[Nfb-new-hampshire] Fw: [Access-l] Fwd: Google Settlement with Authors, Publishers Will Have Positive Results for the Blind

[Guilbert Vickery]

FYI:

Another step forward to eliminate the access barriers to the printed word...

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Pattison" <srp at internode.on.net>
To: "Access-L" <access-l at access-l.com>
Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 10:12 PM
Subject: [Access-l] Fwd: Google Settlement with Authors,Publishers Will Have 
Positive Results for the Blind


> From: Freeh, Jessica JFreeh at nfb.org
>
>           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
> CONTACT:
> Chris Danielsen
> Public Relations Specialist
> National Federation of the Blind
> (410) 659-9314, extension 2330
> (410) 262-1281 (cell)
> cdanielsen at nfb.org
>
> Google Settlement with Authors, Publishers
> Will Have Positive Results for the Blind
>
> Terms of Proposed Settlement Agreement
> Will Revolutionize Blind People's Access to Books
>
> Baltimore, Maryland (October 31, 2008): The National Federation of
> the Blind, the nation's leading advocate for access to information by
> the blind, announced today that the recent settlement between Google
> and authors and publishers over the Google Books project, if approved
> by the courts, will have a profound and positive impact on the
> ability of blind people to access the printed word.  The terms of the
> settlement that was reached on October 28, among Google, the Authors
> Guild, and the Association of American Publishers, on behalf of a
> broad class of authors and publishers, allow Google to provide the
> material it offers users "in a manner that accommodates users with
> print disabilities so that such users have a substantially similar
> user experience as users without print disabilities."  A user with a
> print disability under the agreement is one who is "unable to read or
> use standard printed material due to blindness, visual disability,
> physical limitations, organic dysfunction, or dyslexia."  Blind
> people, like other members of the public, will be able to search the
> texts of books in the Google Books database online; purchase some
> books in an accessible format; or access accessible books at
> libraries and other entities that have an institutional subscription
> to the Google Books database.  Once the court approves the
> settlement, Google will work to launch these services as quickly as
> possible.
>
> Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
> said: "Access to the printed word has historically been one of the
> greatest challenges faced by the blind.  The agreement between Google
> and authors and publishers will revolutionize access to books for
> blind Americans.
>
> Blind people will be able to search for books through the Google
> Books interface and purchase, borrow, or read at a public library any
> of the books that are available to the general public in a format
> that is compatible with text enlargement software, text-to-speech
> screen access software, and refreshable Braille devices.  With 7
> million books already available in the Google Books collection and
> many more to come, this agreement means that blind people will have
> more access to print books than we have ever had in human
> history.  The blind, just like the sighted, will have a world of
> education, information, and entertainment literally at our
> fingertips.  The National Federation of the Blind commends the
> parties to this agreement for their commitment to full and equal
> access to information by the blind."
>
> "Among the most monumental aspects of the settlement agreement," said
> Jack Bernard, assistant general counsel at the University of
> Michigan, "are the terms that enable Google and libraries to make
> works accessible to people who have print disabilities.  This
> unprecedented opportunity to access the printed word will make it
> possible for blind people to engage independently with our rich
> written culture.  Moreover, it is refreshing to find accessibility
> for people with disabilities explicitly included upfront, rather than
> begrudgingly added as an afterthought."
>
>  "One of the great promises of the settlement agreement is improving
> access to books for the blind and for those with print disabilities,"
> said Dan Clancy, engineering director for Google Book
> Search.  "Google is committed to extending all of the services
> available under the agreement to the blind and print disability
> community, making it easier to access these books through screen
> enlargement, reader, and Braille display technologies."
>
> ###
>
> About the National Federation of the Blind
>
> 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: www.nfb.org
>
> Regards Steve
> Email:  srp at internode.on.net
> Windows Live Messenger:  internetuser383 at hotmail.com
> Skype:  steve1963
>
> _______________________________________________
> This is the Access-l Mailing list
> access-l at access-l.com
> http://access-l.com/mailman/listinfo/access-l


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