[stylist] Google Settlement with Authors, Publishers Will Have Positive Results for the Blind

Sat Nov 1 03:16:06 UTC 2008

I've seen those, it's anoying, is it basically a picture of the printed 
page?
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "James Canaday M.A. N6YR" <n6yr at sunflower.com>
To: "NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 6:58 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Google Settlement with Authors, Publishers Will Have 
Positive Results for the Blind


> if you've ever done a search, and hits say "google books" that's what this 
> is about, and I don't think textbooks are much in that unless they are the 
> sort that doesn't change much.
>
> when I look at them now, it says there's a graphic image of the page, and 
> I can't read the text.  this agreement means that that text will become 
> accessible to read!  I'm guessing there'll have to be some 
> certification/password process to make sure only print disabled people use 
> it.
>
> happy halloween.
> jc
>
> Jim Canaday M.A.
> Lawrence, KS
>
> At 05:39 PM 10/31/2008, you wrote:
>>Man, this is really something to cheer about. Does anyone know if this
>>includes college textbooks as well?
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>Behalf Of Freeh,Jessica (by way of David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>)
>>Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 4:29 PM
>>To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
>>Subject: [stylist] Google Settlement with Authors, Publishers Will Have
>>Positive Results for the Blind
>>
>>            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: <http://www.nfb.org/>www.nfb.org.
>>
>>
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>
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