[nfbcs] JAVA TEXT

Wed Mar 21 13:54:27 UTC 2012

For years now, at least one of the big computer book publishers
(O'Reilly?) has been sending books directly to Bookshare.  Bookshare then
runs a process to convert them to Daisy and .brf files.  Bookshare is also
starting a new project to describe images, so, at least in theory, the
diagrams you ask about might be described.

I got an SQL book from Bookshare, in Daisy.  Then I was able to open the
XML file that was part of the Daisy package, and navigate through it using
headers, like a webpage.  It works pretty well.
Tracy

> I learnd from the Deitel and Deitel book - Programming Java - How to.  I
> read the 6th edition (for Java 2 Versions 1.6).  It's a pretty good book.
> As with most books, it has code examples and "tips" liberally sprinkled
> throughout the book.  A totally blind person would need to have these in a
> text form of course.  Then there are the diagrams that illustrate the
> relationship of objects in a specific example ... that might be difficult
> for a blind person to get ... unless they had some kind of tactile
> graphic. or a very good person who could describe the heck out of the
> diagram.  These pictures of course are rectangles with text inside of them
> with arrows connecting to the box and pointing to another box.  The arrow
> of course, depending on where it's pointing is significant and might show
> a relationship of some sort.  Diagrams are where I could see a real
> problem.
>
> And since we're on this subject, how do blind people deal with textbooks?
> Especially those, like programming books, that have diagrams?  I'm
> guessing on Bookshare or other service, the text is electronic and you can
> just read it on a Braille display (Jaws in my mind just wouldn't cut it in
> all situations.. just reading the text to you ... since you might not get
> the syntax when a computer is reading it to you and it's really
> complicated ... but Braille would cut through all of that as I see it).
> Also, let's say that you're reading and you have a 30 or 40 line sample
> code section you have to read but you only have a one line braille
> display.  How do you remember something that was defined back on line 3
> but is referenced on line 34?  Does a blind person just have to have a
> superior memory so he or she remembers everything he reads?  I could see
> getting down to line 34 and a variable is referenced and you say ... "now
> how was that initialized on line 3??"  and have to scroll
>  back up and read it again, then scroll back down.  That could be a real
> pain, and it could really impact your productivity unless you were taking
> notes as you were reading the code ... especially in real-world programs
> like the application I'm working on in Visual Basic where the thing is
> over 100,000 lines of code.  Only being able to reference line of braille
> could make it challenging to say the least.
>
> Last question.  How do these textbooks make it to BookShare in the first
> place?  I'm going to assume they are in electronic format?  Does the
> publisher supply an electronic copy of the textook and Bookshare simply
> puts it in it's library and that's it?  That would make it too easy and
> I'm going to guess that's not the case.  Or, are there transcribers that
> have to be in place that transcribe the book?  And what is the supply of
> transcribers, especially in technical fields such as science, math, or
> technical books such as the programming books?  If there aren't a
> sufficient number of transcribers available, then I could really see how
> that could put a damper on being able to get a needed textbook in a timely
> manner.  I ask this last question because I've been kicking around the
> idea of getting certified as a transcriber ... a technical transcriber to
> be exact ... and helping produce the technical materials so blind people
> have what they need.  But I wanted to know if there are
>   enough transcribers already and there's already a glut of them.
> Certainly doing that would be a big learning curve but if it would help
> others, I think it would be worth it.
>
>
> ---- William Ritchhart <william.ritchhart at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>> All,
>>
>> Our entire team at work is starting to learn java.  The text that we are
>> using is called, "Head First into Java."  My sighted team-leader and I
>> are
>> not very pleased with how it presents the material.  It assumes that we
>> all
>> learn from pictures.  So my question is for those of you who have
>> learned or
>> are learning java, what text did/are you using?  Tips on what was
>> helpful
>> would also be welcome.
>>
>> I am a totally blind guy.  So I am particularly interested in
>> information
>> from those of you who do not have usable sight.
>>
>>
>> Thanks, William
>>
>>
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