[Athen] Textbook publishers strike deals to bring content to Apple iPad

[Shelley Haven]

According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple and major textbook  
publishers have struck deals to bring content to the iPad using the  
technology of ScrollMotion, developer of the iPhone app Iceberg  
Reader.  Here are some quotes from the two articles, with links below:

"The Wall Street Journal reports (subscription required) that major  
textbook publishers have struck deals with Apple to bring their  
content to the iPad. According to the report, textbook publishers will  
rely on the technology of ScrollMotion, which already has experience  
developing such content for the iPhone."
http://www.macrumors.com/2010/02/02/textbook-publishers-strike-deals-to-bring-content-to-ipad/

"According to the article, ScrollMotion would take files provided by  
publishers and adapt them to fit on the iPad platform - adding  
enhancements such as search, dictionaries, glossaries, interactive  
quizzes, and page numbers. Expanded features could include video,  
highlightable text, lecture recording, and note taking."
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/02/02/scrollmotion_tapped_by_publishers_to_develop_textbook_apps_for_ipad.html

I didn't find anything on Iceberg Reader accessibility or  
functionality with Voiceover, but it's interesting to note that text  
in the reader is selectable -- you can copy and paste it.  However,  
this the following blog entry in Special Education Today indicates  
that, as with the Kindle, publishers can turn off that feature.  But  
at least the capability is already there.
http://specialeducationtoday.com/category/daisy-for-iphone/

- Shelley

_____________________________
Shelley Haven  ATP, RET
Assistive Technology Consultant
Shelley at TechPotential.net
www.TechPotential.net