[Nfb-science] New Chemistry Book Available

[Michael Whapples]

Its that sort of response that is progressing things forward. I understand 
that they may not give it to anyone, but I am surprised that they won't do 
anything with you to see if you can get a braille translation. Would they be 
prepared to try your software and give you feedback (I know that isn't 
optimal if you need to do some more development on the software to manage 
it, but it would be a start.

From
Michael Whapples
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John J. Boyer" <john at godtouches.org>
To: "NFB Science and Engineering Division List" <nfb-science at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 5:51 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-science] New Chemistry Book Available


>I have an extensive background in transcribing books on science and
> mathematics into Braille, but I'm neither a teacher nor a student. I
> would like to test my braille transcription program on the xml file
> contained in this Digital Talking Book, assuming that it is in the Daisy
> format. Why isn't it being made available for interested parties to
> download? I've written to the contact given in a previous message on
> this subject, but I was informed that I would have to be a student or
> teacher.
>
> You can read about my transcription software at
> http://www.jjb-software.com.
>
> John
>
> On Tue, May 01, 2007 at 07:00:08PM -0400, Cary Supalo wrote:
>> Here is something I received from a friend who wanted me to promote
>> this new accessible chemistry book. There will be several
>> presentations on this topic at the National Convention. Please feel
>> free to forward this to anyone who you think might be interested.
>> Cary Supalo
>> Chemistry in the Community, New Digital Talking Book
>>
>> In collaboration with gh, LLC, (an assistive technology company) the
>> American Chemical Society has converted its high school chemistry
>> textbook Chemistry in the Community into a digital talking book (DTB)
>> format. This will be the first digital talking chemistry textbook on
>> the market and is designed to help students who are blind or visual
>> impaired study chemistry along with their sighted peers.  Chemistry
>> in the Community, DTB will also be a powerful tool for students who
>> have reading difficulties or for whom English is a second language.
>>
>> Converting a high school chemistry textbook into a DTB presented
>> interesting  challenges for ACS Education Division and gh staff, as
>> chemistry textbooks contain unique features which must be accurately
>> represented in the digital reading of the text.   For example, the
>> pictorial nature of a chemistry textbook (illustrations, figures,
>> tables, graphs, molecular models, formulas and equations) makes the
>> use of a "text only" access method ineffective.  In order to make a
>> chemistry text actually usable, the essential graphics need to be
>> communicated so they can be understood by a student who is blind or
>> visually impaired.
>>
>> A careful review of the initial drafts of the product revealed the
>> nuances of reading dimensional analysis, stock method naming, ionic
>> charges, and catalyzed reactions.  These items were addressed along
>> with the other graphic elements to create a product that is now ready
>> for field tests.
>>
>> ACS is currently looking for interested teachers and students to help
>> with this phase of the project.  Teachers of blind and visual
>> impaired students will be asked to use the DTB in their classrooms
>> during the spring and early summer and to provide valuable input on
>> the usability and effectiveness of the product.  Student input
>> regarding usability will also be solicited. The final digital talking
>> book is expected to be released in the fall following the completion
>> of the field tests. If you are interested in field testing this
>> exciting new product please contact chemcom at acs.org.
>>
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>>
>
> -- 
> John J. Boyer, Executive Director
> GodTouches Digital Ministry, Inc.
> http://www.godtouches.org
> Madison, Wisconsin, USA
> Peace, Love, Service
>
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