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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Good news!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sherri</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=boacosta@pacbell.net href="mailto:boacosta@pacbell.net">Bob Acosta</A>
</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=boacosta@pacbell.net
href="mailto:boacosta@pacbell.net">Bob Acosta</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, November 11, 2009 8:08 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> [accesscomp] Universities will not use kindle.</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV><TT><FONT size=2> Universities Will Not Deploy Kindle DX
as Textbook Reader National Federation of the Blind Commends Schools for
Demanding Accessibility for Blind Students<BR><BR>Baltimore, Maryland (November
11, 2009): The National Federation of the Blind, the oldest and largest
organization of blind Americans, today applauded the decision of the University
of Wisconsin-Madison and Syracuse University to not deploy Amazon's Kindle DX as
a means of distributing electronic textbooks (e-books) to their students.
<BR><BR>The Kindle DX features text-to-speech technology that can read
textbooks aloud. The menus of the device are not accessible to the blind,
however, making it impossible for a blind user to purchase books from Amazon's
Kindle store, select a book to read, activate the text-to-speech feature, and
use the advanced reading<BR>functions available on the Kindle DX. Both
universities have experimented with the Kindle DX to learn whether e-book
technology is useful to their students. But the schools will not adopt the
device for general use unless and until it is made accessible to blind
students.<BR><BR>Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the
Blind, said: "The National Federation of the Blind commends the University
of Wisconsin-Madison and Syracuse University for rejecting broad deployment of
the Kindle DX in its current form because it cannot be used by blind students
and therefore denies the blind equal access to electronic textbooks. We do
not oppose electronic textbooks; in fact, they hold great promise for blind
students if they are accessible. But as long as the interface of the
Kindle DX is inaccessible to the blind-denying blind students access to
electronic textbooks or the advanced features available to read and annotate
them-it is our position that no university should consider this device to be a
viable e-book solution for its students."<BR><BR>The University of
Wisconsin-Madison experimented with e-books for assigned course reading in an
upper-level history seminar and encouraged students to give feedback about their
experiences using e-books. Ken Frazier, the university's director of
libraries, said of the Kindle: "The big disappointment was learning that the
Kindle DX is not accessible to the blind. Advancements in text-to-speech
technology have created a market opportunity for an e-book reading device that
is fully accessible for<BR>everyone. This version of the Kindle e-book
reader missed the mark. It is relatively easy to envision an improved
e-book reading device that meets the needs of the entire university community.
Such a device would include universal design for accessibility,
higher-quality graphics, and improved navigation and note-taking. I think
that there will be a huge payoff for the company that creates a truly universal
e-book reader."<BR><BR>Pamela McLaughlin, director of communications and
external relations at Syracuse University, said: "The university purchased two
Kindle DX devices to learn whether they might be an appropriate means of
distributing textbooks and course materials. Students are experimenting
with these devices so that we can learn more about the advantages and
disadvantages of this technology. At this time, however, we have no plans
to purchase any more of these units in light of the fact that they are
inaccessible to blind students. If Syracuse University decides to
use e-book technology on campus, we will require technology that can be used by
all of our students, including those who are blind."<BR><BR>About the National
Federation of the Blind<BR><BR>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. Please visit our Web site: </FONT></TT><A
href="www.nfb.org"><TT><FONT size=2>www.nfb.org</FONT></TT></A><TT><FONT
size=2>.<BR></FONT></TT></DIV></BODY></HTML>