[DTB-Talk] How APH’s Partnership with the DAISY Consortium Assisted with the Development of eBraille

[Dan Burke]

Nice!

On Thu, Jul 18, 2024 at 5:20 PM dandrews920--- via DTB-Talk <
dtb-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

>
>
> American Printing House - Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 2:41 PM
>
>
> How APH’s Partnership with the DAISY Consortium Assisted with the
> Development of eBraille
>
>
>   <https://www.aph.org/app/uploads/2024/07/Image-47-scaled.jpeg>
>
> When APH began looking for partners to help create eBraille, we searched
> for an organization that was also passionate about serving the blind and
> low vision community and had expertise in developing new file standards.
> The DAISY Consortium met these criteria, and their global reach assisted
> APH in obtaining many more partners. We are grateful for their assistance
> in making eBraille a reality for everyone across the world.
>
> Founded in 1996, the DAISY Consortium <https://daisy.org/>  was created
> by talking book libraries to head the international shift from analog to
> Digital Talking Books. Originating in Sweden in 1994, the DAISY Format
> Standard gives users a flexible and navigable reading experience. Citizens
> in various countries utilize the DAISY Format to read books including
> Finland, France, Japan, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Australia, New
> Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Denmark, and the
> United States. Today, the DAISY Consortium is known for embedding
> accessibility features into EPUB documents so everyone can enjoy eBooks.
> Read more about the organization’s history <
> https://daisy.org/about-us/history/>  and achievements <
> https://daisy.org/about-us/achievements/> .
>
> In November 2022, APH’s Nicole Gaines, a representative on the DAISY
> Board, attended a meeting in Milan, Italy, where the eBraille spec was
> taken under DAISY’s purview. Willow Free became the co-chair of the
> eBraille Working Group and recalled the approach DAISY took to help make
> eBraille. Along with providing APH aid from partners of their own, DAISY
> suggested focusing on the problem, as every product is manufactured to
> resolve an issue. A file standard needed to exist to allow braille and
> tactile graphics to be read together in one electronic document, and it had
> to be compatible with multi-line displays. Before any other decisions were
> made, everyone discussed the features eBraille files would contain. “I like
> that we took the time to talk to people, to have our own assumptions
> challenged,” said Willow Free, APH’s Tactile Technology Product Manager.
> eBraille is a worldwide standard and collaborating with others ensured
> everyone had a say in its development.
>
> Willow worked with a multitude of talented people at DAISY on eBraille,
> including Matt Garrish. The Editor of Digital Publishing Standards and
> Processes at DAISY, Matt is an expert in his field and the main editor on
> the EPUB standard.  Basing his writing off the discussions in the working
> group, Matt knew how to write in “spec speak,” but would ask the other
> editors for clarification as they worked together. “It’s almost like making
> a new version of basketball with Michael Jordan or making a new version of
> baseball with Nolan Ryan.” Software developer Bert Frees wrote braille CSS,
> or Cascading Style Sheets, which tells the web browser how to present
> markup. Willow composed a rough draft of braille CSS for eBraille files,
> which had the basis of the needs for braille and then Bert would write the
> technical aspects that were needed. Two DAISY executives, George Kerscher,
> Chief Innovations Officer; and Avneesh Singh, Chief Operating Officer, were
> valuable advisors on the project. They knew how to navigate both the
> technical and political challenges of making a new file specification.
> Willow also wanted to recognize Richard Orme, the Chief Executive Officer
> at the DAISY Consortium, for keeping track of eBraille milestones and
> making sure the group met them. He also helped Willow’s eBraille working
> group organize things with the larger DAISY membership. “He made sure that
> they knew what we were doing and were on board with it.”
>
> Willow has had a remarkable experience working with DAISY, whose
> brilliance knows no bounds. “I often pinch myself that my life and my
> career have brought me to a point that I’m able to work with people of this
> caliber,” said Willow. “When I started at APH 12 years ago, I never thought
> it would lead to something like this.” APH looks forward to continuing its
> partnership with DAISY and is excited about future innovations.
>
> To find out more about eBraille and how it is being used with the Monarch
> read our other two eBraille blogs <
> https://www.aph.org/search-results/?fwp_search_term=ebraille> .
>
>
> https://www.aph.org/how-aphs-partnership-with-the-daisy-consortium-assisted-with-the-development-of-ebraille/
>
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Dan Burke

National Federation of the Blind of Colorado Legislative Co-chair

"Blindness is not what holds you back.  You can live the life you want!"

My Cell:  406.546.8546