this is a case of 
mere ignorance on their parts; but, somehow, I just cannot bring myself to 
that conclusion.  in the end, I'm coming down on the side that it's not 
accidental or ignorance; rather, it's a deliberate attack upon all the 
blind; and, for that matter, the sited illiterate of this country.  I'd 
rather peace, but, if it's war they want, damn it, let's go to war!!!!!

Sincerely,
The Constantly BAREFOOTED Ray

"Old friend, what are you looking for?  After those many years abroad you 
come With images you tended Under foreign skies Far away from your own land"
George Seferis

Phone or Fax::
+1 (985) 360-3375
e-mail:
rforetjratcomcastdotnet
Skype Name:
barefootedray
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Freeh,Jessica (by way of David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>)" 
<JFreeh at nfb.org>
To: <david.andrews at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 9:38 PM
Subject: [nfb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to Authors 
Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org

National Federation of the Blind Responds to Authors Guild
Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2

Baltimore, Maryland (February 12, 2009): The National Federation of
the Blind, the largest organization of blind people in the United
States, today responded to a statement put out by the Authors Guild
advising its members to consider negotiating contracts prohibiting
e-books to be read aloud by the new Amazon Kindle 2, which
incorporates text-to-speech technology. The Authors Guild argues that
the reading of a book out loud by a machine is a copyright
infringement unless the copyright holder has specifically granted
permission for the book to be read aloud.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
said: "The National Federation of the Blind supports all technologies
that allow blind people to have better access to the printed word,
including the ability of devices like the Kindle 2 to read commercial
e-books aloud using text-to-speech technology. Although the Authors
Guild claims that it supports making books accessible to the blind,
its position on the inclusion of text-to-speech technology in the
Kindle 2 is harmful to blind people. The Authors Guild says that
having a book read aloud by a machine in the privacy of one's home or
vehicle is a copyright infringement. But blind people routinely use
readers, either human or machine, to access books that are not
available in alternative formats like Braille or audio. Up until now,
no one has argued that this is illegal, but now the Authors Guild
says that it is. This is absolutely wrong. The blind and other
readers have the right for books to be presented to us in the format
that is most useful to us, and we are not violating copyright law as
long as we use readers, either human or machine, for private rather
than public listening. The key point is that reading aloud in private
is the same whether done by a person or a machine, and reading aloud
in private is never an infringement of copyright.

"Amazon has taken a step in the right direction by including
text-to-speech technology for reading e-books aloud on its new Kindle
2," Dr. Maurer continued. "We note, however, that the device itself
cannot be used independently by a blind reader because the controls
to download a book and begin reading it aloud are visual and
therefore inaccessible to the blind. We urge Amazon to rectify this
situation as soon as possible in order to make the Kindle 2 a device
that truly can be used both by blind and sighted readers. By doing
so, Amazon will make it possible for blind people to purchase a new
book and begin reading it immediately, just as sighted people do."



###



About the National Federation of the Blind

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind
is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind
people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives
through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs
encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force
in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In
January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind
Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the
United States for the blind led by the blind.


_______________________________________________
nfb-talk mailing list
nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org




From ajvece at verizon.net  Fri Feb 13 15:26:34 2009
From: ajvece at verizon.net (Anthony Vece)
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 10:26:34 -0500
Subject: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds
 toAuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
References: <0KF0003LLEGQ5I81@vms172077.mailsrvcs.net>
Message-ID: <B1EF03D9B37440D3B2CE6428A2234BD8@AJVECEDT>

   Pardon my ignorance but, what is Kindle and, how does it differ from NLS 
or Bookshare.

Thanks


Anthony


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fred Wurtzel" <f.wurtzel at comcast.net>
To: "'Discussion of Digital Talking Books'" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 9:37 AM
Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds 
toAuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2


> Hi,
>
> Do you have contact details?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Warm Regards,
>
> Fred
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of rick watson
> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 7:15 AM
> To: 'Discussion of Digital Talking Books'
> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to
> AuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>
> Good morning listers,
> I would like to urge everyone to contact technical support for the kindle
> and ask that the menus be made usable through the text-to-speech engine.
> The technician whom I spoke with said that he would pass along this
> information. This is an opportunity for us as visually impaired people to
> get access to a wide range of books. There are currently 230000 books
> available for purchase on kindle's site.
> Rick
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Freeh, Jessica (by way of David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>)
> Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 10:38 PM
> To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to Authors
> Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
> CONTACT:
> Chris Danielsen
> Director of Public Relations
> National Federation of the Blind
> (410) 659-9314, extension 2330
> (410) 262-1281 (Cell)
> <mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org
>
> National Federation of the Blind Responds to Authors Guild
> Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>
> Baltimore, Maryland (February 12, 2009): The National Federation of
> the Blind, the largest organization of blind people in the United
> States, today responded to a statement put out by the Authors Guild
> advising its members to consider negotiating contracts prohibiting
> e-books to be read aloud by the new Amazon Kindle 2, which
> incorporates text-to-speech technology. The Authors Guild argues that
> the reading of a book out loud by a machine is a copyright
> infringement unless the copyright holder has specifically granted
> permission for the book to be read aloud.
>
> Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
> said: "The National Federation of the Blind supports all technologies
> that allow blind people to have better access to the printed word,
> including the ability of devices like the Kindle 2 to read commercial
> e-books aloud using text-to-speech technology. Although the Authors
> Guild claims that it supports making books accessible to the blind,
> its position on the inclusion of text-to-speech technology in the
> Kindle 2 is harmful to blind people. The Authors Guild says that
> having a book read aloud by a machine in the privacy of one's home or
> vehicle is a copyright infringement. But blind people routinely use
> readers, either human or machine, to access books that are not
> available in alternative formats like Braille or audio. Up until now,
> no one has argued that this is illegal, but now the Authors Guild
> says that it is. This is absolutely wrong. The blind and other
> readers have the right for books to be presented to us in the format
> that is most useful to us, and we are not violating copyright law as
> long as we use readers, either human or machine, for private rather
> than public listening. The key point is that reading aloud in private
> is the same whether done by a person or a machine, and reading aloud
> in private is never an infringement of copyright.
>
> "Amazon has taken a step in the right direction by including
> text-to-speech technology for reading e-books aloud on its new Kindle
> 2," Dr. Maurer continued. "We note, however, that the device itself
> cannot be used independently by a blind reader because the controls
> to download a book and begin reading it aloud are visual and
> therefore inaccessible to the blind. We urge Amazon to rectify this
> situation as soon as possible in order to make the Kindle 2 a device
> that truly can be used both by blind and sighted readers. By doing
> so, Amazon will make it possible for blind people to purchase a new
> book and begin reading it immediately, just as sighted people do."
>
>
>
> ###
>
>
>
> About the National Federation of the Blind
>
> With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind
> is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind
> people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives
> through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs
> encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force
> in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In
> January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind
> Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the
> United States for the blind led by the blind.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Dtb-talk mailing list
> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Dtb-talk:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/rwatson%40ogleveel
> td.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Dtb-talk mailing list
> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Dtb-talk:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/f.wurtzel%40comcas
> t.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Dtb-talk mailing list
> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Dtb-talk:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/ajvece%40verizon.net


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Internal Virus Database is out of date.
Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.169 / Virus Database: 270.6.14/1643 - Release Date: 8/30/2008 
5:18 PM




From gkearney at gmail.com  Fri Feb 13 16:05:31 2009
From: gkearney at gmail.com (Greg Kearney)
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:05:31 -0700
Subject: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds
	toAuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
In-Reply-To: <B1EF03D9B37440D3B2CE6428A2234BD8@AJVECEDT>
References: <0KF0003LLEGQ5I81@vms172077.mailsrvcs.net>
	<B1EF03D9B37440D3B2CE6428A2234BD8@AJVECEDT>
Message-ID: <B7A0F90A-06BF-4D79-94A6-2FBEF9C44E66@gmail.com>

A Kiddle is a hardware device, sold by Amazon, that will display, and  
now read aloud with text to speech, books sold by Amazon for it. The  
books are sold in a proprietary format. They are not, sadly, DAISY. It  
would be a really great addition to Kiddle if it could play DAISY book.


