This project has been designed to evaluate various digital book formats, technologies, delivery methods for eBook and audio book content that can be delivered to users via the Internet.

Phase I is limited to evaluating the “Read Aloud” functionality built-into the newer release of Adobe Reader 6.0. The project is providing access to Adobe Acrobat (PDF) eBook titles for review and testing purposes by volunteers.

Reviewers are offered an opportunity to download a copyright protected eBook title and “listen” to the text-to-speech feature of the Adobe Reader “Read Aloud” function. Reviewers are asked to record various notes on the quality and consistency of the “Read Aloud” feature to enable an evaluation of the suitability of this feature for various users.

Titles will be reviewed and graded and these results will lead to further evaluation of the uses of the “Read Aloud” features as it is tested in various eBook titles, subject categories and genres.

Phase II:

Phase II is made possible in part by a SIRSI Corporation 'Leader in Library Technology Grant'. The funds will be used to create a rich collection of multi-format e-books that have been optimized for use by print-impaired library patrons, including the blind, visually impaired, physically challenged, and dyslexic.

The focus of Phase II is to provide support for, and testing of, the Mobipocket eBook Reader. This project will be similar in scope and implementation to Phase I. However, the object of this phase is to evaluate the compatibility of popular text-to-speech applications and the Mobipocket Reader.

The second phase will rely upon reviewers to download and review copyright-protected Mobipocket titles for use on a variety of computing devices and operating systems. Unlike the Adobe Reader, Mobipocket does not include a built-in text-to-speech function, and will therefore be analyzed on the basis of its suitability for use with popular text-to-speech software. Specifically, the work will include evaluations of the JAWS® for Windows® Reader and Window-Eyes® Reader to operate with fiction and non-fiction Mobipocket eBooks.

For more information about this project please contact:

Lori Bell/Tom Peters

OverDrive, Inc.