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EPUB 3 vs. KF8

Accessibility in eBook Formats
Iris Amelia Febres, M.A.
F+W Media, eBook Developer
Future Publishing & Accessibility Conference
Copenhagen, Denmark
June 13, 2013
#cph13 • @epubpupil
Slide deck: irisamelia.com/newpubcph/presentation.pptx
Overview
 What are EPUB 3 and KF8?
 How does each address accessibility within its format?
 What are strategies we can implement when we create
(accessible) ebooks?
eBooks: Where Are We Now?
 Pros
 Significant progress with formats
 Devices are intuitive
 Standards are evolving (specifications)
 Embracing the possible
 Sales numbers of ebooks — worth the investment
eBooks: Where Are We Now?
 Cons
 Splintering of formats (proprietary choices)
 Splintering of devices (and a [supposed] move away
from dedicated e-readers)
 Catching up to technology
 Expensive (time & money)
What is accessibility?
 Two definitions
 Assistance specifically for the impaired
 ADA
 DAISY APK
 Increasing compatibility for users
 Flexible formatting
 Semantic markup
 DRM
EPUB (EPUB 3)
 The newest specification of the EPUB format (IDPF)
 Harnesses HTML5 and CSS3 to render content dynamically, fully
utilizing EPUB’s biggest strength: reflow
 Embracing open standards
 Encouraged as the standard for ebooks today
 See: Readium Foundation
Features in EPUB 3
 Audio/video capabilities
 Text-to-speech
 MathML and SVG support
 Navigation changes
 Robust metadata
Accessibility in EPUB 3
 Specification built with accessibility in mind
 Part IV of the EPUB 3 overview
http://www.idpf.org/epub/30/spec/epub30-overview.html
#sec-accessibility
 Validation contingent on accessibility options
 Epubcheck 3.0
 DAISY specs included
 Audial/media overlays (DAISY Digital Talking Books)
Caveats in EPUB 3 re: accessibility
 Images and alt text
 The “alt” attribute within an <img> tag is required for EPUB
validation
 However, it can be empty!
Source: http://www.rnib.org.uk/
Caveats in EPUB 3 re: accessibility
 Text-to-speech/Read aloud
 We have opportunities to create ebooks with text-to-
speech/read-aloud functionality (popular in children’s books)
 However, the learning curve is steep!
Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL)
<smil xmlns="http://www.w3.org/ns/SMIL"
version="3.0">
<body>
<par id="par1">
<text src="chapter1.xhtml#sentence1"/>
<audio src="chapter1_audio.mp3" clipBegin="0s"
clipEnd="10s"/>
</par>
<par id="par2">
<text src="chapter1.xhtml#sentence2"/>
<audio src="chapter1_audio.mp3" clipBegin="10s"
clipEnd="20s"/>
</par>
<par id="par3">
<text src="chapter1.xhtml#sentence3"/>
<audio src="chapter1_audio.mp3" clipBegin="20s"
clipEnd="30s"/>
</par>
</body>
</smil>
Source: EPUB Media Overlays 3.0 (sec. 3.1) —IDPF
Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL)
<smil xmlns="http://www.w3.org/ns/SMIL"
version="3.0">
<body>
<par id="par1">
<text src="chapter1.xhtml#sentence1"/>
<audio src="chapter1_audio.mp3" clipBegin="0s"
clipEnd="10s"/>
</par>
<par id="par2">
<text src="chapter1.xhtml#sentence2"/>
<audio src="chapter1_audio.mp3" clipBegin="10s"
clipEnd="20s"/>
</par>
<par id="par3">
<text src="chapter1.xhtml#sentence3"/>
<audio src="chapter1_audio.mp3" clipBegin="20s"
clipEnd="30s"/>
</par>
</body>
</smil>
Source: EPUB Media Overlays 3.0 (sec. 3.1) —IDPF
Caveats in EPUB 3 re: accessibility
 These features depend on the device
 EPUB 3 is primarily supported by
 Apple iPad (expensive!)
 Kobo iOS/Android apps (read-aloud)
Support is limited in other spots… but we’re getting there!
 Readium Foundation
 See: BISG Platform Grid
Kindle Format 8 (KF8)
 Successor to MOBI7
 HTML5 vs. HTML3
 Documentation
 Amazon Kindle Publishing Guidelines
 http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/MOBI (unofficial)
 Updated frequently, a bible for developers
 Specific to Amazon devices/apps
 On eInk devices and tablets
Features in KF8
 Updated Formatting
 Built on HTML5 and CSS3 support
 Font embedding/text styling (alignment, colors, etc.)
 Fixed layout (proprietary)
 SVG support
Accessibility in KF8
 Main feature: Backward compatibility on older devices
 Emphasis on
 Wide margins
 Magnification features
 Children’s books and comics
 Documentation not as focused
 Accessibility opportunities specifically stem from HTML5 and CSS3
 Audio and video embedding
 Additionally: Kindle for PC Accessibility Plugin
Caveats in KF8 re: accessibility
 Text-to-speech feature for the Kindle for PC accessibility plugin
requires an external screen reader for use
 Windows PC only
Caveats in KF8 re: accessibility
 These features depend on the device
 KF8 is primarily only supported by
 Kindle Fire (not as pricey as Apple, but…)
 Optimal
 Kindle Paperwhite (eInk — more limited; e.g., no audio)
 Amazon Kindle apps
By creating accessible EPUB files,
we essentially create
accessible Kindle files.
However, the devices hold the power.
In other words…
Formats can do only so much!
Strategies & Practices
The key is awareness
 Aim for reflow
 Avoid info-as-image — i.e., tables should be in HTML
 Think of your reader and what they can do
 Think of your content and who is consuming it
 Always QA your work
 Talk to your outsourcer(s) and develop relationships
Recommended Reading
 EPUB 3: Best Practices by Matt Garrish (@MattGarrish)
 Readmill #eprdctn reading group
 Liz Castro’s EPUB texts (@LizCastro)
 EPUB Straight to the Point
 Read Aloud EPUB for iBooks
 Audio and Video in EPUB (Miniguide)
 Fixed Layout EPUBs for iPad and iPhone (Miniguide)
 EPUB 3 book: Coming Soon!
 Specifications (grab some coffee)
 EPUB 2.1 and EPUB 3.0
 DAISY
Questions? Say hello!
 Twitter: @epubpupil
 #eprdctn — all about ebook development & production,
troubleshooting … counseling
 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/irisamelia
 Email: iris@irisamelia.com
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