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Multimedia for the Print Disabled
Techtree News Staff, Dec 11, 2007 1240 hrs ISTThis is a joint development project aimed at transforming millions of Open XML documents into the world's most widely used accessible format for visually impaired people.
Microsoft and the Digital Accessible Information SYstem (DAISY) Consortium have announced a joint standards-based development project that will enable visually impaired PC users to make better use of assistive technology in their daily lives.
This collaborative development project aims to transform millions of Open XML documents into the world's most widely used accessible format for visually impaired people.
The project based on SourceForge.net will yield a free, downloadable plug-in for Microsoft Office Word that can convert Open XML-based documents into DAISY XML; which will enable print disabled people to read or publish multimedia content.
This development will enable them to navigate quickly by heading or page number, and use indexes and references, all with correctly ordered, synchronized audio and text.
According to Penny Hartin, CEO of World Blind Union, the ability to make highly functional, accessible content available on desktops everywhere in the world is critical, and this Open XML to DAISY XML converter for Microsoft Office Word is a remarkable move toward their goal.
Gray Knowlton, Group Product Manager for Microsoft Office at Microsoft, said the conversion of Open XML-based content into an enriched multimedia format will be accessible to users around the world, regardless of the degree of their visual impairments."
Solution providers, who are interested in creating their own Open XML to DAISY XML converters, can visit http://sourceforge.net/projects/openxml-daisy.
The "Save as DAISY" plug-in will be available as a free download for Microsoft Office Word XP, 2003, and 2007 customers in early 2008.
This collaborative development project aims to transform millions of Open XML documents into the world's most widely used accessible format for visually impaired people.
The project based on SourceForge.net will yield a free, downloadable plug-in for Microsoft Office Word that can convert Open XML-based documents into DAISY XML; which will enable print disabled people to read or publish multimedia content.
This development will enable them to navigate quickly by heading or page number, and use indexes and references, all with correctly ordered, synchronized audio and text.
According to Penny Hartin, CEO of World Blind Union, the ability to make highly functional, accessible content available on desktops everywhere in the world is critical, and this Open XML to DAISY XML converter for Microsoft Office Word is a remarkable move toward their goal.
Gray Knowlton, Group Product Manager for Microsoft Office at Microsoft, said the conversion of Open XML-based content into an enriched multimedia format will be accessible to users around the world, regardless of the degree of their visual impairments."
Solution providers, who are interested in creating their own Open XML to DAISY XML converters, can visit http://sourceforge.net/projects/openxml-daisy.
The "Save as DAISY" plug-in will be available as a free download for Microsoft Office Word XP, 2003, and 2007 customers in early 2008.
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