[Nfb-krafters-korner] Kindle & Knitting Books - Electronic Craft Books and Magazines

Tue Mar 31 20:23:16 UTC 2009

I guess I've over-all been lucky.  I've recently purchased 1 craft book in a 
PDF format from Lulu and was able to contact the author with questions 
before making the purchase.  As for Adobe, I have noticed that I can't 
upgrade and if ever I need to download the program, have to specifically get 
the accessible version from their web site.  There have been times when I've 
down loaded free knitting patterns that were PDF's and when I tried to open 
them get the message that the file is empty which indicates to me it 
contains a scanned image of the pattern.  In that case, the file can be 
opened with K1,000 and that will scan the image just like a document and 
read it to me.  Again, it doesn't always work, but sometimes I get lucky.

Eileen

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "slery" <slerythema at insightbb.com>
To: "'List for blind crafters and artists'" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 2:55 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Kindle & Knitting Books - Electronic 
Craft Books and Magazines

> Hopefully, large or national groups will be able to make the difference.
>
> I recently had a bad experience with a non-craft related book. The 
> publisher
> would only provide an electronic file if I was a student. The digital file 
> I
> purchased did not work with a screenreader. Scanning the book myself did 
> not
> work either because the book was full of little target signs, check mark
> graphics, tip graphics on every page. The scanned file was such a mess as 
> to
> make it useless. They had me buy the e-file that was still inaccessible.
>
> Eventually, I was able to downgrade my adobe reader in order to read the
> file with the text-aloud feature.
>
> The company did not care that I was spending money on their books and 
> still
> not able to use them.
>
> Cindy
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>> Nancy Yeager
>> Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 6:00 PM
>> To: 'List for blind crafters and artists'
>> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Kindle & Knitting Books -
>> Electronic Craft Books and Magazines
>>
>>
>> Dear Fellow Crafters (and anyone else who cares),
>>
>> I'm thrilled someone has brought this up as it is a "hot
>> button issue" for me.  I would like to see us work with other
>> NFB groups/divisions, as the lack of access to electronic
>> books and magazines by blind folks using screen readers is a big deal.
>>
>> There are bunches of eBooks and emagazines on all types of
>> crafts - knitting, crocheting, sewing, beading, soap and
>> cosmetic-making, just to name a few categories.  The most
>> common download format is PDF.  Until a couple of years ago,
>> we could often purchase one of these books and download it
>> and read it, if we had acrobat reader 6.  Then, to improve
>> the ability of publishers to prevent copyright violations,
>> either publishers or eBook venders, I don't know which,
>> started using adobe Digital Edition for PDF books.  As far as
>> I know, Digital Edition is not accessible to blind persons
>> using screen readers.  There are a few books in TXT, html,
>> word and other formats but I haven't found craft books in
>> those formats.  Besides Amazon, I've searched (and bought
>> inaccessible books from ebookmall and ebooks.com.
>>
>> There are also a number of online crafting-related magazines.
>>  I was really excited the first time I found one related to
>> beading.  I found the table of contents and clicked on the
>> article I wanted to read.  Then, I was able to click on each
>> page of the article.  The only problem was that I could not
>> access any of the text on any of the pages.
>>
>> I have downloaded individual pdf patterns and used them but
>> there are a lot of resources out there that are available to
>> the general public electronically and it would certainly be
>> terrific if we as blind crafters could also use them.
>>
>> I'll get down off my soap box now, and would love to hear
>> from anyone who might have tips or ideas on how we can access
>> this ever-growing body of material.
>>
>> Nancy Yeager
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>> Powers, Terry
>> (NIH/OD/DEAS) [E]
>> Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 1:56 PM
>> To: List for blind crafters and artists
>> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Kindle & Knitting Books?
>>
>> So your saying we could use a format that works on the stream
>> or computer and maybe, even emboss it, if it were not to
>> long!  Am I right? Never tried them before.  Are there any
>> books on any other crafts? National Braille Press would be
>> another option if you buy the book first. Terry
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: slery [mailto:slerythema at insightbb.com]
>> Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 11:05 AM
>> To: 'List for blind crafters and artists'
>> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Kindle & Knitting Books?
>>
>> Amazon has different formats for download. The Kindle is its
>> own format. If a book is offered for the Kindle, it will say
>> Kindle not some other type. If you use the advanced search
>> feature, the formats available are: print, Kindle, audio,
>> html, pdf, calendar.
>>
>> Cindy
>>
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> > [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Eileen
>> > Scrivani
>> > Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2009 8:04 PM
>> > To: List for blind crafters and artists
>> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Kindle & Knitting Books?
>> >
>> >
>> > Thanks.  It figures that the books are only accessible on that
>> > particular unit or I-Phone.  I found some information about
>> the Kindle
>>
>> > on AccessWorld, but it was left unclear what format the
>> books came in.
>>
>> > I was only interested in the knitting books, but don't want a Kindle
>> > unit.  I'm happy with both the Victor Reader & Audible &
>> NLS for the
>> > majority of my other reading.  Eileen
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "Annette Carr" <amcarr1 at verizon.net>
>> > To: "'List for blind crafters and artists'"
>> > <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
>> > Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2009 3:59 PM
>> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Kindle & Knitting Books?
>> >
>> >
>> > > It is my understanding that the format of the books
>> created for the
>> > > Kindle, are exclusive to the Kindle.  Additionally, it is my
>> > understanding that
>> > > the
>> > > text to speech feature available on the Kindle is only
>> > available when the
>> > > publisher makes that feature available in specific books.
>> > This is only
>> > > information that I have read on the product, and have not
>> > had any hands-on
>> > > experience.
>> > >
>> > > Another source for electronic books is Overdrive and NetLibrary.
>> > > Check
>> > > with
>> > > your local library to see if they participate.  Be aware
>> > that you are
>> > > looking for audio books, and not e-books.  However, I've
>> > been told that
>> > > some
>> > > e-books can be accessed if the PDF has been created properly.
>> > >
>> > > HTH,
>> > > Annette
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > -----Original Message-----
>> > > From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> > > [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
>> Of Eileen
>> > > Scrivani
>> > > Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2009 3:43 PM
>> > > To: nfb-krafters-korner
>> > > Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Kindle & Knitting Books?
>> > >
>> > > Hi Folks:
>> > >
>> > > This is a little off topic because its related to the
>> "Kindle" book
>> > > player which is  a digital/audio type of player that is sold
>> > > exclusively through Amazon.com
>> > >
>> > > Any way, I know that the device Kindle is not fully
>> > accessible to the
>> > > blind.
>> > > However, on the Amazon web site, there are a number of
>> > knitting books that
>> > > are in down-loadable format and I was just wondering if
>> > anyone on this
>> > > list
>> > > knows if these books can be played on a Victor reader
>> > Stream or other
>> > > accessible player?  If so, can I just purchase those titles
>> > I'm interested
>> > > in, download to my drive and then copy onto my Victor
>> > Reader? without the
>> > > purchase & use of any additional software  Thanks for any
>> > info on the
>> > > subject.
>> > >
>> > > If this has gone to off course for this list, email me directly.
>> > > Thanks.
>> > >
>> > > Eileen
>> > > _______________________________________________
>> > > Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
>> > >
>> >
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
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>> et.org/amcarr1
>> > %40verizon.net
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
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