http://www.bookshare.org/_/aboutUs/2011/01/read2go
Benetech Announces New Accessible e-Book Reader for Apple iOS devices -
iPad, iPhone,
and iPod touch Users Can Read Bookshare Books with Read2Go
Media Contact: Kristen Timmers
krist...@benetech.org
408-571-8826
Media Contact: Valerie Chernek
valeri...@bookshare.org
410-871-2670
January 26, 2011, Orlando, FL - At the 2011 ATIA (Assistive Technology
Industry Association)
conference in Orlando, Florida,
Benetech
R
, the parent nonprofit for
Bookshare
R
, announced Read2Go, a new accessible e-book application (app)
developed in
partnership
with Shinano Kenshi Co., Ltd, known for its PLEXTALK
R brand of digital talking book players.
Read2Go is the most full-featured, accessible DAISY reader for the
Apple
device market.
This very easy-to-use app for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch connects
directly
to Bookshare for immediate on-the-go reading. From within the app,
individual users
and schools supporting students can search, download, and read
Bookshare
books and
periodicals and manage their books in a bookshelf. In addition,
Read2Go
reads DAISY
2.02 and 3.0 materials from some other sources.
Based on reading preferences, users will have a wide range of options
for
font size,
color and background color. Word-by-word highlighting with
simultaneous text
and
speech enables multi-modal reading. The app includes high-quality
Acapela
voices
for highly natural narration. Users will have options to turn the
text-to-speech
on and off and adjust the rate to their personal preferences. Further,
Read2Go supports
all levels of DAISY navigation that are included in the structure of
the
book.
"The Read2Go app is so exciting for so many reasons," said Valerie
Maples.
"Both
my husband and daughter have been loyal Bookshare users for years and
have
waited
for the release of an app that would let us read Bookshare books on the
iPad. The
app should attract a large audience, the entire population with print
disabilities
around the globe!"
"For many students who are blind, physically, or learning disabled,
using
their iPad,
iPhone, or iPod touch means much more than access to the books they
need for
classes.
It means they can read the same books as their peers on the same
devices,"
said long-time
Bookshare advocate Deborah Armstrong, Alternate Media Specialist for
DeAnza
College
in Cupertino, California. "The Read2Go app will offer many advantages
for
people
who are blind as well as those who have physical or learning
disabilities,
including
many features not available on other DAISY readers for Apple devices;
the
fact that
Benetech is releasing this app is a very good thing."
"This new app furthers our Benetech Literacy goal of making printed
content
accessible
to individuals with print disabilities however and wherever they want
it.
With Read2Go,
we're offering a mobile reading solution based on strong demand from
our
users,"
said Betsy Beaumon, Vice President and General Manager of the Literacy
Program at
Benetech, the nonprofit organization that operates Bookshare. "The
accessibility
built-in to iOS devices and their widespread and growing use highlight
their
potential
to help close the gap for students and other individuals with print
disabilities."
Read2Go will be available this quarter in the iTunes App store and will
sell
for
$19.99. Interested users who would like immediate notification when
the app
is available
can provide contact information on a secure
notify
list. Additional features, such as study tools, images, and multiple
languages,
will become be available in the coming months.
For access to Bookshare books on these devices, qualified individuals
will
need a
Bookshare membership
.
About Shinano Kenshi Co., Ltd., Shinano Kenshi Corporation & PLEXTALKR
Shinano Kenshi Co., Ltd. is responsible for the development and
manufacture
of digital
talking book players and other products sold under the brand name of
PLEXTALK
R. Shinano and PLEXTALKR
assistive technology products are created to improve the quality of
life,
self-reliance
and independence of their users. Shinano Kenshi Corporation is the
North
American
subsidiary of Shinano Kenshi Co., Ltd.
About Benetech
Benetech is a nonprofit technology company based in Palo Alto,
California.
Benetech
pursues projects with a strong social rather than financial rate of
return
on investment,
harnessing open source technology to create innovative solutions to
challenging social
issues. The Benetech
Bookshare
service is the world's largest accessible online library of copyrighted
books for
people with print disabilities.
###
The content of this press release was developed under a cooperative
agreement, H327K070001,
with the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education
Programs.
However,
those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S.
Department of
Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal
Government.
_______________________________
Ray Campbell
ray1...@wowway.com
Skype Name: ray650315
Check out my blog at packerbackerray.blogspot.com
Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/packerbackerray
