Digitization Of The Book: A Report On Present Trends

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• The New Publishing Paradigm
  • 7.3 Electronic Text
  • 7.4 Standard Generalized Markup Language

The New Publishing Paradigm

Electronic text (e-text) in its broadest definition is text in a digital format. For print handicapped readers, it means significant flexibility in accessing information. Some possible e-text formats include any common word processor format (such as WordPerfect), straight ASCII, or SGML coded text which is ASCII format, but contains the tags defining structure. The International Committee on Accessible Document Design has identified twenty-two basic SGML codes called the ICADD 22, which are intended for describing structure in an e-text book for print handicapped readers.

E-text books can be distributed via Internet, modem, or on media such as floppy disk or CD-ROM. A reader can access them on a computer equipped with their adaptive equipment of choice, including synthesized speech, text enlarging software, or a refreshable braille display. A key benefit to e-text is the file is accessible to readers no matter what adaptive technology they are using. Thus, a single file can be read by many types of readers, or in different ways by a single reader. Non-proprietary formats (ASCII based files) are even more accessible, because they can be read in any computing environment.

For braille readers there is another benefit: in addition to using a refreshable braille display, text can be translated and output in hard copy braille on an as needed basis. E-text provides braille access without the bulk of multiple braille volumes. For example, a university student equipped with a lap top computer and portable refreshable braille display can carry an entire textbook on floppy disk, or CD-ROM, rather than only the volume that might be needed that day. Additionally, the braille display allows the student to read in class without having to simultaneously use ear phones to listen to audio tape or synthesized speech.

For sighted readers an increasing volume of materials is available electronically, particularly CD-ROM books. CD-ROM tends to be a multimedia format and includes video and sound clips to enhance text, which can be confusing to a blind reader using synthesized voice or a braille display. The publishing world is moving towards electronic publications, which means that there will be a growing number of commercial books to read on a computer. For print handicapped readers to have the full benefit of this new technology readers, producers and publishers need to work in partnership to ensure these formats are accessible with adaptive equipment, preferably off the shelf.

7.4 Standard Generalized Markup Language

Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) (ISO 8879) is a language that describes the structure of a document. It is 'generalized' because it is non-proprietary, so no special software is required to read or create SGML documents. In describing a document, SGML uses codes, also known as tags, to identify structural elements, such as headings, lists, and emphasized text. For the publisher there are major benefits to using SGML:

• Multiple formats such as print and multimedia can be created from the single source file.
• SGML encoded source files can be converted to publishing formats that don't exist yet.

There are many standards employed in writing and document structure. For example, books particularly academic and reference materials tend to have an hierarchical structure: a title, sections, chapters and paragraphs. The reader recognizes this system of information organization as implicitly as the author employs it. If the author/publisher did not apply these standards, the final document would consist of a continuous stream of text, with the only formatting being the spaces between words. But authors and publishers do employ commonly accepted standards in structuring a document, so it will have different types, or levels, of headings signified by various font sizes, emphasis, and placement on the page. The author/publisher must make decisions about the organization of the document, and how it will best convey information and facilitate access. When a document is converted to braille, the producer must examine the print to evaluate the format, so that appropriate braille standards may be applied.

With access to the publisher's SGML files, the braille producer receives the text with all of the structure intact. Minimal labour intensive formatting is needed. SGML files can be processed with braille translation software: both Duxbury and Megadots recognize and convert SGML coding.

Applying current technology to braille production eliminates two very lengthy processes: the use of publishers' electronic files eliminates data entry; and SGML eliminates much of the complex formatting. Consistent application of both would radically change the accessibility of published material making them accessible to everyone who is blind and sighted.