Greg Kearney
535 S. Jackson St.
Casper, Wyoming 82601
307-224-4022
gkearney at gmail.com



On Feb 13, 2009, at 8:26 AM, Anthony Vece wrote:

>  Pardon my ignorance but, what is Kindle and, how does it differ  
> from NLS or Bookshare.
>
> Thanks
>
>
> Anthony
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Fred Wurtzel" <f.wurtzel at comcast.net 
> >
> To: "'Discussion of Digital Talking Books'" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 9:37 AM
> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds  
> toAuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Do you have contact details?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Warm Regards,
>>
>> Fred
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:dtb-talk- 
>> bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of rick watson
>> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 7:15 AM
>> To: 'Discussion of Digital Talking Books'
>> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to
>> AuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>>
>> Good morning listers,
>> I would like to urge everyone to contact technical support for the  
>> kindle
>> and ask that the menus be made usable through the text-to-speech  
>> engine.
>> The technician whom I spoke with said that he would pass along this
>> information. This is an opportunity for us as visually impaired  
>> people to
>> get access to a wide range of books. There are currently 230000 books
>> available for purchase on kindle's site.
>> Rick
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:dtb-talk- 
>> bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Freeh, Jessica (by way of David Andrews  
>> <dandrews at visi.com>)
>> Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 10:38 PM
>> To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to  
>> Authors
>> Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>>
>> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>>
>> CONTACT:
>> Chris Danielsen
>> Director of Public Relations
>> National Federation of the Blind
>> (410) 659-9314, extension 2330
>> (410) 262-1281 (Cell)
>> <mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org
>>
>> National Federation of the Blind Responds to Authors Guild
>> Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>>
>> Baltimore, Maryland (February 12, 2009): The National Federation of
>> the Blind, the largest organization of blind people in the United
>> States, today responded to a statement put out by the Authors Guild
>> advising its members to consider negotiating contracts prohibiting
>> e-books to be read aloud by the new Amazon Kindle 2, which
>> incorporates text-to-speech technology. The Authors Guild argues that
>> the reading of a book out loud by a machine is a copyright
>> infringement unless the copyright holder has specifically granted
>> permission for the book to be read aloud.
>>
>> Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
>> said: "The National Federation of the Blind supports all technologies
>> that allow blind people to have better access to the printed word,
>> including the ability of devices like the Kindle 2 to read commercial
>> e-books aloud using text-to-speech technology. Although the Authors
>> Guild claims that it supports making books accessible to the blind,
>> its position on the inclusion of text-to-speech technology in the
>> Kindle 2 is harmful to blind people. The Authors Guild says that
>> having a book read aloud by a machine in the privacy of one's home or
>> vehicle is a copyright infringement. But blind people routinely use
>> readers, either human or machine, to access books that are not
>> available in alternative formats like Braille or audio. Up until now,
>> no one has argued that this is illegal, but now the Authors Guild
>> says that it is. This is absolutely wrong. The blind and other
>> readers have the right for books to be presented to us in the format
>> that is most useful to us, and we are not violating copyright law as
>> long as we use readers, either human or machine, for private rather
>> than public listening. The key point is that reading aloud in private
>> is the same whether done by a person or a machine, and reading aloud
>> in private is never an infringement of copyright.
>>
>> "Amazon has taken a step in the right direction by including
>> text-to-speech technology for reading e-books aloud on its new Kindle
>> 2," Dr. Maurer continued. "We note, however, that the device itself
>> cannot be used independently by a blind reader because the controls
>> to download a book and begin reading it aloud are visual and
>> therefore inaccessible to the blind. We urge Amazon to rectify this
>> situation as soon as possible in order to make the Kindle 2 a device
>> that truly can be used both by blind and sighted readers. By doing
>> so, Amazon will make it possible for blind people to purchase a new
>> book and begin reading it immediately, just as sighted people do."
>>
>>
>>
>> ###
>>
>>
>>
>> About the National Federation of the Blind
>>
>> With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind
>> is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind
>> people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives
>> through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs
>> encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force
>> in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In
>> January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind
>> Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the
>> United States for the blind led by the blind.
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> Dtb-talk:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/rwatson%40ogleveel
>> td.com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> Dtb-talk:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/f.wurtzel%40comcas
>> t.net
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info  
>> for Dtb-talk:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/ajvece%40verizon.net
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> Internal Virus Database is out of date.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
> Version: 8.0.169 / Virus Database: 270.6.14/1643 - Release Date:  
> 8/30/2008 5:18 PM
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Dtb-talk mailing list
> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info  
> for Dtb-talk:
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From jbar at barcore.com  Fri Feb 13 16:21:42 2009
From: jbar at barcore.com (Jim Barbour)
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 08:21:42 -0800
Subject: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind
	Responds	toAuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
In-Reply-To: <B1EF03D9B37440D3B2CE6428A2234BD8@AJVECEDT>
References: <0KF0003LLEGQ5I81@vms172077.mailsrvcs.net>
	<B1EF03D9B37440D3B2CE6428A2234BD8@AJVECEDT>
Message-ID: <20090213162142.GC12972@barcore.com>

A kindle is a portable device that displays electronic books.  You buy
a Kindle from Amazon, and then you can download books from amazon to
load on the Kindle and read.

As of now, the Kindle isn't usable by blind folks at all.

Apparently, the next version of the Kindle will have an option to use
TTS to read the book aloud, which the Author's Guild is objecting to.
Further, it seems that even if the book can be read aloud, it still
isn't usable by blind folks because the controls are only visual.

Just to cover myself, I haven't yet seen the new Kindle, I am
inferring all this from our response to the press release.

