[Athen] CourseSmart textbooks on the iPad - but...

[Ron Stewart]

The vast majority of eBooks are not accessible regardless of what platform
they are on.   At this point eBook accessibility is not an issue of what
platform or device you use but if the producer has produced accessible
content or not.  In the vast majority of situations it is NOT! Either due to
the source book being an image file and/or the DRM that is used to lock the
materials up.

 

The only way this is ever going to change is if the customer (school,
college or university) demands accessible materials.

 

Ron Stewart

 

From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] On
Behalf Of Pratik Patel
Sent: Sunday, April 11, 2010 9:45 AM
To: 'Access Technology Higher Education Network'
Subject: Re: [Athen] CourseSmart textbooks on the iPad - but...

 

This statement concerns me: "We apologize for any inconvenience and request
your patience while CourseSmart develops an online application that will
provide an accessible eTextbook user experience. Please contact the
publisher directly to request accessible versions of the textbooks featured
on CourseSmart."

 

In my opinion, it is not adequate to have a separate system for students
with disabilities.  If apple has managed to find a way to make iBooks
accessible, then it is possible for the iPad version of this software and
the associated content to be accessible.  A separate webified version does
not serve the same purpose nor would provide the same type of usability
features on the iPad as the app.

 

Pratik

 

 

From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] On
Behalf Of Ron Stewart
Sent: Sunday, April 11, 2010 9:12 AM
To: 'Access Technology Higher Education Network'
Subject: Re: [Athen] CourseSmart textbooks on the iPad - but...

 

Will have to check it out, unfortunately the conversations with CourseSmart
started over three years ago and still no progress and last time I checked
no real progress either.

 

Ron Stewart

 

From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] On
Behalf Of Shelley Haven
Sent: Sunday, April 11, 2010 1:02 AM
To: Access Technology Higher Education Network
Subject: [Athen] CourseSmart textbooks on the iPad - but...

 

I thought this would be of interest -- at any rate, something to keep an eye
on.  CourseSmart released an iPad app that allows students to not only read
their textbooks on an iPad, but also add and edit notes while they read and
hunt for information with keyword searches.  Great!

 

http://www.coursesmart.com/go/ipad/index.html

 

Though you need a CourseSmart account and e-textbook subscription to
actually use it, the app includes a free demo with samples from five
college-level textbooks (you can read text and notes, but can't take new
notes).

 

However, I also noticed an important caveat in the "fine print":

 


Accessibility


Users with disabilities may experience difficulty with accessing the current
version of CourseSmart. We apologize for any inconvenience and request your
patience while CourseSmart develops an online application that will provide
an accessible eTextbook user experience.

Please contact the publisher directly to request accessible versions of the
textbooks featured on CourseSmart.

 

So I guess they are getting to where we want them to be, but are not quite
there yet.

- Shelley

_____________________________

Shelley Haven  ATP, RET

Assistive Technology Consultant

www.TechPotential.net

 

 

 

 

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