[Athen] [Fwd: New Concept in Textbooks]

[Ken Petri]

The output I saw was HTML. I created an account and tried to create a couple
of "chapters" of a "book." Students get an online textbook, of sorts. It has
the ability to mark up and add notes to text, skip through chapters, etc.
Even though it is HTML, it is not very accessible.

There appears to be no keyboard-only navigation and the page markup is
geared primarily to visual users. The next-previous buttons are not tab
navigable, for instance. Neither are any of the drop down menus that give
you access to key functionality, such as bookmarking and noting.

With a screen reader I can hunt around and mostly figure out what things are
(so long as I don't rely on the tab key--what most web application users
would expect), but I can't access any of the necessary high-level fly-out
menus. This keeps me from being able to access a lot of core
functionality--just like with keyboard-only use.

Note: this is just a once over and I'm not even pretending to give a
complete analysis. I would say the system has promise (an all HTML book
system with basic not-taking ability) but the developers clearly did not
have accessibility in mind.

Best,
ken
-------------------------------------------------------
 Ken Petri
 Program Director
 OSU Web Accessibility Center
 102D Pomerene Hall
 1760 Neil Avenue
 Columbus, Ohio  43210
 Phone: (614) 292-1760
 Fax: (614) 292-4190
 mailto:petri.1 at osu.edu
-------------------------------------------------------


On Mon, Nov 16, 2009 at 1:12 PM, Ron Stewart <ron at ahead.org> wrote:


>  It appears to be PDF based so I would not hold my breath.

>

>

>

> Ron Stewart

>

>

>

> *From:* athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] *On

> Behalf Of *Heidi Scher

> *Sent:* Monday, November 16, 2009 1:06 PM

> *To:* Access Technology Higher Education Network

> *Subject:* Re: [Athen] [Fwd: New Concept in Textbooks]

>

>

>

> Hi Melanie,

>

> I've not seen this, but electronic = access is definitely a

> misunderstanding that I've been combating for some time now with faculty.

>  Would definitely be interested in hearing about this process and

> accessibility issues!

>

> Heidi

>

>

>

> On Sat, Nov 14, 2009 at 8:28 AM, Melanie Thornton <mpthornton at ualr.edu>

> wrote:

>

> Has anyone seen books produced using this process?  I wrote to them and

> asked about accessibility.  It concerns me because professors may think

> electronic equals accessible.

>

> Melanie

>

> -------- Original Message --------

>

> *Subject: *

>

> New Concept in Textbooks

>

> *Date: *

>

> Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:15:51 -0500

>

> *From: *

>

> Publisher at gobongobooks.com

>

> *To: *

>

> mpthornton at ualr.edu

>

>

>

> Do you have a collection of notes, articles, tests, and other materials for

> your course?

>

> Would you like to integrate all of it with your word documents,

> powerpoints, charts, and spreadsheets, and link to web resources?

>

> Bongobooks helps you blend it altogether into an e-book for your course.

>

> You and your students receive great benefits including:

>

>    - An e-book that exactly matches your course requirements

>    - Zero cost to you and your readers (royalty option available too)

>    - Self - publish and retain ownership of your e-book

>

> Take a look at: http://gobongobooks.com

>  ------------------------------

>

> GOBONGO LLC PO BOX 132 Jamestown NY 14702

>

> If you prefer not to receive commercial email click here<http://gobongobooks.com/unsubscribe.php?e=mpthornton@ualr.edu>

> .

>

>

>

> --

>

> Melanie Thornton

> Director, Project PACE

> Associate Director, Disability Resource Center

> 2801 S. University Ave., DSC #103

> Little Rock, Arkansas 72204

> 501.650.2239 (cell)

> 501.569.8240 (fax)

> 501.569.3217 (tty)

>

> Websites:

> http://ualr.edu/pace

> http://ualr.edu/disability

>

> We want your comments!

> <https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=92u46bPPSZa2tyMqiGGTgQ_3d_3d>

>

> AIM: MelanieatUALR

>

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>

> --

> +++++++++++++++

> Heidi Scher, M.S., CRC

> Associate Director

> Center for Educational Access

> University of Arkansas

> ARKU 104

> Fayetteville, AR 72701

> 479.575.3104

> 479.575.7445 fax

> 479.575.3646 tdd

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