The Case of LIA Libri Italiani Accessibili Cristina Mussinelli Secretary General of LIA Fondation 14 International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs Université Paris, 10 July 2014
DIFFERENT WORKFLOWS FOR 1 EACH USER Accessibility: traditional vs digital 1 books=10 braille books 1 ebook=1 ebook readable 1 book=10 enlarged characters 1 book=1 audiobook (Cd, mp3) 1 book= 1 file with low editorial quality with Braille displays 1 ebook= 1 ebook readable 1 ebook=1 ebook readable 1 ebook=1 is a file with high editorial quality 1 WORKFLOW FOR MANY USERS 2
Accessibile reading: the Italian contest The state of the arte from 2013 Accessible versions, thanks to the LIA-Libri Italiani Accessibili service, are created by publishers distributed in mainstream channels in ebook format (EPUB) that can be read: with Braille displays The role of the Italian Government The Ministry of Culture has financed LIA service in compliance with a special fund addressed to blind e visually impaired people (Law 296/2006) The reader is able to access accessible versions in the same way and at the same time as any other reader. All this will take place irrespectively of the type of copyright exception and in a more efficient way. 3
The LIA shelf: www.libriitalianiaccessibili.ti W3C COMPLIANT SAME STRUCTURE AS A TRADITIONAL ONLINE BOOK STORE, CATEGORIES, SEARCH, WISH LIST ONLINE & MOBILE 4
www.libriitalianiaccessibili.it in progress June 2013: 2.888 TITLES by 44 PUBLISHERS online June 2014: 6.500 TITLES BY 65 PUBLISHERS online 400 new titles for month Adelphi, ADI Media, Ancora, Armando Editore, Asino Edizioni, Atmosphere, Bollati Boringhieri, Bompiani, BUR, Casa Editrice Nord, Centro Ambrosiano, Centro Studi Erickson, Chiarelettere, Corbaccio, Demetra, Ediciclo Effatà, e/o, Einaudi, Fabbri Editori, Feltrinelli, Franco Angeli, Frassinelli, Garzanti Libri, Giunti Editore, Giunti Junior, Giunti, Guanda, Hoepli, Il Mulino, Il Narratore, Il Saggiatore, Iperborea, ISBN, Laterza, Longanesi, Marsilio, Minimum Fax, Edizioni Mondadori, Nord Sud, Nottetempo, Nutrimenti, Ota Benga, Piemme, Ponte alle Grazie, Rizzoli, Rubbettino, Salani, Edizioni Savine, Società Editrice Fiorentina, Sonda, Sonzogno, Sperling&Kupfer, TEA, Tre60, Vallardi, Voland, Zanichelli 5
LIA: A Breakthrough Approach to Inclusion The driving concept of LIA is its breakthrough approach to accessibility: same books same channels same information same reading system for an inclusive digital reading experience 6
LIA in the Value Chain of Digital Publishing PRODUCTION CATALOGUING DISTRIBUTION USE Accessibility of ebook Guidelines for the production of accessible ebooks Training for publishers VCC service: Validation, Conversion, Certification LIA label Definition of accessibility metadata Based on standard Distribution of accessibility metadata in the value chain Integration in the catalogue of ebooks in trade Accessibility of online stores Creation of LIA shelf, accessible and integrated with online stores Accessibility of electronic payment systems Collaboration with ABI Italian Banks Association Accessibility of devices and/or reading software and applications Evaluation of devices and reading software most suitable for VIPs Compatibility tests Training for VIPs 7
Collaborations and international network TIGAR Project ETIN (European Network of Trusted Intermediaries) 8
Mentions, supporters, endorsements MENTIONS SUPPORTERS ENDORSMENTES 9
Project, Service, Fondation From May 2014 LIA has assumed the status of a non-profit foundation, aims to engage in activities to promote books and reading, in all its forms, both traditionale and digital, through education, information, awareness and research in this area. The Foundation intends to, in particular: promote reading among all vulnerable groups through initiatives to expand their access to publishing products through reasearch and technological innovation; spread a culture of accessibility in the interests of network, awareness of publishers and other companies in the digital publishing industry (distributors, booksellers, manufacturers of hardware and software, etc..); training for users weak, with reference to both visually impaired and other types of disabilities both uncomfortable conditions that make it difficult social or cultural relationship with reading. 10
The LIA Model and infrastructure
LIA Model Back office LIA best practice guide for accessible ebooks: publishers produce ebooks taking in consideration the LIA s guidelines VCC service: verifies, converts and certifies the ebooks that publishers joining LIA provide for the catalogue of accessible ebooks LIA catalogue DB: stores complete bibliographic and accessibility information on LIA certified accessible ebooks and makes them available to other players in the supply chain Public interfac LIA shelf: where users can search, find and shop for accessible ebooks 12
