[blparent] Fwd: Royal National Institute of Blind People Consulted by Amazon in Kindle HDX Development

[David Andrews]

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>Royal National Institute of Blind People Consulted by Amazon in 
>Kindle HDX Development
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>By <http://goodereader.com/blog/author/michael-kozlowski>Michael Kozlowski
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>Amazon does not have the most glorious track record when it comes to 
>making their devices accessible to people with vision problems. The 
>company used to include a headphone jack in their prior Kindle 
>models and decided to discontinue it due to competitive nature of 
>the North American market. This has resulted in rampant protests by 
>the 
><http://goodereader.com/blog/electronic-readers/national-federation-of-the-blind-marches-on-amazon-headquarters>National 
>Federation of the Blind. Amazon at least is starting to take the 
>issue of greater accessibility seriously by consulting with the 
>Royal National Institute of Blind People in the development of the 
>new line of HDX tablets.
>
>The new accessible devices mean that blind and partially sighted 
>people will be able read the full range of Kindle books, newspapers 
>and journals in a variety of ways. The built-in screen reader allows 
>readers to listen to titles whilst the magnification function 
>enlarges the screen view. The device can also be used with an 
>electronic braille display and the audio book player also supports 
>accessibility.
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>The device offers access to TV and film content from Love Film 
>through the device's improved media player, meaning that a blind 
>user can enjoy the tablet's full range of features independently.
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>RNIB firmly believes that blind and partially sighted people should 
>have access to the same choice of books as sighted people and its 
>work encompasses both the digital and traditional worlds of 
>publishing. Although not everyone will benefit from these new 
>devices, increasing numbers of blind and partially sighted people 
>are using new technology and by working collaboratively with the 
>publishing and technology industry, the charity wants to make sure 
>accessibility is at the fore of all new developments.
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>Blind reader Gary said "I feel like I have been set free in a sweet 
>shop! The whole of the Kindle catalogue is now available to me on a 
>Kindle device not only in synthetic speech but in braille using my 
>electronic braille display as well".
>Some of the new features in the HDX line of tablets include Voice 
>Guide technology will allow menu navigation to be read aloud to the 
>user and Voice Guide Navigation will tell users what they click on. 
>For example, if you are clicking on an ebook, it will tell you what 
>book it is and then read the book to you when you open it.
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><http://goodereader.com/blog/electronic-readers/royal-national-institute-of-blind-people-consulted-by-amazon-in-kindle-hdx-development>http://goodereader.com/blog/electronic-readers/royal-national-institute-of-blind-people-consulted-by-amazon-in-kindle-hdx-development
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>Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY State
>Leading the Way in Independent Travel!
>
>Cheryl Echevarria, Owner
><http://www.echevarriatravel.com>www.echevarriatravel.com
>631-456-5394
><mailto:reservations at echevarriatravel.com>reservations at echevarriatravel.com
>
>Your old car keys can be the keys to literacy for a blind 
>child.  Donate your unwanted vehicle to us by clicking 
><http://www.nfb.org/vehicledonations>www.nfb.org/vehicledonations or 
>call 855-659-9314.
>
>Echevarria Travel has partnered with Braille Smith. 
><http://www.braillesmith.com>www.braillesmith.com for all her 
>braille needs.  Gail Smith is the Secretary of the NFB of Alabama