[stylist] Wow! this is wonderful news!

Thu Nov 12 05:58:27 UTC 2009

this is wonderful news and will hit the Kendal folks hard in the wallet.
jc

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>Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:21:13 -0600
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>         Jessica" <JFreeh at nfb.org> (by way of 
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>Subject: [Nfb-announce] Universities Will Not Deploy Kindle DX as Textbook
>         Reader
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>
>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
>
>
>CONTACT:
>
>Chris Danielsen
>
>Director of Public Relations
>
>National Federation of the Blind
>
>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
>
>(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
>
>cdanielsen at nfb.org
>
>
>
>
>Universities Will Not Deploy Kindle DX as Textbook Reader
>
>
>
>
>National Federation of the Blind Commends Schools
>  for Demanding Accessibility for Blind Students
>
>
>
>Baltimore, Maryland (November 11, 2009): 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.
>
>
>
>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.”
>
>
>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."
>
>
>
>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.”
>
>
>
>###
>
>
>
>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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