From: patth@panix.com (Patt Bromberger)
Subject: Re: Talking Books, Electronic Text Books, etc.
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1992 04:36:08 GMT
Organization: PANIX Public Access Unix & Internet, NYC
Keywords: Study Aids

In article <1992Dec27.215124.20616@nmsu.edu> nmcb@dante.nmsu.edu (Yolanda Thompson) writes:
>In article <1992Dec27.160129.8905@panix.com> patth@panix.com (Patt Bromberger) writes:
>>Just wondering, for those who are attending classes, which textbooks
>>you are using, how do you get them translated into braille or
>>electronic text (scanner?) or do you use a human reader instead.
>>
>>Is anyone using a closed circuit television set to magnify text in
>>regular text books?
>>
>>Does anyone have any experience ordering textbooks from Recording For
>>The Blind in Princeton, New Jersey or any of their other offices?
>>
>> [deleted]
>
>  Well, being a rehabilitation counselor, I can answer yes to all of
>the questions...I have students using CCTV's, students using RFB, and
>students using readers...Here's a little we've discovered about each..
>
>  CCTV's are wonderful for those who can use them, and work well for
>such sciences as Math, Chem, etc.  However, they are very slow, and
>are not necessarily used at a competitive rate for studying...Plus,
>eyes get tired, and it is nice to have an alternative media to fall
>[deleted]
>
>  RFB...Well, it is much better than it was in its beginnings...If a
>student can find their textbooks already recorded RFB is
>fabulous.. [deleted] 
>
>  Readers are possibly the most efficient way to get yoru textbooks
>done, however finding a good reader is difficult...Being a reader for
>someone is very different than reading for yourself, simply because
>when you read for yourself, you read what you feel is important, often
> [deleted] 
>
>  Braille textbooks..There aren't any...They stop with Braille
>textbooks in highschools, if they even have them there...Many states
>are working on a "Braille Bill" which mandates that elementary and
>secondary schools make textbooks available in Braille for their
>students...But, at college level I've never found a Braille text...
>
>  Hope this helps...


Yolanda, thanks for answering almost all of my questions.  I wonder
what the general reaction would be to electronic text books - books
you can actually read online or have a voice synthesizer read for
your, as a blind student, or even a physically challenged student who
can't turn pages very well, etc.

Publishers would already have the books in electronic text form,
wouldn't they - they have to be transmitted to the printer, after all,
so why not make the e-text versions available for those who need them?

Especially with the funding cut backs for libraries, it seems to me
that computerized books and their availability might be another source
for delivery of study material so necessary for students who need
alternate means of accessing information.

Any thoughts and opinions appreciated.

-- 
Patricia Ann Bromberger                            patth@panix.com
This quote borrowed from: Gary.Petraccaro@f12.n2610.z1.fidonet.org 
... "It matters not so much what you sing, but why..." J.S. Bach

Newsgroups: alt.education.disabled