[A2k] Re: [Upd-discuss] Fwd: Blind Groups Sue ASU flor Kindle Use

[Michael S. Hart]

On Wed, 1 Jul 2009, Federico Heinz wrote:

> On 01/07/2009, Claude Almansi wrote:
> > Sure, the Kindle is also DRMed, but here, the main barrier is the proprietary
> > format.
>
> The proprietary format is part of the DRM scheme.

Then please address it as such to avoid Richard's confusion peeve.


> > Why do you mind so much strategically explicitating the various
> > aspects of  "access to knowledge" issues?
>
> Because that is our aim. If we only achieve access for the blind, and not for
> everyone, we have fallen woefully short of our aim.

The longest journey starts with but a single step,
and that step will "have fallen woefully short" if
not for the fact we will take more and more steps.

I suggest you will be more effective if you aren't
trying to start the journey at the endpoint but at
whatever starting point happens to be available.

Even the greatest people in history started at the
beginning before getting to the end. . . .


> > DRM may well be a central node, but non-tech-minded folks are more likely to
> > understand - and empathize with - the problems it causes for blind people.
>
> That is what makes it useful as an example. But in order to achieve our goal,
> we need even non-tech-minded people to understand the problems DRM causes to
> everyone, and not just blind people.

Which is why WE need to lead by example, and blind
readers make just such an example.

An example is not a whole, merely a small part.


> > Your choice of a Calculus 101 book as something blind people are not
> > likely to want an audio version of proves that you badly need to sit
> > next to a blind person for a couple of hours and let him/her explain
> > what s/he can do with an e-text.
>
> You got me wrong. I didn't say that there is no need for a Calculus 101
> audiobook, but rather that it is unlikely that publishers will provide one, and
> it get unlikelier with less popular subjects.

If and when academia makes it known that they want certain books,
done in certain ways, you can be sure they will be provided.

Just look at all the ones being published now. . . .


> My point is that the Kindle could, if publishers stopped hiding their heads in
> the sand, solve the problem for the blind. All it takes is for publishers to
> decide that their opposition to the text-to-speech feature is was a wrong move
> when it comes to textbooks, and presto! Kindle automatically makes previously
> unaccessible books available for the blind, and *then* we will have a very,
> very hard time explaining people why we are opposed to universities deploying a
> device that makes books accessible to the blind.

And thus we have a great motivator for anyone to compete.

After all, while Kindle may have a billion in PR articles
it has yet to actually reach even a million in sales.

Any reason a cell phone can't read eBooks out loud???

>
> 	Fede
>


Thanks!!!


Michael S. Hart
Founder
Project Gutenberg
Inventor of ebooks


Recommended Books:

Dandelion Wine, by Ray Bradbury:  For The Right Brain
Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand:  For The Left Brain [or both]
Diamond Age, by Neal Stephenson:  To Understand The Internet
The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster:  Lesson of Life. . .

If you ever do not get a prompt response, please resend, then
keep resending, I won't mind getting several copies per week.