Jim

On Fri, Feb 13, 2009 at 10:26:34AM -0500, Anthony Vece wrote:
>   Pardon my ignorance but, what is Kindle and, how does it differ from 
> NLS or Bookshare.
>
> Thanks
>
>
> Anthony
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Fred Wurtzel" <f.wurtzel at comcast.net>
> To: "'Discussion of Digital Talking Books'" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 9:37 AM
> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds  
> toAuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Do you have contact details?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Warm Regards,
>>
>> Fred
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of rick watson
>> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 7:15 AM
>> To: 'Discussion of Digital Talking Books'
>> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to
>> AuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>>
>> Good morning listers,
>> I would like to urge everyone to contact technical support for the kindle
>> and ask that the menus be made usable through the text-to-speech engine.
>> The technician whom I spoke with said that he would pass along this
>> information. This is an opportunity for us as visually impaired people to
>> get access to a wide range of books. There are currently 230000 books
>> available for purchase on kindle's site.
>> Rick
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Freeh, Jessica (by way of David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>)
>> Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 10:38 PM
>> To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to Authors
>> Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>>
>> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>>
>> CONTACT:
>> Chris Danielsen
>> Director of Public Relations
>> National Federation of the Blind
>> (410) 659-9314, extension 2330
>> (410) 262-1281 (Cell)
>> <mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org
>>
>> National Federation of the Blind Responds to Authors Guild
>> Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>>
>> Baltimore, Maryland (February 12, 2009): The National Federation of
>> the Blind, the largest organization of blind people in the United
>> States, today responded to a statement put out by the Authors Guild
>> advising its members to consider negotiating contracts prohibiting
>> e-books to be read aloud by the new Amazon Kindle 2, which
>> incorporates text-to-speech technology. The Authors Guild argues that
>> the reading of a book out loud by a machine is a copyright
>> infringement unless the copyright holder has specifically granted
>> permission for the book to be read aloud.
>>
>> Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
>> said: "The National Federation of the Blind supports all technologies
>> that allow blind people to have better access to the printed word,
>> including the ability of devices like the Kindle 2 to read commercial
>> e-books aloud using text-to-speech technology. Although the Authors
>> Guild claims that it supports making books accessible to the blind,
>> its position on the inclusion of text-to-speech technology in the
>> Kindle 2 is harmful to blind people. The Authors Guild says that
>> having a book read aloud by a machine in the privacy of one's home or
>> vehicle is a copyright infringement. But blind people routinely use
>> readers, either human or machine, to access books that are not
>> available in alternative formats like Braille or audio. Up until now,
>> no one has argued that this is illegal, but now the Authors Guild
>> says that it is. This is absolutely wrong. The blind and other
>> readers have the right for books to be presented to us in the format
>> that is most useful to us, and we are not violating copyright law as
>> long as we use readers, either human or machine, for private rather
>> than public listening. The key point is that reading aloud in private
>> is the same whether done by a person or a machine, and reading aloud
>> in private is never an infringement of copyright.
>>
>> "Amazon has taken a step in the right direction by including
>> text-to-speech technology for reading e-books aloud on its new Kindle
>> 2," Dr. Maurer continued. "We note, however, that the device itself
>> cannot be used independently by a blind reader because the controls
>> to download a book and begin reading it aloud are visual and
>> therefore inaccessible to the blind. We urge Amazon to rectify this
>> situation as soon as possible in order to make the Kindle 2 a device
>> that truly can be used both by blind and sighted readers. By doing
>> so, Amazon will make it possible for blind people to purchase a new
>> book and begin reading it immediately, just as sighted people do."
>>
>>
>>
>> ###
>>
>>
>>
>> About the National Federation of the Blind
>>
>> With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind
>> is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind
>> people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives
>> through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs
>> encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force
>> in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In
>> January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind
>> Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the
>> United States for the blind led by the blind.
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> Dtb-talk:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/rwatson%40ogleveel
>> td.com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> Dtb-talk:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/f.wurtzel%40comcas
>> t.net
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for  
>> Dtb-talk:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/ajvece%40verizon.net
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> Internal Virus Database is out of date.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
> Version: 8.0.169 / Virus Database: 270.6.14/1643 - Release Date: 
> 8/30/2008 5:18 PM
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Dtb-talk mailing list
> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
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> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Dtb-talk:
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From David.B.Andrews at state.mn.us  Fri Feb 13 16:41:25 2009
From: David.B.Andrews at state.mn.us (David B Andrews)
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 10:41:25 -0600
Subject: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the
	Blind	RespondstoAuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
In-Reply-To: <B1EF03D9B37440D3B2CE6428A2234BD8@AJVECEDT>
References: <0KF0003LLEGQ5I81@vms172077.mailsrvcs.net>
	<B1EF03D9B37440D3B2CE6428A2234BD8@AJVECEDT>
Message-ID: <49954E61.7B8E.00BC.1@ngwmail.des.state.mn.us>

The Kindle is a small, portable ebook reader device from amazon.com.  It
downloads books, in a proprietary format from amazon.com and allows a
sighted person to read them on its small screen.
 
Dave
 
 
 
David Andrews
Chief Technology Officer
Minnesota State Services for the Blind
2200 University Ave. W., #240
St. Paul, MN  55114-1840
(651) 642-0513  Office
(612) 730-7931  Cell
(651) 649-5927  Fax


>>> "Anthony Vece" <ajvece at verizon.net> 2/13/2009 9:26 AM >>>
   Pardon my ignorance but, what is Kindle and, how does it differ from
NLS 
or Bookshare.

Thanks


Anthony


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fred Wurtzel" <f.wurtzel at comcast.net>
To: "'Discussion of Digital Talking Books'" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 9:37 AM
Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds 
toAuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2


> Hi,
>
> Do you have contact details?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Warm Regards,
>
> Fred
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of rick watson
> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 7:15 AM
> To: 'Discussion of Digital Talking Books'
> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to
> AuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>
> Good morning listers,
> I would like to urge everyone to contact technical support for the
kindle
> and ask that the menus be made usable through the text-to-speech
engine.
> The technician whom I spoke with said that he would pass along this
> information. This is an opportunity for us as visually impaired
people to
> get access to a wide range of books. There are currently 230000
books
> available for purchase on kindle's site.
> Rick
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Freeh, Jessica (by way of David Andrews
<dandrews at visi.com>)
> Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 10:38 PM
> To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org 
> Subject: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to
Authors
> Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
> CONTACT:
> Chris Danielsen
> Director of Public Relations
> National Federation of the Blind
> (410) 659-9314, extension 2330
> (410) 262-1281 (Cell)
> <mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org 
>
> National Federation of the Blind Responds to Authors Guild
> Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>
> Baltimore, Maryland (February 12, 2009): The National Federation of
> the Blind, the largest organization of blind people in the United
> States, today responded to a statement put out by the Authors Guild
> advising its members to consider negotiating contracts prohibiting
> e-books to be read aloud by the new Amazon Kindle 2, which
> incorporates text-to-speech technology. The Authors Guild argues
that
> the reading of a book out loud by a machine is a copyright
> infringement unless the copyright holder has specifically granted
> permission for the book to be read aloud.
>
> Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
> said: "The National Federation of the Blind supports all
technologies
> that allow blind people to have better access to the printed word,
> including the ability of devices like the Kindle 2 to read
commercial
> e-books aloud using text-to-speech technology. Although the Authors
> Guild claims that it supports making books accessible to the blind,
> its position on the inclusion of text-to-speech technology in the
> Kindle 2 is harmful to blind people. The Authors Guild says that
> having a book read aloud by a machine in the privacy of one's home
or
> vehicle is a copyright infringement. But blind people routinely use
> readers, either human or machine, to access books that are not
> available in alternative formats like Braille or audio. Up until
now,
> no one has argued that this is illegal, but now the Authors Guild
> says that it is. This is absolutely wrong. The blind and other
> readers have the right for books to be presented to us in the format
> that is most useful to us, and we are not violating copyright law as
> long as we use readers, either human or machine, for private rather
> than public listening. The key point is that reading aloud in
private
> is the same whether done by a person or a machine, and reading aloud
> in private is never an infringement of copyright.
>
> "Amazon has taken a step in the right direction by including
> text-to-speech technology for reading e-books aloud on its new
Kindle
> 2," Dr. Maurer continued. "We note, however, that the device itself
> cannot be used independently by a blind reader because the controls
> to download a book and begin reading it aloud are visual and
> therefore inaccessible to the blind. We urge Amazon to rectify this
> situation as soon as possible in order to make the Kindle 2 a device
> that truly can be used both by blind and sighted readers. By doing
> so, Amazon will make it possible for blind people to purchase a new
> book and begin reading it immediately, just as sighted people do."
>
>
>
> ###
>
>
>
> About the National Federation of the Blind
>
> With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind
> is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind
> people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives
> through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs
> encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading
force
> in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In
> January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind
> Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the
> United States for the blind led by the blind.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Dtb-talk mailing list
> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org 
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org 
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
for
> Dtb-talk:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/rwatson%40ogleveel

