[nabs-l] Using Blio

[James Gashel]

All - This message is being sent to explain how Blio is accessible with all
books in our free books section or in the bookstore.  According to Kirt's
message posted to this list on Mar. 1, he purchased a book in the Blio
bookstore but found that he could not read that book with Blio.  He noted
that the read aloud function was blocked by not having permission from the
publisher, and using JAWS to read the book wouldn't work either.  

 

Regarding use of the read aloud feature, what Kirt found is likely to be the
case with some but not all of the books in the Blio bookstore.  However, the
read aloud feature is really not our primary or intended means of
accessibility.  Nonetheless, this feature will be available on all books in
the future as long as the computer you are using has a screen reader.  

 

Regarding Kirt's second point, every book in the Blio bookstore can be read
successfully with JAWS, either version 11 or 12.  If you find that this is
not the case it is likely that the accessibility option on the welcome
screen has not been checked.  One quick way to know if the accessibility
checkbox has been checked is to determine if the books in your Blio library
display as a grid or display as a list.  The list view, rather than the
grid, is an indicator that accessibility is checked, and JAWS should then
read every book.  JAWS will just say "blank" when an arrow key is pressed
inside a book if the accessibility checkbox has not been checked.  

 

If accessibility has not been selected on the welcome screen, and the
welcome screen is no longer available, you can turn it on in the settings
menu.  Just press the alt key for the applications menu and arrow down to
settings and press enter.  Once in the settings menu, arrow down to advanced
and tab across to accessibility mode and then check the box.  Then tab
further to the right to close settings and open a book from your library.
At this point you will find that JAWS will work and the book can be read
with the usual JAWS keyboard commands.  

 

For further help in using Blio please send an email message to
support at knfbreader.com.  

 

Hope this helps!

 

Best,

 

James Gashel