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<DIV dir=ltr class=OutlookMessageHeader align=left><FONT size=2
face=Tahoma>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
chapter-presidents-bounces@nfbnet.org
[mailto:chapter-presidents-bounces@nfbnet.org]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Freeh,Jessica
(by way of David Andrews <dandrews@visi.com>) (by way of David Andrews
<dandrews@visi.com>)<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, November 11, 2009 11:37
PM<BR><B>To:</B> chapter-presidents@nfbnet.org<BR><B>Subject:</B>
[Chapter-presidents] Universities Will Not Deploy Kindle DX asTextbook
Reader<BR><BR></FONT></DIV><FONT face=Garamond><BR><B>FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE<BR><BR> <BR><BR>CONTACT:<BR><BR></B>Chris Danielsen<BR><BR>Director
of Public Relations<BR><BR>National Federation of the Blind<BR><BR>(410)
659-9314, extension 2330<BR><BR>(410) 262-1281
(Cell)<BR><BR>cdanielsen@nfb.org<BR><BR></FONT><FONT
face="Times New Roman, Times"> <BR><BR><BR></FONT>
<DIV align=center>
<H1><B>Universities Will Not Deploy Kindle DX as Textbook
Reader<BR><BR><BR><BR></B></H1></DIV>
<H2><B>National Federation of the Blind Commends Schools<BR> for Demanding
Accessibility for Blind Students</B></H2><FONT
face="Times New Roman, Times"> <BR><BR></FONT><FONT
face=Garamond><B>Baltimore, Maryland (November 11, 2009):</B> 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. 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 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> <BR><BR>Dr. Marc Maurer,
President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “The National
Federation of the Blind commends the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />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 blinddenying blind students access to electronic
textbooks or the advanced features available to read and annotate themit is
our position that no university should consider this device to be a viable
e-book solution for its students.” <BR><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 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> <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> <BR><BR>
<DIV align=center><B>###<BR><BR> <BR><BR></DIV>About the National
Federation of the Blind<BR><BR></B>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: <A
href="http://www.nfb.org/">www.nfb.org</A>.<BR><BR></FONT></BODY></HTML>