> td.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Dtb-talk mailing list
> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org 
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org 
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
for
> Dtb-talk:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/f.wurtzel%40comcas

> t.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Dtb-talk mailing list
> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org 
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org 
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for

> Dtb-talk:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/ajvece%40verizon.net



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Internal Virus Database is out of date.
Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com 
Version: 8.0.169 / Virus Database: 270.6.14/1643 - Release Date:
8/30/2008 
5:18 PM


_______________________________________________
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To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
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From rjaquiss at earthlink.net  Fri Feb 13 17:51:53 2009
From: rjaquiss at earthlink.net (Robert Jaquiss)
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:51:53 -0600
Subject: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of
	theBlind	RespondstoAuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
References: <0KF0003LLEGQ5I81@vms172077.mailsrvcs.net><B1EF03D9B37440D3B2CE6428A2234BD8@AJVECEDT>
	<49954E61.7B8E.00BC.1@ngwmail.des.state.mn.us>
Message-ID: <53F1EFC336AE4313B2FEA4720E060C99@D3DTZP41>

Hello:

     Being curious, I did a Google search with the terms; hacking Kindle. I 
came across a guy who managed to access the Kindle's OS and who explains how 
to work with it.

Regards,

Robert

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David B Andrews" <David.B.Andrews at state.mn.us>
To: "Discussion of Digital Talking Books" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 10:41 AM
Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of theBlind 
RespondstoAuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2


> The Kindle is a small, portable ebook reader device from amazon.com.  It
> downloads books, in a proprietary format from amazon.com and allows a
> sighted person to read them on its small screen.
>
> Dave
>
>
>
> David Andrews
> Chief Technology Officer
> Minnesota State Services for the Blind
> 2200 University Ave. W., #240
> St. Paul, MN  55114-1840
> (651) 642-0513  Office
> (612) 730-7931  Cell
> (651) 649-5927  Fax
>
>
>>>> "Anthony Vece" <ajvece at verizon.net> 2/13/2009 9:26 AM >>>
>   Pardon my ignorance but, what is Kindle and, how does it differ from
> NLS
> or Bookshare.
>
> Thanks
>
>
> Anthony
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Fred Wurtzel" <f.wurtzel at comcast.net>
> To: "'Discussion of Digital Talking Books'" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 9:37 AM
> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds
> toAuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Do you have contact details?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Warm Regards,
>>
>> Fred
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of rick watson
>> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 7:15 AM
>> To: 'Discussion of Digital Talking Books'
>> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to
>> AuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>>
>> Good morning listers,
>> I would like to urge everyone to contact technical support for the
> kindle
>> and ask that the menus be made usable through the text-to-speech
> engine.
>> The technician whom I spoke with said that he would pass along this
>> information. This is an opportunity for us as visually impaired
> people to
>> get access to a wide range of books. There are currently 230000
> books
>> available for purchase on kindle's site.
>> Rick
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Freeh, Jessica (by way of David Andrews
> <dandrews at visi.com>)
>> Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 10:38 PM
>> To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to
> Authors
>> Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>>
>> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>>
>> CONTACT:
>> Chris Danielsen
>> Director of Public Relations
>> National Federation of the Blind
>> (410) 659-9314, extension 2330
>> (410) 262-1281 (Cell)
>> <mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org
>>
>> National Federation of the Blind Responds to Authors Guild
>> Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>>
>> Baltimore, Maryland (February 12, 2009): The National Federation of
>> the Blind, the largest organization of blind people in the United
>> States, today responded to a statement put out by the Authors Guild
>> advising its members to consider negotiating contracts prohibiting
>> e-books to be read aloud by the new Amazon Kindle 2, which
>> incorporates text-to-speech technology. The Authors Guild argues
> that
>> the reading of a book out loud by a machine is a copyright
>> infringement unless the copyright holder has specifically granted
>> permission for the book to be read aloud.
>>
>> Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
>> said: "The National Federation of the Blind supports all
> technologies
>> that allow blind people to have better access to the printed word,
>> including the ability of devices like the Kindle 2 to read
> commercial
>> e-books aloud using text-to-speech technology. Although the Authors
>> Guild claims that it supports making books accessible to the blind,
>> its position on the inclusion of text-to-speech technology in the
>> Kindle 2 is harmful to blind people. The Authors Guild says that
>> having a book read aloud by a machine in the privacy of one's home
> or
>> vehicle is a copyright infringement. But blind people routinely use
>> readers, either human or machine, to access books that are not
>> available in alternative formats like Braille or audio. Up until
> now,
>> no one has argued that this is illegal, but now the Authors Guild
>> says that it is. This is absolutely wrong. The blind and other
>> readers have the right for books to be presented to us in the format
>> that is most useful to us, and we are not violating copyright law as
>> long as we use readers, either human or machine, for private rather
>> than public listening. The key point is that reading aloud in
> private
>> is the same whether done by a person or a machine, and reading aloud
>> in private is never an infringement of copyright.
>>
>> "Amazon has taken a step in the right direction by including
>> text-to-speech technology for reading e-books aloud on its new
> Kindle
>> 2," Dr. Maurer continued. "We note, however, that the device itself
>> cannot be used independently by a blind reader because the controls
>> to download a book and begin reading it aloud are visual and
>> therefore inaccessible to the blind. We urge Amazon to rectify this
>> situation as soon as possible in order to make the Kindle 2 a device
>> that truly can be used both by blind and sighted readers. By doing
>> so, Amazon will make it possible for blind people to purchase a new
>> book and begin reading it immediately, just as sighted people do."
>>
>>
>>
>> ###
>>
>>
>>
>> About the National Federation of the Blind
>>
>> With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind
>> is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind
>> people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives
>> through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs
>> encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading
> force
>> in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In
>> January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind
>> Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the
>> United States for the blind led by the blind.
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> for
>> Dtb-talk:
>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/rwatson%40ogleveel
>
>> td.com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> for
>> Dtb-talk:
>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/f.wurtzel%40comcas
>
>> t.net
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>
>> Dtb-talk:
>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/ajvece%40verizon.net
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> Internal Virus Database is out of date.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
> Version: 8.0.169 / Virus Database: 270.6.14/1643 - Release Date:
> 8/30/2008
> 5:18 PM
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Dtb-talk mailing list
> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Dtb-talk:
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From ajvece at verizon.net  Fri Feb 13 19:42:53 2009
From: ajvece at verizon.net (Anthony Vece)
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:42:53 -0500
Subject: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of
 the	Blind	RespondstoAuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
References: <0KF0003LLEGQ5I81@vms172077.mailsrvcs.net>
	<B1EF03D9B37440D3B2CE6428A2234BD8@AJVECEDT>
	<49954E61.7B8E.00BC.1@ngwmail.des.state.mn.us>
Message-ID: <D9975A362DB04775A6FFF88073FB401D@AJVECEDT>

Hi Dave;

Thank you for your reply.

