Transcript BRAILLENET A Digital Document Delivery for the Blind in France Dominique Burger, INSERM INSERM U483 – Inova 9, quai Saint-Bernard, 75252 – Paris cedex 05 [email protected] IFLA.

BRAILLENET
A Digital Document Delivery for
the Blind in France
Dominique Burger, INSERM
INSERM U483 – Inova
9, quai Saint-Bernard, 75252 – Paris cedex 05
[email protected]
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Libraries for the Blind - Washington -
BrailleNet
• Association created in 1997 (Non Governmental Organization)
• To promote the use of the Internet as a tool for
integration
• Grouping around 50 organizations (associations, schools,
laboratories, companies)
• Members in France, but also in Canada, Switzerland, ..
• Coordinated by INSERM at University Paris 6
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BrailleNet Actions
• Technical assistance : giving support to schools and
public libraries, training, ...
• Web Accessibility : participating in WAI,
campaigning in France, developing expertise
• Participating in R&D projects (IST SEDODEL,
TIM, WAIDA, VICKIE)
• Developing a digital library
www.braillenet.org
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Visually Impaired People
in Europe
• In France
– 70 000 persons are blind
– 1 200 000 have a low vision
( according to INSEE )
• In Europe
– 1 000 000 persons are blind
– 13 000 000 have a low vision
( according to RNIB )
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New avenues
for accessing books
• Digital techniques provide visually impaired people
(VIP) with alternative solutions for accessing information
(Electronic display units, refreshable Braille, speech
synthesis, special keyboards)
• The Internet creates a World Wide Virtual Library
• Standardisation of structured formats (PDF, SGML,
HTML, XML, DAISY…)
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A great variety of needs
• Adapted visual presentations
– font, size, colour, contrast, ..
• Braille presentations
– paper, refreshable
– grade I or II
• Audio presentations
– human, synthetic speech
• Technical platform
– computer, Operating System
– access technology
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A General Scheme
for Producing Adapted Documents
INTERFACE
Structured
Electronic
Document
Source
Print
E-book
Audio book
Braille
A part of the maimstream publishing scheme …
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The Helene Server
Exploratory action
• Pilot Project launched in 1999 (contacts with Linz University)
Partners
 Institut National de la Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique
(INRIA)
 Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)
 Institut National des Jeunes Aveugles (INJA)
 Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris 6 (UPMC)
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What can be found on Helene
• Books in the Public Domain
A search engine collects accessible books on the Web.
•
Adapted sources of books
The server Hélène collects files prepared by schools for Braille printing.
• Original files
Publishers provide original files, thqt are stored on an highly secured
server for further adaptation by transcription centres.
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Who can access it ?
• Books in the Public Domain
-> Anybody
• Adapted sources of books
-> Specialized Printing Centres
• Original files
-> Adaptation Centres
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Results
• The Helen server was opened as a pilot
service in May 2000
• More than 1200 books in the Public
Domain
• Nearly 500 under copyrights
• Feasability demonstrated
conclusions …
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1- A Need for Standard Formats
.txt, .doc, .rtf, .html, Quark Xpress, …
Candidates ?
BrailleStar
Duxburry
Abrotext
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Large print
2- Human expertise still needed
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Text
Images
Curves
Formulas
Tables
Music
…
For complex and
composite documents
human expertise is
needed
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3- Renewing tools and methods
• A adaptation software (accept standard formats,
customisation features, multilingual, reversible, …)
• A unique catalogue on the Web created by
the INJA (around 60 000 references)
• An Internet server to monitor the
transcription work made in different centres
www.inja.fr
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4- Copyright issues
• In France permission of right owners
needed
• Publishers want :
– Clear guarantees
– An unique organisation negociating
– Zero cost
• => A simple contract is accepted
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5- Cooperation with publishers
• Model contract validated by their union
• Cooperation easier with publishers involved
in digital publishing
• Accessibility recommendations could be
incorporated in electronic sources
• Defining an economic model
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6- Public programmes for book
digitisation
• Should use/promote accessible formats
• Public Web Libraries should be accessible
(welcome pages, catalogues, …)
Web Accessibility Initiative
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Prospects
• Developing a permanent service in France
A national body could be set up for that (CNEA)
• International Cooperation seeked
– French speaking countries
– To involve southern countries : OFAEL
– Worldwide technical harmonization
• IFLA may act as a catalyst
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