OT: IBM Scientists Develop Streaming Video For Visually Impaired

OT: IBM Scientists Develop Streaming Video For Visually Impaired

[Dawes, Stephen]

This is way cool, and has an open source element to it. 
Check out the following link. 

http://www.informationweek.com/shared/printableArticle.jhtml?articleID=1
98000619
<http://www.informationweek.com/shared/printableArticle.jhtml?articleID=
198000619>  

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NAEB looking for speakup folks to help implement on ebook reader

[Travis Siegel]

Hello all.
There is a new ebook reaer in the works, and since it runs linux, and  
will cost around 320 dollars (us) I figured I'd drop a line here to  
ask if anyone would be willing to assist with porting speakup to this  
new device.  I don't know what linux kernel they're going to use  
(yet) but I think it's at least partially open for discussion.  It's  
going to be built by a major company, and the units that are going to  
be produced are actually for a group that hangs out at Baen's Bar  
(http://www.baens.com) in the baens bar section.  And, since Baen  
provides all of their books they publish in paper format also in  
electronic format, what better company to spearhead such an undertaking.
Admittedly, Baen is not officially involved with this ebook reader,  
but since all the bar flies (as we call ourselves) hang out on Baen's  
site, it's a good reason to give Baen at least some of the credit.
Basically, it will be a handheld unit with a display, and using the  
linux os, so other applications can be added without further work by  
the user if they so desire.
Anyone interested (Kirk can we interest you in helping?) Please let  
me know, and I'll pass along any information we can all pull together.
This is an opportunity to get screen reading technology in on the  
ground floor of a new device, and one that might just make it  
possible to prove to some big name companies that talking solutions  
don't have to be expensive.
The device already plays mp3 files, so speech output should be  
possible with the onboard sound system, though I've not (yet)  
confirmed this.
I do not have one of the test units, so I don't know what they're  
capable of, but specs are on the project's web site (which I do not  
have handy at the moment) but if you go to baen.com, and click on the  
bar, browse down to electronic reader, then check out the messages in  
the aeb threads, all required information is available.
But, again, I can also act as a go-between if folks aren't  
comfortable with getting involved directly in such a project.
The units aren't yet ordered, so price is fluid at this point, but if  
we can get roughly a thousand users interested (over 300 are already  
signed up from the bar alone) it should be possible to produce the  
first commercial ebook reader with speech out of the box.

Thanks for listening, and I hope folks more knowledgeable than I will  
step in to lend a hand in this process.

Re: NAEB looking for speakup folks to help implement on ebook reader

[Glenn Ervin]

Travis Siegel wrote:
> Hello all.
> There is a new ebook reaer in the works, and since it runs linux, and
> will cost around 320 dollars (us) I figured I'd drop a line here to
> ask if anyone would be willing to assist with porting speakup to this
> new device.  I don't know what linux kernel they're going to use
> (yet) but I think it's at least partially open for discussion.  It's
> going to be built by a major company, and the units that are going to
> be produced are actually for a group that hangs out at Baen's Bar
> (http://www.baens.com) in the baens bar section.  And, since Baen
> provides all of their books they publish in paper format also in
> electronic format, what better company to spearhead such an
> undertaking. Admittedly, Baen is not officially involved with this
> ebook reader,
> but since all the bar flies (as we call ourselves) hang out on Baen's
> site, it's a good reason to give Baen at least some of the credit.
> Basically, it will be a handheld unit with a display, and using the
> linux os, so other applications can be added without further work by
> the user if they so desire.
> Anyone interested (Kirk can we interest you in helping?) Please let
> me know, and I'll pass along any information we can all pull together.
> This is an opportunity to get screen reading technology in on the
> ground floor of a new device, and one that might just make it
> possible to prove to some big name companies that talking solutions
> don't have to be expensive.
> The device already plays mp3 files, so speech output should be
> possible with the onboard sound system, though I've not (yet)
> confirmed this.
> I do not have one of the test units, so I don't know what they're
> capable of, but specs are on the project's web site (which I do not
> have handy at the moment) but if you go to baen.com, and click on the
> bar, browse down to electronic reader, then check out the messages in
> the aeb threads, all required information is available.
> But, again, I can also act as a go-between if folks aren't
> comfortable with getting involved directly in such a project.
> The units aren't yet ordered, so price is fluid at this point, but if
> we can get roughly a thousand users interested (over 300 are already
> signed up from the bar alone) it should be possible to produce the
> first commercial ebook reader with speech out of the box.
>
> Thanks for listening, and I hope folks more knowledgeable than I will
> step in to lend a hand in this process.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Speakup mailing list
> Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
> http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakupIf it were running 
> speech, so it was actually usable, you could count me in.
Glenn

Re: NAEB looking for speakup folks to help implement on ebook reader

[Kirk Reiser]

Hello Travis:  If the machine is intended to be open source then we
will certainly help port speakup to it providing we can get access to
a unit or two for development work.  I cannot check out the baen bar
site because it is heavily javascript based and I've tried to sign up
to it at least a dozen times with no luck.  I've written baen about
that and have heard absolutely nothing back from them about access to
the bar.  I have heard from them on the general tendency of their web
pages moving to javascript and they have not been understanding.
Basically they just said oh well.  One would think if you were willing
to provide them more funding they'd at least talk but they weren't
even interested when I wanted to join their baen book club so I'm
sceptical how interested anyone around there may be to provide open
source solutions.  I hope I'm wrong but I haven't had much luck so
far.  I realize they provide their books free to blinks but honestly
five bucks a book is not unreasonable and I've purchased dozens of
them before they became free.  They have loads of good material so it
would be nice to have access to the machines but even better to have
general access to their full site which they are not interested in
providing it seems.  Maybe because it is a separate company they'll be
more flexible.  If they are going the open source route there's hope
for them at least.