Anthony


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David B Andrews" <David.B.Andrews at state.mn.us>
To: "Discussion of Digital Talking Books" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 11:41 AM
Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind 
RespondstoAuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2


> The Kindle is a small, portable ebook reader device from amazon.com.  It
> downloads books, in a proprietary format from amazon.com and allows a
> sighted person to read them on its small screen.
>
> Dave
>
>
>
> David Andrews
> Chief Technology Officer
> Minnesota State Services for the Blind
> 2200 University Ave. W., #240
> St. Paul, MN  55114-1840
> (651) 642-0513  Office
> (612) 730-7931  Cell
> (651) 649-5927  Fax
>
>
>>>> "Anthony Vece" <ajvece at verizon.net> 2/13/2009 9:26 AM >>>
>   Pardon my ignorance but, what is Kindle and, how does it differ from
> NLS
> or Bookshare.
>
> Thanks
>
>
> Anthony
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Fred Wurtzel" <f.wurtzel at comcast.net>
> To: "'Discussion of Digital Talking Books'" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 9:37 AM
> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds
> toAuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Do you have contact details?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Warm Regards,
>>
>> Fred
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of rick watson
>> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 7:15 AM
>> To: 'Discussion of Digital Talking Books'
>> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to
>> AuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>>
>> Good morning listers,
>> I would like to urge everyone to contact technical support for the
> kindle
>> and ask that the menus be made usable through the text-to-speech
> engine.
>> The technician whom I spoke with said that he would pass along this
>> information. This is an opportunity for us as visually impaired
> people to
>> get access to a wide range of books. There are currently 230000
> books
>> available for purchase on kindle's site.
>> Rick
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Freeh, Jessica (by way of David Andrews
> <dandrews at visi.com>)
>> Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 10:38 PM
>> To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to
> Authors
>> Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>>
>> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>>
>> CONTACT:
>> Chris Danielsen
>> Director of Public Relations
>> National Federation of the Blind
>> (410) 659-9314, extension 2330
>> (410) 262-1281 (Cell)
>> <mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org
>>
>> National Federation of the Blind Responds to Authors Guild
>> Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>>
>> Baltimore, Maryland (February 12, 2009): The National Federation of
>> the Blind, the largest organization of blind people in the United
>> States, today responded to a statement put out by the Authors Guild
>> advising its members to consider negotiating contracts prohibiting
>> e-books to be read aloud by the new Amazon Kindle 2, which
>> incorporates text-to-speech technology. The Authors Guild argues
> that
>> the reading of a book out loud by a machine is a copyright
>> infringement unless the copyright holder has specifically granted
>> permission for the book to be read aloud.
>>
>> Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
>> said: "The National Federation of the Blind supports all
> technologies
>> that allow blind people to have better access to the printed word,
>> including the ability of devices like the Kindle 2 to read
> commercial
>> e-books aloud using text-to-speech technology. Although the Authors
>> Guild claims that it supports making books accessible to the blind,
>> its position on the inclusion of text-to-speech technology in the
>> Kindle 2 is harmful to blind people. The Authors Guild says that
>> having a book read aloud by a machine in the privacy of one's home
> or
>> vehicle is a copyright infringement. But blind people routinely use
>> readers, either human or machine, to access books that are not
>> available in alternative formats like Braille or audio. Up until
> now,
>> no one has argued that this is illegal, but now the Authors Guild
>> says that it is. This is absolutely wrong. The blind and other
>> readers have the right for books to be presented to us in the format
>> that is most useful to us, and we are not violating copyright law as
>> long as we use readers, either human or machine, for private rather
>> than public listening. The key point is that reading aloud in
> private
>> is the same whether done by a person or a machine, and reading aloud
>> in private is never an infringement of copyright.
>>
>> "Amazon has taken a step in the right direction by including
>> text-to-speech technology for reading e-books aloud on its new
> Kindle
>> 2," Dr. Maurer continued. "We note, however, that the device itself
>> cannot be used independently by a blind reader because the controls
>> to download a book and begin reading it aloud are visual and
>> therefore inaccessible to the blind. We urge Amazon to rectify this
>> situation as soon as possible in order to make the Kindle 2 a device
>> that truly can be used both by blind and sighted readers. By doing
>> so, Amazon will make it possible for blind people to purchase a new
>> book and begin reading it immediately, just as sighted people do."
>>
>>
>>
>> ###
>>
>>
>>
>> About the National Federation of the Blind
>>
>> With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind
>> is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind
>> people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives
>> through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs
>> encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading
> force
>> in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In
>> January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind
>> Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the
>> United States for the blind led by the blind.
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> for
>> Dtb-talk:
>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/rwatson%40ogleveel
>
>> td.com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> for
>> Dtb-talk:
>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/f.wurtzel%40comcas
>
>> t.net
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>
>> Dtb-talk:
>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/ajvece%40verizon.net
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> Internal Virus Database is out of date.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
> Version: 8.0.169 / Virus Database: 270.6.14/1643 - Release Date:
> 8/30/2008
> 5:18 PM
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Dtb-talk mailing list
> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
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> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Dtb-talk:
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Internal Virus Database is out of date.
Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.169 / Virus Database: 270.6.14/1643 - Release Date: 8/30/2008 
5:18 PM




From rwatson at ogleveeltd.com  Fri Feb 13 20:21:03 2009
From: rwatson at ogleveeltd.com (rick watson)
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:21:03 -0500
Subject: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds
	to	AuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
In-Reply-To: <200902131947.n1DJlkvO022192@ns-mr21.netsolmail.com>
References: <002101c98dd4$a7cc3150$f76493f0$@com>
	<200902131947.n1DJlkvO022192@ns-mr21.netsolmail.com>
Message-ID: <004901c98e18$98653a60$c92faf20$@com>

Hi Fred,
I don't have them with me but they can be found in the kindle 2 user's
manual.

Thanks
Rick


-----Original Message-----
From: dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Fred Wurtzel
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 9:37 AM
To: 'Discussion of Digital Talking Books'
Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to
AuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2

Hi,

Do you have contact details?

Thanks.

Warm Regards,

Fred

-----Original Message-----
From: dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of rick watson
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 7:15 AM
To: 'Discussion of Digital Talking Books'
Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to
AuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2

Good morning listers,
I would like to urge everyone to contact technical support for the kindle
and ask that the menus be made usable through the text-to-speech engine.
The technician whom I spoke with said that he would pass along this
information. This is an opportunity for us as visually impaired people to
get access to a wide range of books. There are currently 230000 books
available for purchase on kindle's site.
Rick


-----Original Message-----
From: dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Freeh, Jessica (by way of David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>)
Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 10:38 PM
To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to Authors
Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org

National Federation of the Blind Responds to Authors Guild
Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2

Baltimore, Maryland (February 12, 2009): The National Federation of 
the Blind, the largest organization of blind people in the United 
States, today responded to a statement put out by the Authors Guild 
advising its members to consider negotiating contracts prohibiting 
e-books to be read aloud by the new Amazon Kindle 2, which 
incorporates text-to-speech technology. The Authors Guild argues that 
the reading of a book out loud by a machine is a copyright 
infringement unless the copyright holder has specifically granted 
permission for the book to be read aloud.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, 
said: "The National Federation of the Blind supports all technologies 
that allow blind people to have better access to the printed word, 
including the ability of devices like the Kindle 2 to read commercial 
e-books aloud using text-to-speech technology. Although the Authors 
Guild claims that it supports making books accessible to the blind, 
its position on the inclusion of text-to-speech technology in the 
Kindle 2 is harmful to blind people. The Authors Guild says that 
having a book read aloud by a machine in the privacy of one's home or 
vehicle is a copyright infringement. But blind people routinely use 
readers, either human or machine, to access books that are not 
available in alternative formats like Braille or audio. Up until now, 
no one has argued that this is illegal, but now the Authors Guild 
says that it is. This is absolutely wrong. The blind and other 
readers have the right for books to be presented to us in the format 
that is most useful to us, and we are not violating copyright law as 
long as we use readers, either human or machine, for private rather 
than public listening. The key point is that reading aloud in private 
is the same whether done by a person or a machine, and reading aloud 
in private is never an infringement of copyright.

