[community] Alternatives to PDF

Thu Jun 11 00:45:12 UTC 2020

Hello,
The best Epub reader out there, surprisingly, is Microsoft Edge, like the
Edge browser...
I have heard that IBooks is the best option on Mac.
There are quite a few options, such as Voice Dream Reader, QRead, and Adobe
Digital Editions, that can handle less complex content, that does not
include interactivity or multimedia.
But if you have a document that is just text and images, then Epub is
perfect, everyone has an Epub reader on their machine, unless they are
using Linux or Android.
There is a new addon you can download to make Epubs from word:
https://daisy.org/activities/software/wordtoepub/

I would not dismiss Epub out of hand. PDFs sadly are required still for
many communications, but when there is an option, Epub is perfect.
Thanks,

Brandon Keith Biggs <http://brandonkeithbiggs.com/>

On Wed, Jun 10, 2020 at 4:25 PM Peter Coppin <pcoppin at faculty.ocadu.ca>
wrote:

> Teresa, Brandon, Rezvan, Nell, Pina, Lisa, all:
>
> My practice has been similar to Brandon's over the years (described in his
> comment below): If I really need to make a document accessible for screen
> reader technology, I convert the document into a webpage if the context
> where it will be used permits that. For example, for years, I would convert
> assigned readings for courses into HTML documents within the Learning
> Management Systems (Canvas in this case) for many of my courses. That way I
> could examine the code and make sure that descriptions were provided in all
> of the appropriate places, tables were configured, etc. This is not overly
> arduous but it can take time if you are teaching a large number of classes
> at one time or are less familiar with WCAG, etc. (and/or if there is no
> institutional support for this and/or if you are doing this solo).
>
> These days, if I am running short on time (too short for the HTML
> technique) I sometimes post things in MS Word if I can (following the
> recommended practices noted in the thread below). And like others, if I
> don't have time for the HTML conversion, and if Word is not an option, I
> run reading through the Adobe Abrocat tools. However, because I can't
> examine the code itself, I've sometimes been skeptical about the result. To
> get around this, I try to test it with screen reader software (VoiceOver in
> my case) but I am a novice screen reader user myself (as a sighted computer
> user, I only use screen reader software when my eyes are tired or when I
> need to test documents prior to posting them).
>
> This is too bad about the problems that Pina pointed out with ePub
> readers. My understanding is that epub is essentially a bundled up version
> of HTML and so this is a missed opportunity by the industry.
>
> Several of my students/former students (including Brandon below)
> introduced me to VoiceDream Reader a few years ago (an audio epub reader)
> which I found to be an amazing epub reader on iPhone and I used it non-stop
> until my iPhone bit the dust. As I mentioned, I am a novice screen reader
> user and experienced no usability problems with Voice Dream.
>
> I've talked about this document problem (and worries re: pdf) a number of
> times with students, former students and colleagues in industry and the
> future probably lies with epub, at least as I think about it while writing
> this message. If the epub readers are truly missing the boat, then this is
> a great opportunity for some developers out there (possibly someone on this
> list!).
>
> Imagine an epub tool with an interface that was akin to a word processor,
> but with a split-pane (or similar interface) where an author could examine
> the HTML code (a bit like some LaTeX editing tools, but without the
> accessibility problems off LaTeX [at least the last time that I checked]
> ).
>
> Best regards,
>
> Peter
>
> Ps: Certainly there are some epub readers that make better use of what is
> possible. Does anyone have recommendations?
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Peter Coppin, MFA, PhD
>
> Director, Inclusive Design Graduate Program
>
> Associate Professor, Faculty of Design
>
> OCAD University
>
>
> Director of the Accessible Graphics Initiative (AGI)/Perceptual Artifacts
> Lab (PAL): Where theories of perception and cognition mix with inclusive
> design
>
>
> 100 McCaul Street, Toronto, Canada  M5T 1W1
>
> www.ocadu.ca <http://www.ocadu.ca/>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* community <community-bounces at lists.idrc.ocadu.ca> on behalf of
> Rezvan Boostani <boostani.rezvan at gmail.com>
> *Sent:* June 10, 2020 3:14 PM
> *To:* Brandon Keith Biggs <brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com>; Teresa Lee <
> teresa.lee at alumni.utoronto.ca>
> *Cc:* community at lists.idrc.ocadu.ca <community at lists.idrc.ocadu.ca>
> *Subject:* Re: [community] Alternatives to PDF
>
> Hi all,
> Humber college has very straightforward online module on creating
> accessible files in different applications including word, InDesign and
> PowerPoint the following is the link to this module:
> http://humber.ca/makingaccessiblemedia/modules/05/11.html
> The whole online course is titled "Accessible Design in Digital Media" and
> it has 6 different modules for diverse digital content and it is available
> at the following link: http://humber.ca/makingaccessiblemedia/index.html
> There is also a resource for graphic designers to produce
> accessible content by The Association of Registered Graphic Designers of
> Ontario. The following is the link to this handbook:
> https://www.rgd.ca/database/files/library/RGD_AccessAbility_Handbook.pdf
> Best,
> Rezvan
>
> On Wed, Jun 10, 2020, 1:17 PM Brandon Keith Biggs <
> brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Hello,
> > I use HTML or web pages.
> > I don't know if Indesign does Word documents, but that would work as
> well.
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Brandon Keith Biggs <http://brandonkeithbiggs.com/>
> >
> >
> > On Wed, Jun 10, 2020 at 6:00 AM L Snider <lsnider at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Hi Teresa,
> > >
> > > Some people are creating EPUBs, and they can be made very accessible.
> > > However, the EPUB viewers/readers themselves are still problematic in
> > > terms of accessibility. This is why EPUB, in my view, will never gain
> > > traction because the viewer has to be accessible. The only one that
> > > was fairly good may come back but most people I know didn't use it.
> > > Also, currently (as of the date of my email), InDesign produces some
> > > of the most accessible PDFs possible. This applies to the newest
> > > version of InDesign, not previous versions prior to 2019. In my
> > > personal opinion it is the best out there today. Of course, PDFs can
> > > be problematic for many people, but in my view businesses won't stop
> > > using them any time soon.
> > >
> > > Hope that helps.
> > >
> > > Cheers
> > >
> > > Lisa
> > >
> > > On Wed, Jun 10, 2020 at 9:50 AM Teresa L <
> teresa.lee at alumni.utoronto.ca>
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Good morning all!
> > > >
> > > > Just wanted to field for your input on PDF alternatives. What do you
> do
> > > within your organization when PDFs cannot be accessible due to known
> > issues
> > > with InDesign - especially for a large document?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks always for your support!
> > > >
> > > > Kindly,
> > > > Teresa
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ________________________________________
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