  Kirk

-- 

Kirk Reiser				The Computer Braille Facility
e-mail: kirk@braille.uwo.ca		University of Western Ontario
phone: (519) 661-3061

Baens bar software (was NAEB looking for speakup folks to help implement on ebook reader)

[Travis Siegel]

Actually, for the bar, if you use the classic mode (or old bar I  
think they call it) it works fairly well with screen readers.  That  
way, you can also sign up to receive bar discussions via email.   
That's how I participate.
I agree, that since they've changed their format last year, things  
got *real* hard to access, but that's a result of the software they  
use, not a conscience design decision on their part.
It's extremely unfortunate that they didn't test compatibility before  
upgrading to the new web software, but that's the nature of the beast  
unfortunately.  If you want to complain to someone who *might* help,  
I'd say complain to the shopping cart software folks.  I don't  
remember which one it is, but I'll find out and post if folks are  
really interested in pushing it.  I did complain to the makers, but  
received no response, so I don't know how much good it will do, but  
perhaps if more than one email comes in, they might actually pay  
attention.

Re: Baens bar software (was NAEB looking for speakup folks to help implement on ebook reader)

[Kirk Reiser]

Travis Siegel <tsiegel@softcon.com> writes:

> Actually, for the bar, if you use the classic mode (or old bar I  
> think they call it) it works fairly well with screen readers.  That  
> way, you can also sign up to receive bar discussions via email.   
> That's how I participate.

Well, I never got far enough to find any options like those.  You need
javascript to even confirm the password they send you so you're stop
dead in the water at that point.

> I agree, that since they've changed their format last year, things  
> got *real* hard to access, but that's a result of the software they  
> use, not a conscience design decision on their part.

Well, that is just excusing them of culpability because they trusted
someone else to make their design decisions which is silly.  I realize
they are a publishing company but all publishing has become computer
driven so there is no excuse for not being aware of the technology you
have to use.

> It's extremely unfortunate that they didn't test compatibility before  
> upgrading to the new web software, but that's the nature of the beast  
> unfortunately.  If you want to complain to someone who *might* help,  
> I'd say complain to the shopping cart software folks.  I don't  
> remember which one it is, but I'll find out and post if folks are  
> really interested in pushing it.  I did complain to the makers, but  
> received no response, so I don't know how much good it will do, but  
> perhaps if more than one email comes in, they might actually pay  
> attention.

Well, I have written and outlined the problems to every address I
could find on all facets of the site.  I don't know that I'd call my
letters complaints exactly but they were pointed comments
nevertheless.  I suspect that they have determined to give all poor
blind people free access to all their books to absolve themselves of
guilt for being unaccessible.  We'll all appreciate that sitting in
our attics reading out our hearts content; I just hope we aren't tied
up to tightly.

Looking back over this I become aware that I am to some extent blaming
Baen for our in-ability to deal with the javascript problem which is
unfair to them.  Maybe I'm also blaming them a bit for my in-ability
to have solved the difficulty as well which is also unfair to them.
This later blame I like to apply to all sorts of organizations which
should really be laid at the feet of the blind community which doesn't
seem to be able to develop their own solutions and would rather dump
on the rest of the world.  So, bring on the ropes, I'll sit quietly in
my chair and stop being such a baby.

  Kirk

-- 
Kirk Reiser				The Computer Braille Facility
e-mail: kirk@braille.uwo.ca		University of Western Ontario
phone: (519) 661-3061

Re: Baens bar software (was NAEB looking for speakup folks to help implement on ebook reader)

[Doug Smith]

Ok, who's interested in working on a javascript interpreter or even on
a new console-based x-windows manager?  I will gladly work on
whichever of these projects you might want to be a part of.  If you
are interested in either writing a javascript interpreter, or in
making a text-based x-windows window manager, we can talk.  Just
contact the list so that I can set my spam filter up to let in your
mails.  



Glad to help.  
-- 
Doug Smith: C.S.F.C.
Computer Scientist For CHRIST

Re: Baens bar software (was NAEB looking for speakup folks to help implement on ebook reader)

[Kirk Reiser]

Doug, if you are interested in doing something along the lines of a
javascript interpreter then download the elinks git repository and
then let me know and I'll point you at a few patches I've already made
toward that end.  A javascript interpreter is not necessary but what
is is integrating mozilla's spidermonkey properly into elinks.  Lots
of work is still necessary to complete the process but at this point
elinks is the best browser available for the job.

  Kirk

-- 

Kirk Reiser				The Computer Braille Facility
e-mail: kirk@braille.uwo.ca		University of Western Ontario
phone: (519) 661-3061