The VCC Service: Validation, Conversion, Certification Validation LIA checklist is the tool to assess in detail the accessibility features related to the internal structure of the epub file 38 accessibility parameters in the assessment that can assume 4 different values (not checked not appliable positive negative) ONIX 3.0 accessibility features values (list 196) are algorithmically generated according to LIA business rules high level of granularity and configurability according to templates 13
The VCC Service: Validation, Conversion, Certification Conversion LIA conversion services connected to the infrastructure can be used by publishers to convert their epub file according to LIA assessment and recommendations Publishers who have inhouse expertise or an established business relation with their own conversion service can convert on their own their epub file according to LIA assessment and recommendations 14
The VCC Service: Validation, Conversion, Certification Certification Ebooks that pass LIA validation according to the parameters assessed through the LIA checklist are assigned with an accessibility certification (LIA label) The VCC conveys the LIA label to the LIA catalogue along with the accessibility metadata of the certified file The label is a visual certificate that the title is LIA compliant When LIA label is clicked, the user is re-directed to LIA controlled web page displaying accessibility information on the title, using ISBN-A technology 15
The LIA catalogue DB: metadata management Metadata management In LIA catalogue DB accessibility metadata in ONIX 3.0 format from the VCC are merged with title information from E-Kitab (the BIP of Italian ebooks) LIA Catalogue conveys information on ebook accessibility all along the publishing chain, namely: to the site of Italian accessible books (www.libriitalianiaccessibili.it), where the ebook becomes immediately available. to E-Kitab (the BIP of Italian ebooks) E-Kitab conveys the LIA label to all the Italian platforms and stores The LIA label will be displayed by all the stores participating in the project and in perspective also by all other stores 16
The distribution: LIA shelf W3C Compliant Same structure as a traditional online book store, categories, search, wish list Desktop & mobile 17
The distribution: online bookstore and lending platform 18
Is Fully Accessible Reading Experience a Reality Yet?
The LIA Digital Reading Experience A LIA ebook can be read using personal computers, smartphones, tablets and ereaders and in these different ways: With Braille display With enlarged characters With TTS or vocal synthesis Availability of more fully accessible ereading devices and software is a relevant step for mainstream accessibility YET to date an accessible ereading experience is not yet fully achievable because reading software and/or devices are not completely accessible, except for some. 20
LIA and accessibility tests on reading systems LIA has carried out a steady monitoring of the accessibility level of the most popular ereaders, smartphones, tablets and of the main reading software and applications that have progressively been marketed in Italy during the life span of the project. This activity has allowed to identify which are, to date, the devices and reading software/applications that offer a reading experience accessible and usable also for blind and partially sighted readers select a limited number of devices and reading software/applications that best suit the accessibility and usability needs of users with visual impairments Following the results of these technical analyses, LIA informed the developers of such reading systems about the aspects deserving changes and improvements, providing them with all the technical indications necessary for the implementation of such developments 21
soloepub: accessibile reading solution In order to offer an accessibile reading solution for blind and VI users, in collaboration with the Institute for the Blind «F. Cavazza» and the Italian software house MDV, LIA has developed soloepub, an accessible reading app for ios and an accessible reading software for Windows (in Italian) soloepub is accessible and interoperable with the main assistive software used by blind and VI users. soloepub manages ebooks with social DRM The app is downloadable from the App Store for free The software is downloadable from www.libriitalianiaccessibili.it for free. 22
Fondazione LIA Sede: Corso di Porta Romana, 108-20122 Milano Tel. 0289280800 - Fax 0289280860 e-mail: segreteria@progettolia.it www.libriitalianiaccessibili.it