Solving the Book Famine

Stephen KingPresident, DAISY ConsortiumRoyal National Institute of Blind People, UK

The E-Book revolutionA partnership approach to

WBU Right to Read

"We want the right to read the same book,

at the same time, price and place, as everyone else"

A Book FamineLess than 5% of books are

available in any accessible format

The reality of Accessible publication availability

3

People with disabilities say they want:

• To easily find publications I can read• Far better availability of Braille & talking books• More publications with accessibility built in • A great reading experience with eyes, ears or

fingers.• Affordable & easy to use reading technologies

What do authors and publishers want?

We want:• To reach a wider audience,

regardless of disability.• To create publications that

benefit everyone. • To comply with inclusion

legislation (especially employers and in education)

• Avoid costly burdens

Give us:• Open standards and

technology. • Inclusive ways to write

and publish.• Routes to market • A better reading

experience for all.

Reduce the barriers to the creation and production of affordable, accessible, publicationsReduce the barriers to the creation and production of affordable, accessible, publications

5

What do Governments want?

• Access to information and education as required by the UN convention on the rights of people with disabilities (UNCRPWD)

• Inclusive Laws & partnerships that deliver:– Inclusive Society – Inclusive Education

• Effective use of our funds

6

Everybody wants

Inclusive Publishing.

7

So how do we deliver

Inclusive Publishing?

8

The opportunity: The e-book revolution

"People with print disabilities in UK are increasingly able to enjoy the same book, at the same price and place, as everyone else...”

Stephen King

RNIB UK May 2011Helsinki

9

E-book revolution: We can make progress

Today– 7% of all books available in UK accessible by eyes, ears &

fingers, 2011. (Up from 5% in 2004)– 76% of top 1000 books sold in 2011 are e-books, readable by

eyes, ears & fingers. (Up from 54% 2010)

Still many barriers– user skills & knowledge; – cost of technology & DRM– not a great reading experience

Availability of accessible publications: 2011 Update, Report to RNIB, Helen Greenwood, Sonya White and Claire Creaser, October 2011 www.rnib.org.uk/professionals/solutionsforbusiness/publishing/Pages/publishing_industry.aspx

10

Still much to do… Many publishing and reading problems still to

solve

E-book revolution provides the opportunity

• Publishing industry is under massive change.

• Disruptive technology, not yet matured

• This is THE opportunity to re-engineer the publishing industry, as an inclusive industry

But how?12

How do we grasp this opportunity?

• We must Build in inclusiveness (Not retro-fit)• Built-in inclusive publishing will cost far less,

overall, to everybody.

• NOW IS THE TIMEAchieved by working together - Across thewhole industry, in a

• Global PARTNERSHIP!

13

A Global partnership Solving the book famine

• World Blind Union members• Authors’ organisations• WIPO• Publishers’ associations• Rights holder agencies• Standards organisations• Technology companies

..And of course, the DAISY Consortium

A partnership programme working together

to solve the book famine

15

The DAISY Consortium

Our Vision• People have equal access to information and knowledge, regardless of

disabilities

Our Mission• Working to create the best way to read and publish,

for everybody, in the 21st centuryBy delivering global partnerships ... that build a more effective solution for everyone.

Committed to a common mission & vision. Coordinating resources to deliver global change

16

How do we make publishing Inclusive?

To help us we need some common language

17

Definitions: Built-in accessibility

A mainstream publication, usable directly by people reading with their eyes, ears or fingers, with no need for modification.

For example, currently:•works with screen readers, •has great navigation, •pictorial material adequately described.

18

Though accessible to who?

Definitions: Customised for accessibility

A separate version of a mainstream publication,

modified to be read by disabled persons using their eyes, ears or fingers to read.

This may include: • Re-design for Braille, adding additional description, speech

narration.• Often, distributed separately via a special library.

20

Definitions: Inclusive PublishingThe total process, from author to reader.

Designed to embrace all.There is a version for everyone whatever their skills reading with their eyes, ears or fingers.

•Embraces the customising process (when needed) to deliver same time, price & place•Better for people with disabilities and without•Efficient and affordable for all

21

Inclusive publishingA new model for 21st Century

• Publishers are re-designing workflows to produce print and e-books together

• Publishing for e-books is also good for making– Customised books

• Braille with picture descriptions• Audio books with picture descriptions navigation

• Help publishers re-design workflow– To make e-books usable by print disabled– To link efficiently to customised publishing

EnhancedPublishing

Technology

How Publishing works, today

Enhanced Publishing standardsand laws

Re-Re-distributiondistribution

People with People with disabilitiesdisabilities

How we readHow we publish

Mainstream Distribution

MainstreamPublication(Authors & Publishers)

People without

disabilities

PublishingTechnology

Industry

Publishing standardsand laws

Mainstream

Customised

Re-Re-publication publication (Enhanced Publishers)

23

The consequencesDisabled people get• A fraction of the mainstream• Delivered late Inefficient for everybody• Additional costs• Duplication of effort

Frustration all round!

24

What would inclusive publishing look like?

How we publish How we read

Mainstream Distribution

MainstreamPublication(Authors & Publishers)

People (With or without

Disabilities)

PublishingTechnology

Industry

Publishing standardsand laws

• ONE version of a book, that anyone can read, the way they want...and it is a better read for all.

• Dramatically increasing the number and timeliness of publications,

usable by people with disabilities.26

A publication which looks like….An EPUB 3 publication, with

– Great navigation– Integrated human narration– Pictorial material described

• Conforms to accessibility guidelines• Not unintentionally restricted by DRM• Supports various reading strategies and

technologies used by disabled people• Available as customised version when needed

We need a strategic approach1. Deliver more mainstream publications with built-in

accessibility: Reducing the need for customised publications2. Improve efficiency of customised accessible re-publication &

distribution, and integrate it into mainstream workflow3. Improve publishing and reading technology to increase built

in accessibility, efficiency of customisation & deliver better reading experience for all.

