Comments on: The snag that’s stalling Kindle

By: George

George — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:59:21 +0000

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.

By: drklassen

drklassen — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:32:07 +0000

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?

By: Cindy

Cindy — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:57:03 +0000

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?

By: George

George — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:49:42 +0000

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.

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:29:07 +0000

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.

By: Tam

Tam — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:08:32 +0000

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.

By: Ted C

Ted C — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:50:50 +0000

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.

By: Skip

Skip — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:06:39 +0000

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.

By: Texas2Step

Texas2Step — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:59:31 +0000

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.

By: Max M. Houck

Max M. Houck — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:51:55 +0000

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?