US Gov Funds Benetech To Create The First Open Content School Books For Disabled Persons
By Tom Foremski - November 24, 2009
The US government has awarded Benetech $100,000 to create the first versions of open content school books that can be more easily accessed by disabled people.
The math and science textbooks are freely distributable under a Creative Commons license. The textbooks, which have been approved for California high school students, will be converted to accessible formats by Benetech's Bookshare (http://www.bookshare.org) library for people with print disabilities (disabilities like blindness, dyslexia and physical inability to hold books that prevent them from reading standard books.)
Bookshare will offer the California books in a locked version that meets the state's education standard. The CK-12 Foundation will also publish updated versions of the books which can be modified by readers under the terms of the license.
Bookshare will offer the California textbooks in the accessible DAISY format that supports highlighted onscreen text with high-quality computer generated voice. The accessible texts will also be provided in BRF, a digital Braille format for use with Braille displays or embossed Braille.
"Once again California's innovation has inspired action, as those with reading challenges will soon be able to read the standards-aligned digital textbooks adopted under California's first-in-the-nation digital textbook initiative," said California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. "Thanks to Bookshare and the U.S. Department of Education, these textbooks will be converted into accessible formats so students who struggle with reading traditional textbooks have a new opportunity to enhance their education."
The books could become widely used, even globally, because there is no requirement to prove disability.
More details here.
(Hat tip Janet Kornblum)
« Guest Post: Social Media Marketing is Swiss Cheese | Main | More Tales Of Internet Disruption... »
Posted to
November 24, 2009 | Permalink | Comment | Subscribe to SVW
- Top Stories:
- PearlTrees - A Way To Curate Your Web
- Disruptive Technologies Disrupt
- The Dead Horse Business Model...
- There's A TED Conference Near You... TEDxSF Is On April 27
- Were Google Hackers Amateurs Or Chinese Cyber Commandos?
- Farmville valued $1B More Than Twitter By The Smart Money
- The "Heinz 57" Media Business Model
- The Need To Teach Bootstrapping In Business Schools
- Criminal Penalties Coming For US Internet Companies That Don't Protect Human Rights Abroad
- Be Careful Of "Dark Territorial Atavism" When Making Changes To Your Web Site
- Intel Number 2 Suffers Stroke...
- Shakeup At Financial Times...
