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

Sat Nov 1 05:52:47 UTC 2008

I'm guessing so.  have no certain idea.
jc

Jim Canaday M.A.
Lawrence, KS

At 09:16 PM 10/31/2008, you wrote:
>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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