4. Modernise copyright, legal & business frameworks to make system efficient

5. Support disabled people to gain the skills, confidence and technologies they need to get the best experience possible.

How do we get there?

Mainstream distribution

More publications with built=in accessibility: Reducing the need for custom re-publication

29

InclusiveMainstream Publication(Authors & Publishers)

Re-publication:

People with

disabilities

How we readHow we publish

People without

disabilities

x

29

• Customised publications should be unnecessary…

• …but will be around for the foreseeable future

• So, integrate them into the process

Mainstream distribution

of Accessible Publications

Improve the efficiency of customised publication & distribution.

Customising re-publisher:• Better re-publishing tools• More efficient process

• Reduce global duplication of effort

• Remove barriers to an efficient global market

• Help customers find the publications they want

InclusiveMainstream Publication

Efficient Re-publication and distribution

People with

disabilities

How we readHow we publish

People without

disabilities

Helps Special Libraries, and the creators and distributors of enhanced publications 30

Mainstream distribution

of Accessible Publications

Anticipate customisation when originally published.

Original publisher:• Anticipates it will be

customised– Starting with author

contract & tools– Decision made early

• Integrate customised publishing into original workflow

– Deliver well structured file early (e-pub)

InclusiveMainstream Publication

Efficient Re-publication and distribution

People with

disabilities

How we readHow we publish

People without

disabilities

Helps Special Libraries, and the creators and distributors of enhanced publications 31

Anticipatecustomisation

Partnership with the Publishing Tools Creators

The Publishing Technology Industry need to: • Provide authors & publishers with tools create inclusive publications. • That works with inclusive and specialist reading technology, for a great reading

experience The Publishing Technology Industry want:• A global market for inclusive and assistive publishing technology. • Open, reliable, Technical standards• Expertise on inclusive publishing • Feedback from users.

Distribution: A global market

Publication: Tools for inclusive creation

Reading:Inclusive

AccessibleTechnology

PublishingTechnology

Industry

Standards:Open & Reliable

How we readHow we publish

We are helping them achieve this 32

…and Reading Technology Industries

The Reading Technology Industry: • Understand disabled peoples’ needs• Provide easy to use, inclusive and specialist reading technology. The Reading Technology Industry want:• A global market for inclusive and assistive reading technology. • Open, reliable, standards. • To be able to build interfaces (eg Braille keyboards)• Expertise on inclusive reading. • Feedback from users.

Distribution: A global market

Publication: Tools for inclusive creation

Reading:Inclusive

AccessibleTechnology

ReadingTechnology

Industry

Standards:Open & Reliable

How we readHow we publish

But, it is not just about the technology... 33

Standards are the key enabler, that the whole industry needs

The DAISY Consortium is committed to :• Working with Standards organisations (eg W3C, ONIX, IDPF, ISO, etc.)• Developing equitable inclusive global standards. • Coordinating accessibility standards & laws to simplify inclusive publishing for all.• Providing technical expertise and resources. • Supporting global adoption.Supporting the development of inclusive standards for the global publishing and

distribution industries:

Influencing the standards bodies to make an efficient global marketplace

Distribution: A global market

Publication: Tools for inclusive creation

Reading:Inclusive

AccessibleTechnology

PublishingTechnology

IndustryStandards

How we readHow we publish

34

Working with law makers and copyright bodies

Industry needs Common laws: Not different laws in different places. Need a global legal framework – Something we can all work toThe DAISY Consortium is committed to working with partners for:• An inclusive equitable copyright regime that works for all stakeholders • The reform of global copyright to achieve an efficient global market for

expensive customised publications• Removing barriers to equitable and efficient access with fair reward for authorsCoordinating accessibility standards & laws to simplify inclusive publishing for all.

Influencing the law makers and copyright bodies to make an efficient global marketplace

Distribution: A global market

Publication: Tools for inclusive creation

Reading:Inclusive

AccessibleTechnology

PublishingTechnology

IndustryLaws and Copyright

How we readHow we publish

35

Support disabled people to gain the skills, confidence and technologies they need

• Collective action to lower cost of key custom reading technologies

• Encourage & support inclusive design of mainstream reading tools

• Supporting training and self help networks• Promoting the new ways of finding, buying,

borrowing and reading

Our goal is confident readers

Strategic approach to inclusion1. Deliver more mainstream publications with built -in

accessibility: Reducing the need for custom publications2. Improve efficiency of customised accessible re-publication

& distribution, and integrate it into mainstream workflow3. Improve publishing and reading technology to increase built

in accessibility, efficiency of customisation & deliver better reading experience for all

4. Modernise copyright, legal & business frameworks to make system efficient

5. Support disabled people to gain the skills, confidence and technologies they need to get the best experience possible.

How do we get there?

Conclusion• Inclusive publishing is possible

• Now is the time

• It benefits all

• We have to grasp this opportunity

• We have to work together to deliver it

xAn end to the frustration

An end to the book famine

x39

• World Blind Union members• Authors’ organisations• WIPO• Publishers’ associations• Rights holder agencies• Standards organisations• Technology companies

...And of course, the DAISY Consortium

Partnership solving the book famine

40

Together we canSolve the book famine

Thank you!

Stephen KingPresident DAISY Consortium: President@daisy.org

Royal National Institute of Blind People: www.rnib.org.uk

Solving the Book FamineA global partnership