The snag that’s stalling Kindle
November 17, 2009 by Taylor HanniganPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Tech News
Two big schools are turning away from the electronic reading device until its maker fixes a big problem.
It’s been billed as “revolutionary” and “simple to use.” But there’s something missing from the Kindle reading device that is causing some schools to shy away from it as an alternative to traditional textbooks.
Syracuse University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison both recently purchased a limited number of Kindles for students to try. But both put the brakes on a broad rollout because the device isn’t easily accessible to users who are blind.
The devices have an audio feature, but it’s tough – if not impossible — to activate without the help of a sighted person.
In a statement, the National Federation of the Blind applauded the schools’ stance. The group said schools shouldn’t think about making broad use of the Kindle unless it becomes accessible to blind users.
Will Kindle eventually replace traditional textbooks? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.
HigherEdMorning delivers the latest HigherEd news once a week to the inboxes of over 200,000 HigherEd professionals.
Click here to sign up and start your FREE subscription to HigherEdMorning!
Tags: course materials, electronic reading devices, Kindle, National Federation of the Blind, textbooks
Loading ...
November 18th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Regular textbooks are not “accessible to users who are blind”; they have to use special audio or braille books, regardless. Besides, the Kindle has audio capabilities. What percentage of the student body is sighted?
November 18th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Oh, Good Heavens! Regular textbooks aren’t accessible to the blind either. This is just politcal correctness run amok. It’s one thing to petition the makers of e-readers to develop a model for blind users. It is another thing to completely reject the technology because everyone is not able to use it equally. The small number of blind college students has functioned for years by using specially made materials, hiring readers, etc. They will continue to do fine with special materials, until there are e-readers made for their use, as there will surely be.
November 18th, 2009 at 11:06 am
Seriously???!!!!
Incredible how something easy to overcome like this can kill a worthwhile project that would have so many significant benefits and make progress towards the inevitable. USE is what will drive further innovation and improvements, but not if we are weak and let things stall for minor reasons.
Faults and bugs never stopped Microsoft from releasing a new version of Windows,
. Always issues to overcome but you keep moving in an improving direction.
November 18th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Regular textbooks are not accessible by themselves, but are easily read with common vocalizing readers. But I don’t think a Kurzweil can read a Kindle. OTOH, the new Barnes and Noble reader has much better accessibility features and one hopes the next Kindle will too.
November 18th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
On the blind issue–I have to agree with the previous comments. Blind students cannot see textbooks now–they have to buy Braille or have an assistant. I see no problem with Kindle being activated by a helper.
On Kindles replacing traditional textbooks–it sounds like a nightmare to me.
I’m not afraid of new technology but I’d hate to see e-readers as my only option for a textbook. Textbooks are frighteningly expensive and have occasionally dictated which classes I could afford to take in a given semester. To help me get through (and still occasionally eat), I’ve bought used books, borrowed from friends, shared books (and the expense!) with a classmate and this semester, I rented a textbook for the first time. Would I have any of these options if physical, tangible textbooks disappear? Would the prices be the same as traditional textbooks or just a portion of the currently insane price? If my device went on the fritz, would I have to buy a new device AND the licensing for the textbooks again? Offering ebooks as an option is a great idea–replacing traditional books completely? No thank you.
November 18th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Many state/federally funded schools are required to adhere to ADA 503/504 compliance. I would not have thought this to extend to eReaders (like for web sites). I think it’s silly that so small a segment of any school’s population would stop the vast majority from adapting these devices and saving money on already over priced textbooks. A simple fix would be to lobby Amazon and other EReader device makers to add a easy to access audio button.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
A netbook or laptop computer is much better than a Kindle. They can connect to web sites, course management systems, be used for word processing and other functions, are in color, can be used to take notes, and aren’t crippled (yet) by things like the Kindle’s Digital Rights Management.
The ePub format ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EPUB ) is much better and I hope it will be expanded with additional features.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
I agree with Tom; we don’t really know enough yet to say that e-books will remain cheaper. He also brings up some really good points about options using traditional textbooks – although you could still share with a classmate, I guess…..unless ALL of your textbooks are on the same reader.
Plus, you don’t have to worry about not being able to read an old classic textbook just because it is in a format that was long surpassed by future technological advances. If e-books were the only option, would any of my old college textbooks still be accessible to me when I’m 50?
November 18th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Looks like I’m going to be the only one who agrees with the halt…
Yes, the blind have to get braille books now, but they *can* get them—and they don’t have to beg the help of some random passer-by each time they want to read their book. If a school goes to e-Books exclusively, then the blind are going to be forced to live at the mercy finding someone to turn it on and get their book loaded up each and every time they want to access the book.
I don’t know about everyone else, but I find that a horrible abridgment of personal dignity. Not to mention, what do they do if they can’t find someone to set it up for them? Just put off their studying until they can?
November 18th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
I believe the Kindle has some form of text-to-speech, but it was restricted after protests from audio book publishers.
The Opera browser has (at least in the Windows version), text-to-speech capability via a plugin. Highlight text, right-click, and select “speak”. The voice is pretty good. There is also a very good screen magnification capability, which when combined with “fit-to-width” gives large text without the need to scroll horizontally.