"Amazon has taken a step in the right direction by including 
text-to-speech technology for reading e-books aloud on its new Kindle 
2," Dr. Maurer continued. "We note, however, that the device itself 
cannot be used independently by a blind reader because the controls 
to download a book and begin reading it aloud are visual and 
therefore inaccessible to the blind. We urge Amazon to rectify this 
situation as soon as possible in order to make the Kindle 2 a device 
that truly can be used both by blind and sighted readers. By doing 
so, Amazon will make it possible for blind people to purchase a new 
book and begin reading it immediately, just as sighted people do."



###



About the National Federation of the Blind

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind 
is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind 
people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives 
through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs 
encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force 
in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In 
January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind 
Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the 
United States for the blind led by the blind.


_______________________________________________
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To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Dtb-talk:
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t.net


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To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
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td.com




From gkearney at gmail.com  Fri Feb 13 20:30:07 2009
From: gkearney at gmail.com (Greg Kearney)
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 13:30:07 -0700
Subject: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of
	theBlind	RespondstoAuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
In-Reply-To: <53F1EFC336AE4313B2FEA4720E060C99@D3DTZP41>
References: <0KF0003LLEGQ5I81@vms172077.mailsrvcs.net><B1EF03D9B37440D3B2CE6428A2234BD8@AJVECEDT>
	<49954E61.7B8E.00BC.1@ngwmail.des.state.mn.us>
	<53F1EFC336AE4313B2FEA4720E060C99@D3DTZP41>
Message-ID: <236DC947-8BC4-4333-8346-410420A2E1B6@gmail.com>

While I don't think that the Autors Guild intended to imply that the  
talking book program or similar programs are a violation of copyright,  
see: http://www.authorsguild.org/advocacy/articles/e-book-rights-alert-amazons-kindle-2.html

I do think they make several problematic points first they suggest  
that their position is not a challenge to the blind "Others suggest  
that challenging Amazon's use of this software challenges  
accessibility to the visually impaired. It doesn't: Kindle 2 isn't  
designed for such use."

I do not believe that the copyright act requires that only devices  
designed for the use of the blind qualify for the exemption. Of course  
the personal computer can and is used to read such content and it is  
clearly not a device designed for the blind and with the advent of  
built in screen readers even less so today. Would the Authors Guild  
suggest that the blind should not be permitted to access book by means  
of computers?

While the Autors guild states in their web page above that reading  
aloud to your child is not a copyright violation there is another  
question to ask. Is a teacher or librarian reading aloud to children,  
a common practice, illegal? Is that not a public performance? What  
about reading to the elderly in nursing homes, hospitals or churches?

What about Radio Reading Services many of which can now be accessed  
over the internet by both the blind and the sighted? For an example  
see here: https://radiotime.com/WebTuner.aspx?StationId=14044& for  
more see this link: http://radiotime.com/Search.aspx?query=radio%20reading%20service

Are these online services also illegal under copyright, clearly anyone  
can listen there and while they were intended for the blind they are  
delivered online which anyone can use.



Greg Kearney
535 S. Jackson St.
Casper, Wyoming 82601
307-224-4022
gkearney at gmail.com



From evans-lynn at comcast.net  Sat Feb 14 00:55:29 2009
From: evans-lynn at comcast.net (Lynn Evans)
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:55:29 -0500
Subject: [Dtb-talk] National Federation
	oftheBlind	RespondstoAuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
In-Reply-To: <53F1EFC336AE4313B2FEA4720E060C99@D3DTZP41>
References: <0KF0003LLEGQ5I81@vms172077.mailsrvcs.net><B1EF03D9B37440D3B2CE6428A2234BD8@AJVECEDT><49954E61.7B8E.00BC.1@ngwmail.des.state.mn.us>
	<53F1EFC336AE4313B2FEA4720E060C99@D3DTZP41>
Message-ID: <587C95234950499F8AF2FF6ED54A3AF8@lynnPC>

Ok but that would void the devices warranty.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Jaquiss" <rjaquiss at earthlink.net>
To: "Discussion of Digital Talking Books" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 12:51 PM
Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] National Federation oftheBlind 
RespondstoAuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2


> Hello:
>
>     Being curious, I did a Google search with the terms; hacking Kindle. I 
> came across a guy who managed to access the Kindle's OS and who explains 
> how to work with it.
>
> Regards,
>
> Robert
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "David B Andrews" <David.B.Andrews at state.mn.us>
> To: "Discussion of Digital Talking Books" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 10:41 AM
> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of theBlind 
> RespondstoAuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>
>
>> The Kindle is a small, portable ebook reader device from amazon.com.  It
>> downloads books, in a proprietary format from amazon.com and allows a
>> sighted person to read them on its small screen.
>>
>> Dave
>>
>>
>>
>> David Andrews
>> Chief Technology Officer
>> Minnesota State Services for the Blind
>> 2200 University Ave. W., #240
>> St. Paul, MN  55114-1840
>> (651) 642-0513  Office
>> (612) 730-7931  Cell
>> (651) 649-5927  Fax
>>
>>
>>>>> "Anthony Vece" <ajvece at verizon.net> 2/13/2009 9:26 AM >>>
>>   Pardon my ignorance but, what is Kindle and, how does it differ from
>> NLS
>> or Bookshare.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>>
>> Anthony
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Fred Wurtzel" <f.wurtzel at comcast.net>
>> To: "'Discussion of Digital Talking Books'" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 9:37 AM
>> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds
>> toAuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>>
>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> Do you have contact details?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>> Warm Regards,
>>>
>>> Fred
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf Of rick watson
>>> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 7:15 AM
>>> To: 'Discussion of Digital Talking Books'
>>> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to
>>> AuthorsGuild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>>>
>>> Good morning listers,
>>> I would like to urge everyone to contact technical support for the
>> kindle
>>> and ask that the menus be made usable through the text-to-speech
>> engine.
>>> The technician whom I spoke with said that he would pass along this
>>> information. This is an opportunity for us as visually impaired
>> people to
>>> get access to a wide range of books. There are currently 230000
>> books
>>> available for purchase on kindle's site.
>>> Rick
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf Of Freeh, Jessica (by way of David Andrews
>> <dandrews at visi.com>)
>>> Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 10:38 PM
>>> To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
>>> Subject: [Dtb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to
>> Authors
>>> Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>>>
>>> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>>>
>>> CONTACT:
>>> Chris Danielsen
>>> Director of Public Relations
>>> National Federation of the Blind
>>> (410) 659-9314, extension 2330
>>> (410) 262-1281 (Cell)
>>> <mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org
>>>
>>> National Federation of the Blind Responds to Authors Guild
>>> Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>>>
>>> Baltimore, Maryland (February 12, 2009): The National Federation of
>>> the Blind, the largest organization of blind people in the United
>>> States, today responded to a statement put out by the Authors Guild
>>> advising its members to consider negotiating contracts prohibiting
>>> e-books to be read aloud by the new Amazon Kindle 2, which
>>> incorporates text-to-speech technology. The Authors Guild argues
>> that
>>> the reading of a book out loud by a machine is a copyright
>>> infringement unless the copyright holder has specifically granted
>>> permission for the book to be read aloud.
>>>
>>> Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
>>> said: "The National Federation of the Blind supports all
>> technologies
>>> that allow blind people to have better access to the printed word,
>>> including the ability of devices like the Kindle 2 to read
>> commercial
>>> e-books aloud using text-to-speech technology. Although the Authors
>>> Guild claims that it supports making books accessible to the blind,
>>> its position on the inclusion of text-to-speech technology in the
>>> Kindle 2 is harmful to blind people. The Authors Guild says that
>>> having a book read aloud by a machine in the privacy of one's home
>> or
>>> vehicle is a copyright infringement. But blind people routinely use
>>> readers, either human or machine, to access books that are not
>>> available in alternative formats like Braille or audio. Up until
>> now,
>>> no one has argued that this is illegal, but now the Authors Guild
>>> says that it is. This is absolutely wrong. The blind and other
>>> readers have the right for books to be presented to us in the format
>>> that is most useful to us, and we are not violating copyright law as
>>> long as we use readers, either human or machine, for private rather
>>> than public listening. The key point is that reading aloud in
>> private
>>> is the same whether done by a person or a machine, and reading aloud
>>> in private is never an infringement of copyright.
>>>
>>> "Amazon has taken a step in the right direction by including
>>> text-to-speech technology for reading e-books aloud on its new
>> Kindle
>>> 2," Dr. Maurer continued. "We note, however, that the device itself
>>> cannot be used independently by a blind reader because the controls
>>> to download a book and begin reading it aloud are visual and
>>> therefore inaccessible to the blind. We urge Amazon to rectify this
>>> situation as soon as possible in order to make the Kindle 2 a device
>>> that truly can be used both by blind and sighted readers. By doing
>>> so, Amazon will make it possible for blind people to purchase a new
>>> book and begin reading it immediately, just as sighted people do."
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ###
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> About the National Federation of the Blind
>>>
>>> With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind
>>> is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind
>>> people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives
>>> through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs
>>> encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading
>> force
>>> in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In
>>> January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind
>>> Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the
>>> United States for the blind led by the blind.
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>> for
>>> Dtb-talk:
>>>
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/rwatson%40ogleveel
>>
>>> td.com
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>> for
>>> Dtb-talk:
>>>
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/f.wurtzel%40comcas
>>
>>> t.net
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>
>>> Dtb-talk:
>>>
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/ajvece%40verizon.net
>>
>>
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>
>>
>> Internal Virus Database is out of date.
>> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
>> Version: 8.0.169 / Virus Database: 270.6.14/1643 - Release Date:
>> 8/30/2008
>> 5:18 PM
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> Dtb-talk:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/david.b.andrews%40state.mn.us
>> _______________________________________________
>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> Dtb-talk:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/rjaquiss%40earthlink.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Dtb-talk mailing list
> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Dtb-talk:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/evans-lynn%40comcast.net 




