Search U.S. Business and Technology News
|
|
|
|
Revolutionary New Software Tool Enables The Blind, Dyslexic And Print Disabled To Create Their Own Digital Talking Books
Published: Wed, 20 Oct 2004, 08:33 EDT
|
By Aria C. Munro
Staff Writer, Publishers Newswire
|
|
GRASS VALLEY, Calif. -- Innovative Rehabilitation Technology, Inc. (www.irti.net) today announced the release of eClipseWriter, calling it a breakthrough "accessible media" creation tool for the masses.
eClipseWriter is a software application (MSRP $249.95) which enables users to quickly and easily turn virtually any electronic text document into a Digital Talking Book (a "print disabled" industry standard created by the DAISY Consortium [www.DAISY.org]). Digital Talking Books (DTB's) allow the blind, dyslexic, and other print disabled individuals to literally "hear" and browse written content. eClipseWriter uses a synthetic voice application from NeoSpeech, Inc. to automatically generate and add realistic human sounding voices to its Digital Talking Books.
A Digital Talking Book, most often recorded on a CD, plays back on computers or specialized players, and allows users to quickly search and locate chapters, subchapters, paragraphs, and phrases just as they would in a print document. For sighted or partially sighted users, DTB's also display text synchronized to the voice playback, which makes for a powerful learning and comprehension tool. More importantly, the product also creates audio "books" that play back on standard consumer CD players.
"eClipseWriter solves the everyday content accessibility problem that people with a print disability face," says Peter Proscia, company CEO and visionary behind the product. "In addition to the blind, an estimated 15% of our population is dyslexic and tens of thousands more have other print disabilities. We have empowered millions of people to access printed content when they want it, and when they need it, without any reliance on third parties," Proscia adds.
"For years there have been great sources of accessible content from a variety of library and publishing services," Proscia adds. "Unfortunately, most of this content has been focused on textbooks and other mainstream works of literature. The 'accessibility gap' between these works and all the other content people need to access every day, is huge. We decided the only way to solve this problem was to put an affordable tool into the hands of the masses, and that's why eClipseWriter exists. Imagine how a person who either can't see, or otherwise struggles to comprehend printed information feels, when suddenly an electronic document he received as an email attachment 'comes alive' and is read to him by a human voice, with the ability to browse through it at his own pace."
Proscia sees enormous applications in education, the workplace, as well as organizations faced with the challenge and/or legal requirement of making their content accessible to everyone. He cites a project recently completed for the Sacramento (Calif.) County, Department of Transportation.
"We used eClipseWriter to produce an accessible version of the ADA transition plan document for the Department," he explains. "We started with their 186 page document and spent a few hours inserting navigational aids such as page and heading markers, graphics and tables. eClipseWriter built a Digital Talking Book of the plan in about 45 minutes using only a standard desktop PC. As a result, the Department was able to distribute its plan in whatever form the recipients needed."
"We're very proud of what we've done," says Proscia. "One of our first users was a blind man who turned a 300 page document into a Digital Talking Book within the first day of operating the application. This is affordable technology that really helps people."
About Innovative Rehabilitation Technology, Inc.
Founded in 1979, Innovative Rehabilitation Technology, Inc. is a software developer and systems integrator specializing in providing technology solutions to the blind, dyslexic, print disabled, and those with other learning disabilities. The privately held company is headquartered in the Sierra foothills community of Grass Valley, California and serves thousands of clients worldwide.
For more information or to order the product, visit www.irti.net, or call 800-322-4784
|
News
|
| New On-Line Publisher, Sniplits, Offers DRM-free Digital Audio Short Stories |
| Best Selling Book The Natural World is a Quiet Call to Action as the Earth Battles Global Warming |
| Yoga Teacher and Storyteller Sydney Solis Teaches Children 3-8 Yoga on New PBS TV Show |
| Nurse Gives Dragons A Shot with New Book Series |
| Children's Adventure Book by D.L. Carroll Captures the Reluctant Tween Readers |
| New Parenting Book by Dr. Robert Greene says that Hormone Balance is a Key to Fertility |
| Author Ethan Crownberry, 'Modern-day Seuss,' Writes New Book Series Emphasizing Character Development in Children |
| Food and Wine Author to Host From Farm to Table Tours in Sonoma Wine Country |
| NY Times Bestselling Author Jordin Rubin to Give Out 5,000 Copies of His Book 'Perfect Weight' at Atlanta ALIVE! Expo |
| Book, The Oprah Sarcophagus, Offers Behind the Scene Look at Making of Daniel Edwards Latest Pop Culture Sculpture |
|
Articles
|
| Interview: Brian Rock, Author of 'Don't Play with Your Food!' |
| Interview: Marcus Dino, Author of 'Fifi: Anything Goes in the Double Os' |
| Interview: Steve Haberman, Author of 'Murder Without Pity' |
| Interview: Berna Bennett, Author of 'A Gentle Approach to Teaching Children to Swim' |
| Interview: Bryant Oden, Author of 'Never Lick a Gift Horse in the Mouth!' |
| Interview: William Ash, Author of the 'Camilions' Personalized Children's Book Series |
| Interview: Steve P. Jefferson, Author of 'Charter Schools: A Descriptive Study of Empowerment' |
| Interview: Michael Archer, Author of 'Firestorm' |
| The Present and Future of e-Books |
| The Benefits of Media Coaching for Book Authors |
|
Book Bloggers
|
| Authors-Publishers Avoid Internet Scams |
| Burning Books - Extreme Reaction or Proof of Uncompromising Devotion to God, asks Bob Miller |
| POD Superstar or Vanity Press Deception? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
