EASI Congratulates RFB&D for this innovative project to greatly enhance access
to texts.
Norman Coombs nrcgsh@rit.edu
Recording for the Blind and Dyslexics (RFB&D)
NSF PPD Project Abstract
Title: Digital Audio with Integrated E-Text Reading System
P.I.: John Churchill
RFB&D is conducting a three-year project with funding from the
National Science Foundation to develop a unique technology to
integrate computerized text files with digital human voice
recording. This technology will make mathematics, science, and
other educational materials accessible to print-disabled people.
The most widely used technology available to print-disabled people
today for accessing information includes large print, braille,
analog recordings and computerized text files. Although analog
recordings offer the sound quality of a human voice, searching for
information is a difficult and time-consuming process. Conversely,
a book on computer disk has advanced search and retrieval
capabilities but sound quality is restricted by the nature of
synthetic speech. The combination of the recorded voice and a
computerized text file will make mathematics and science materials
more accessible due to the random access capabilities of both
disciplines that digital audio offers in a more dynamic and robust
format.
For the purposes of this project, RFB&D is employing several
methods to achieve its previously stated objectives. They are
first and foremost working to develop a software that will
integrate the computer text file with a digitally recorded human
voice. They will then create a nongraphically based user interface
to help make mathematics, science and other technological materials
accessible to print-disabled people via the computer.
Digital audio books will offer the best features of both audio and
E-Text formats--the recorded human voice and the ability to search
and retrieve information as needed. This newly created reading
system, which will run on a standard multi-media computer equipped
with a sound card and CD-ROM, will revolutionize how print-disabled
people read and obtain information.
Most important, digital audio books will, for the first time ever,
allow print-disabled people to access mathematics, science and
other technological materials through natural human speech using a
personal computer.
P.I. John Churchill
E-mail: jchurchill@rfbd.org
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