Alternative Media Formats

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Alternative Media Formats
Alternative Text Formats icon Alternative Media Formats are texts reformatted so that they are accessible to people with disabilities, including visual and learning, and usually available in electronic form.

Contents

 


Choosing an E-Text Format

AMAC will now have the option of sending PDF or Word Files for E-text use. PDF’s are a great visual aide for students with LD or who are hard of hearing. The Word files will be more useful to a student who is blind. The type of e-text format provides different accessible options and is based on a number of factors.

Those factors are based on:

  • Disability
  • The Subject Matter being converted
  • The Formating of the book being processed
  • The Assistive Technology used
  • Personal Preference.

See the differences between what a PDF and Word document will look like for the student by clicking the links below:

Electronic Text

Electronic Text is text that is in machine-readable or computerized form.[1] The text may be saved on external storage devices such as a flash drive or CD-ROM or can be managed over the internet such as on an FTP server.

Type Extension Description Delivery Method Playback Method Suggestions
Text Format .txt
.rtf
.doc 		Similar to a Microsoft Word document, this format realigns the text into a single column. Images may be left in the document or replaced with text descriptions. This format allows text-to-speech software to read the text aloud by a computer. AMAC Student Center Text-to-Speech Software
PDF Format .pdf This format retains the look of the page being processed including columns, images and layout. This format allows for text-to-speech software to read the text aloud by a computer. AMAC Student Center Text-to-Speech Software

See Also

‡These software titles are recommended but not supported by AMAC.

DAISY

DAISY denotes Digital Accessible Information SYstem. The DAISY Consortium is committed to making the transition from analog (print and tape) to Digital Talking Books (DTB). The idea is to use digital recording and add document structuring that would allow easy navigation by the user.

A DAISY book or a DTB can be explained as a set of digital files that includes: [2]

  • One or more digital audio files containing a human narration of part or all of the source text;
  • A marked-up file containing some or all of the text (strictly speaking, this marked-up text file is optional);
  • A synchronization file to relate markings in the text file with time points in the audio file; and
  • A navigation control file which enables the user to move smoothly between files while synchronization between text and audio is maintained.

The DAISY Standard allows the producing agency full flexibility regarding the mix of text and audio ranging from audio-only, to full text and audio, to text-only.

Type Media Type Description Delivery Method Playback Method Suggestions
Audio Only CD or DTB This format contains only the audio content. It can be played on both hardware devices and computer software Standard postal service to DSP office DAISY playback device
Text Only † DTB This format contains only the text. It is read by text-to-speech screen readersoftware AMAC Student Center DAISY playback software
Audio and Text † CD or DTB This format contains both text and audio content. This allows the text to be read as the audio is being heard. AMAC Student Center DTB playback device or software

See Also

†AMAC does not yet provide these types of DAISY books.
‡These software titles are recommended but not supported by AMAC.

Audio

Some screen reader programs allow text to be output to an audio file (usually MP3 or WAV) which can then be imported to an audio player on a computer such as Windows Media Player or iTunes, transfered to a portable audio device such as an iPod, or burned to a compact disc. The drawback to this format is that these standard audio files have none of the navigation features of a DAISY book or a screen reader program.

Braille

Braille is a series of raised dots that can be read with the fingers by people who are blind or whose eyesight is not sufficient for reading printed material. Teachers, parents, and others who are not visually impaired ordinarily read braille with their eyes. Braille is not a language. Rather, it is a code by which languages such as English or Spanish may be written and read. [3]

AMAC's Braille Services Unit offers textbook and exam conversion to braille services to institutions through a membership program. AMAC services are available to non-member institutions on a fee for service basis. Braille service products include braille transcription, braille embossing, and the creation of tactile graphics.

Type Extension Description Delivery Method Playback Method
Embossed braille none These pages employ embossed dots evenly arranged in quadrangular letter spaces or cells, allowing touch reading for the blind. Standard postal service to DSP office none
Electronic braille text .brf These electronic files provide commands to a refreshable braille display device in order to provide access to text for braille users. This form of braille avoids the volume of paper required to print/emboss braile in hardcopy. AMAC Student Center Refreshable braille display

Captions & Subtitles

Captions and subtitles display audio information as printed words on the viewing screen. Subtitles present only the spoken word whereas captions are specifically designed for viewers who are deaf and hard of hearing and are carefully placed to identify speakers, on- and offscreen sound effects, music, and laughter. [4]

Type Description Playback Method
Closed Captioning Closed Captions are hidden as data within the video signal, and they must be decoded with either a set-top decoder or a caption-ready monitor in order to be displayed on the screen. [5] TV or Monitor with a caption decoder
Real-time Captioning Real-time captions are created as an event takes place. A captioner uses a stenotype machine with a phonetic keyboard and special software. A computer translates the phonetic symbols into English captions almost instantaneously. TV or Monitor with a caption decoder
Open Captioning Open captions are visible without using a set-top decoder or a caption-ready monitor. When video is open captioned, the captions are permanently part of the picture. [6] none
Subtitles Subtitles are generally a textual representation of only the spoken dialogue in a video program. Subtitles are often used with foreign languages and generally do not identify non-dialogue audio, i.e. a dog barking, a phone ringing, tone of voice, etc. none

See Also

External Resources

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic
The DAISY Consortium
Premiere Literacy
Described and Captioned Media Program

References

  1. ↑ http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/cet/eglossary.html
  2. ↑ http://www.daisy.org/about_us/
  3. ↑ http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=6&TopicID=199
  4. ↑ http://main.wgbh.org/wgbh/pages/mag/services/captioning/faq/
  5. ↑ http://main.wgbh.org/wgbh/pages/mag/services/captioning/faq/
  6. ↑ http://www.ncicap.org/Docs/glossary.htm
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