From qmsingleton at comcast.net  Tue Feb 17 10:44:07 2009
From: qmsingleton at comcast.net (Quintina M. Singleton)
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 04:44:07 -0600
Subject: [Dtb-talk] Thruoureyes with Joe Ruffalo Announcement,
 Jim McCarthy  Interview
Message-ID: <auto-000086199756@mailfront1.g2host.com>

The next "Thruoureyes with Joe Ruffalo" live internet radio show is 
scheduled for February 18, 2009 at 8:00 PM EST.

  Mr. Ruffalo will be interviewing director of governmental affairs 
for the National Federation of the Blind, James McCarthy.

A brief summary of this year's Washington Seminar, what listeners 
could be doing

to assist in legislative initiatives presently, and advisement 
concerning how to

stay informed with legislative issues year round are topics that will 
be discussed on the evening's show.

I invite you to visit 
<http://www.thruoureyes.org/>www.thruoureyes.org or to  hear the 
program live via telephone dial 201 793 9022 with the access code:

2400484.





From gkearney at gmail.com  Tue Feb 17 16:19:16 2009
From: gkearney at gmail.com (Greg Kearney)
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:19:16 -0700
Subject: [Dtb-talk] releases of the Pipeline spring release is now available
Message-ID: <EB1AA9BE-12B3-478D-A01F-AFE92BA94C00@gmail.com>

The first of two pre-releases of the Pipeline spring release is now
available on SourceForge.

For Windows:
http://downloads.sourceforge.net/daisymfcgui/PipelineGUI-20090213-Beta-Win.exe?use_mirror=

For Mac:
http://downloads.sourceforge.net/daisymfcgui/PipelineGUI-20090213-Beta-Mac.dmg?use_mirror=

Mac version now supports VoiceOver.


For Linux:
http://downloads.sourceforge.net/daisymfcgui/PipelineGUI-20090213-Beta-Linux.tar.gz?use_mirror=

Linux version now support building books with Narrator and TTS.


As is obvious from the release train feature table [1], not all
features slated for inclusion in the final release are available in
this first prerelease. Use this release primarily if you are
interested in testing Mathml-in-DAISY support.

As usual, please report any errors preferably to the Pipeline bug  
tracker [2], or via email to the Pipeline developers mailing list [3].


[1] http://daisymfc.wiki.sourceforge.net/Spring2009ReleaseTrain
[2] https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=134191&atid=729299
[3] daisymfc-developer at lists.sourceforge.net

Greg Kearney
535 S. Jackson St.
Casper, Wyoming 82601
307-224-4022
gkearney at gmail.com






From carter.tjoseph at gmail.com  Wed Feb 18 05:31:30 2009
From: carter.tjoseph at gmail.com (T. Joseph Carter)
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:31:30 -0800
Subject: [Dtb-talk] Best tool for generating speech on a Mac?
Message-ID: <20090218053130.GH57859@yumi.bluecherry.net>

This might really be a question just for Greg, but what tool or tools 
do people find effective for getting text into a form suited to 
desktop and portable spoken form using a Mac?

I generally work with two forms of text--plain text with little to no 
formatting, which is fairly easy to work with, and PDF files, which 
aren't so easy.

In the case of the text files, I find usually the best solution is to 
put them on the Stream and just use that.  I prefer Alex for speech 
quality, but Alex is a total idiot who thinks he is clever when it 
comes to handling punctuation.  Often he totally ignores punctuation 
that is context-vital but misreads things he thinks he understands 
how to "say correctly".  I can usually fix it--it's plain text after 
all--but it's usually faster to put it on the Stream since the Stream 
is a little more intelligent.

In the case of PDF files, columns and hyphenation are the bane of my 
existence.  I can sort of deal with the columnation, but the 
hyphenation is just really annoying.

It seems like a tool designed to get text into spoken form on the Mac 
might be able to solve both problems, but I don't know of anything.

Any thoughts?

Joseph




From gkearney at gmail.com  Wed Feb 18 17:08:20 2009
From: gkearney at gmail.com (Greg Kearney)
Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:08:20 -0700
Subject: [Dtb-talk] Best tool for generating speech on a Mac?
In-Reply-To: <20090218053130.GH57859@yumi.bluecherry.net>
References: <20090218053130.GH57859@yumi.bluecherry.net>
Message-ID: <851F386B-8F91-42C2-B039-3241F0DE49C8@gmail.com>

Here are some assorted tips that I have developed over the lats few  
years.

In producing books I use mostly Alex due to its quality and the fact  
that it does not require licensing to use in digital talking books.  
That said it can produce some unexpected results, as can all TTS  
system. I would urge you and others to report these at once to :

accessibility at apple.com

One thing that could be done is for Apple to support SSML in the say  
command and in say for AppleScript. This would help a great deal  
indeed. You might also mention that to the address above.

It is possible to control the TTS system to a very fine degree with  
the embedded speech commands. more information can be found here:

http://developer.apple.com/documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/SpeechSynthesisProgrammingGuide/Introduction/chapter_1_section_1.html

Short of this there are things that I do in producing general reading  
(non-technical) books that can be a real help.

1. I change all words that appear in all upper case letters to mixed  
case letters. I have an OpenOffice script that does this.

2. I change all case of roman numerals to arabic numerals.

3. I change all case of em and en  and double hyphens to a comma and a  
space.

4. Make sure that all paragraphs have any new lines removed.

Here is my much simplified, process for producing DAISY digital  
talking books. This assumes you have the latest version of DAISY  
Pipeline which is accessible to screen readers including VoiceOver.  
You will also need the odt2dtbook OpenOffice plugin. and OpenOffice 3.  
There is  similar DAISY export tool for MS Word under Windows.

1. Bring the text into OpenOffice 3, which is VoiceOver compatible.

2. Mark the major and minor heading with the Heading1 to Heading6 as  
needed. Remember they must be in number order Heading1 can be followed  
by another Heading1 or a Heading 2 but not a Heading3

3. I also do thing like footnotes and such but that will depend on  
what your working on.

4. Export the file to DAISY.

At this point you could simply bring the resulting dtbook XML file  
into your stream and you would have all the navigation in place but  
let's move on and make a full text full audio book with DAISY  
Pipeline...

5. Open Daisy Pipeline and create a new Narrator project. Narrator is  
going to use the system default voice from the Mac.

6. Choose the dtbook XML file you created in step 4. Set the location  
for the book directories and other options.

7. Run the job. Depending on the size of the dtbook XML file this can  
take anywhere from a few minutes to many hours. I have a quad  
processor MacPro and the whole Bible take 10 hours to generate.

What you will get is two directories one named z3986 which is a DAISY/ 
NISO 2005 book and one called daisy202 which is the older DAISY 2.02  
format. Either one can be played in the stream and most other modern  
DAISY player.

Pipeline by default always keeps the MP3 files in playable order so if  
you took all the DAISY files and put them on a CD you could play it in  
a MP# enable CD player. Pipeline can also generate iPod style playlist  
so the books could be played as such in MP3 players and iPods.  
Pipeline can do tones of other things as well like make files for  
producing large print and braille books and so on.

Hope this is a helps.

Greg Kearney
535 S. Jackson St.
Casper, Wyoming 82601
307-224-4022
gkearney at gmail.com



On Feb 17, 2009, at 10:31 PM, T. Joseph Carter wrote:

> This might really be a question just for Greg, but what tool or  
> tools do people find effective for getting text into a form suited  
> to desktop and portable spoken form using a Mac?
>
> I generally work with two forms of text--plain text with little to  
> no formatting, which is fairly easy to work with, and PDF files,  
> which aren't so easy.
>
> In the case of the text files, I find usually the best solution is  
> to put them on the Stream and just use that.  I prefer Alex for  
> speech quality, but Alex is a total idiot who thinks he is clever  
> when it comes to handling punctuation.  Often he totally ignores  
> punctuation that is context-vital but misreads things he thinks he  
> understands how to "say correctly".  I can usually fix it--it's  
> plain text after all--but it's usually faster to put it on the  
> Stream since the Stream is a little more intelligent.
>
> In the case of PDF files, columns and hyphenation are the bane of my  
> existence.  I can sort of deal with the columnation, but the  
> hyphenation is just really annoying.
>
> It seems like a tool designed to get text into spoken form on the  
> Mac might be able to solve both problems, but I don't know of  
> anything.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Joseph
>
>
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From dandrews at visi.com  Mon Feb 23 21:52:28 2009
From: dandrews at visi.com (David Andrews)
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:52:28 -0600
Subject: [Dtb-talk] Blind Bargains: Portable Solutions,
 Innovators lead 2008 Blind  Bargains Access Award Winners
Message-ID: <auto-000090027433@mailfront2.g2host.com>



Blind Bargains: Portable Solutions, Innovators lead 2008 Blind 
Bargains Access Award Winners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: J.J. Meddaugh
Phone: (989) 284-7915
Email: bargains at blindbargains.com



Portable Solutions, Innovators lead 2008 Blind Bargains Access Award Winners





Hundreds of votes cast for 2nd Annual Event

Kalamazoo, MI, February 23, 2008 - After much anticipation and the 
casting of hundreds of votes, the results have been released for the 
2nd annual Blind Bargains Access Awards. The awards recognize the 
achievements of companies and individuals in the assistive technology 
arena and beyond and were decided by visitors to BlindBargains.com, a 
leading online resource for the blind and visually impaired.

Leading the pack for this year is the KNFB Reading Technology K-NFB 
Reader Mobile, a software package which uses a cellular phone and 
text-to-speech technology to read printed material. Winning in the 
areas of Best Software and Product of the Year, the selection 
continues a trend of portable devices garnering top recognition by 
site readers. "Our readers have a keen eye for recognizing the most 
influential products currently available and have made some excellent 
choices," commented J.J. Meddaugh, lead webmaster for Blind Bargains 
and a contest administrator.

The HumanWare Victor Reader Stream took home the Best Hardware 
category for a second year in a row, winning by the widest margin of 
any product. Other repeat winners include Freedom Scientific's JAWS 
for Windows as best screen reader, Independent Living Aids as best 
store, and the Fred's Head Companion as best blindness-related blog.

Long a staple for free Windows-based accessible games, Jim Kitchen's 
Kitchensinc Games took home the best accessible game award for their 
rendition of Monopoly. The program has undergone several updates and 
is highly configurable. Speaking of entertainment, Blind Cool Tech 
was the winner of the best blindness-related podcast category, a new 
edition to this year's voting. It features recordings on technology, 
human interest, and general blindness subjects.

With the conversion to digital talking books by the National Library 
Service, much attention has been given to a new pilot website which 
offers downloadable recordings of popular book titles. This website 
was recognized by readers as website of the year. The best company 
honor was awarded to Kurzweil Educational Systems, makers of the 
popular Kurzweil 1000 scanning program for Windows-based computers. 
Now at version 11, it has been a mainstay in optical character 
recognition for over a decade.

Ray Kurzweil has helped to pioneer many of the technologies which 
have changed the lives for millions of individuals. From the creation 
of the first scanner to read printed text to his endeavors with 
musical synthesis, his accomplishments cannot be overlooked. Blind 
Bargains readers recognized these achievements by awarding the person 
of the year honor to Kurzweil.

The Blind Bargains Access Awards were based entirely on reader 
submissions. A nomination period was held in early January and 
followed by a voting round. It was administered by A T Guys, LLC.

For a complete list of winners and nominees, please visit 
<http://www.blindbargains.com/awardlist08.php>http://www.blindbargains.com/awardlist08.php 


BlindBargains.com is a premier online destination featuring news, 
deals, and articles relevant to the blind and visually impaired. 
Visitors can find the lowest prices for useful products ranging from 
technology items to household gadgets through the site, Email, 
Twitter, or RSS. Other site features include user comments, an EBay 
Auction Gateway, and a merchant search portal.

A T Guys, LLC, the assistive technology experts, offer a wide variety 
of hardware and software solutions for budget-minded consumers and 
businesses. A premier Code Factory distributor, the company's 
portfolio of products includes mobile phone and PDA software, bar 
code readers, and online services.



David Andrews and white cane Harry.





