Beyond the Text
E-book and DTB Prototypes

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The Beyond the Text project created sample e-books and DTBs that illustrate different types of multimeida integration. The samples, and instructions for their use, are described in detail below.

Go to the e-book samples.

Go to the DTB samples.

E-book Samples

Two titles are currently available: Seeing Math and the MAGpie User's Guide.

A note about accessibility

While all multimedia contained in these prototypes has been made accessible via the use of captions and/or audio descriptions, the accessibility of the e-books themselves varies depending on the reading device used. Use the table below to determine which e-book is right for you.

Name	OS	E-book format(s)	Screen-reader accessible?	Speech output?	Type of multimedia supported
Adobe Reader	Windows, Windows Mobile, Mac, Palm	PDF	Windows: yes Windows Mobile: no Mac: no Palm: no	Windows: yes, read-back only; no user manipulation Windows Mobile: no Mac: yes, read-back only; no user manipulation Palm: no	Embedded: QuickTime, Real, Windows Media, Flash Linked: Windows: any format Windows Mobile: any compatible format Mac: any format Palm: none
eMonocle	Windows, Mac	OEBPS (native)	Windows: no Mac: no	Windows: no Mac: no	Embedded: none Linked: QuickTime supported via internal proprietary player, but additional tracks (e.g., captions or audio descriptions) are stripped. Will launch stand-alone players.
Mentoract Reader	Windows	OEBPS (native)	No	No	Embedded: none Linked: Will launch stand-alone players.
Microsoft Reader	Windows, Windows Mobile	LIT	Windows: no Windows Mobile: no	Windows: yes, read-back and user manipulation (follows links, reads alt text, etc.) Windows Mobile: no	Embedded: none Linked: http only (Windows only, not Windows Mobile)
Mobipocket	Windows, Windows Mobile, Palm	PRC	Windows: no Windows Mobile: no Palm: no	Windows: no Windows Mobile: no Palm: no	Embedded: none Linked: Windows: any format Windows Mobile: none Palm: any compatible format

Prototype: Extracts from the Seeing Math Project

Using materials generously provided by The Concord Consortium and Teachscape, the Beyond the Text project has created brief e-books based on the Seeing Math Telecommunications Project that demonstrate how multimedia can be incorporated into e-books on Windows, Windows Mobile, Macintosh and Palm operating systems. Each e-book contains four multimedia clips with captions and extended audio descriptions. Depending on the format, the e-books contain embedded multimedia (requiring no Internet connection to view), or linked multimedia (requiring an Internet connection to view in some cases). You will need specific e-book software as well as a multimedia player to view the e-books, as detailed in the instructions below.

Learn more about the Seeing Math Telecommunications Project.

Instructions for downloading and using the Seeing Math e-book prototypes.

First, download an e-book reader from the list below that matches your operating system. See the table describing reader/OS compatibility if you are unsure which reader to use.

• Windows or Windows Mobile
  • Adobe Reader, for reading PDF e-books.
  • Mentoract Reader for reading native OEBPS-format e-books (not available for Windows Mobile).
  • Microsoft Reader, for reading LIT e-books.
  • Mobipocket, for reading PRC e-books.
• Macintosh: Adobe Reader, for reading PDF e-books.
• Palm: Mobipocket, for reading PRC e-books.

Next, download a multimedia player that matches your OS:

• Windows or Mac: Microsoft's Windows Media Player
• Windows Mobile: Microsoft's Windows Media Player for handheld devices
• Palm: The Kinoma Player

Once you have downloaded and installed an e-book reader and multimedia player, download the Seeing Math prototype in the format of your choice from the list below. Use Winzip to unzip the downloaded files.

1. Seeing Math, PDF format for Windows or Macintosh, with multimedia embedded in the e-book (13MB). No Internet connection is necessary to read the e-book and play the multimedia once it has been downloaded to your computer. To use, unzip the file into a folder, then open VO_embedded.PDF using Acrobat Reader. Please read the access instructions for reading PDF e-books with embedded multimedia before opening the book.
2. Seeing Math, PDF format for Windows or Macintosh, with links to external multimedia (81KB). An Internet connection is necessary to view the multimedia linked from the e-book. To use, unzip the file into a folder, then open VO_linked.PDF using Acrobat Reader. Please read the access instructions for reading PDF e-books with linked multimedia before opening the book.
3. Seeing Math, PDF format for Windows Mobile Pocket PC, with links to local multimedia (14MB). No Internet connection is necessary to read the e-book and play the multimedia once they have been downloaded to your Pocket PC. To use, unzip the files into a folder on your desktop computer, then transfer the files to a single directory on your Pocket PC. Open VO_linked_ppc.PDF using Acrobat Reader to read the text. Tap on the links to launch the movies using Windows Media Player.
4. Seeing Math, LIT format for Windows, with links to external multimedia (127KB). An Internet connection is necessary to view the multimedia linked from the e-book. To use, unzip the file and open VO_lit.LIT in Microsoft Reader. Please read the access instructions for reading Microsoft LIT e-books with linked multimedia before opening the book.
5. Seeing Math, PRC format for Windows, with links to external multimedia (45KB). An Internet connection is necessary to view the multimedia linked from the e-book. To use, unzip the file and open Concord_VO_d.PRC in Mobipocket.
6. Seeing Math, PRC format for Palm OS, with links to external multimedia (45KB). An Internet connection is necessary to download and view the multimedia linked from the e-book. To use, unzip the file and open Concord_VO_p.PRC in Mobipocket. Tap on the links to download the movies to your handheld device, then open each movie using the Kinoma Player. Note: the e-book contains links to four movies, each approximately 6MB in size.
7. Seeing Math, OEBPS format for Windows, with links to local multimedia (15MB). No Internet connection is necessary to view the multimedia linked from the e-book. To use, unzip the file and open VO_mentoract_local.opf in the Mentoract Reader.
8. Seeing Math, OEBPS format for Windows, with links to external multimedia (6KB). An Internet connection is necessary to play the multimedia once it has been downloaded to your computer. To use, unzip the files into a folder and open VO_mentoract.opf in the Mentoract Reader.

Prototype: MAGpie 2.01 User's Guide

MAGpie 2.01 is a free application from NCAM for creating closed captions and video descriptions for digital multimedia. The complete MAGpie User's Guide is now available as an e-book in three formats. You will need specific e-book software as well as multimedia players to view the guide, as noted in the instructions below. (You do not need MAGpie on your computer in order to read the e-book, but if you are interested in using it to make your multimedia accessible, you may download MAGpie free of charge.)

Instructions for using the MAGpie User's Guide.

First, download an e-book reader that matches your OS:

• Windows
  • Adobe Reader, for reading PDF e-books.
  • eMonocle, for reading OEBPS e-books.
  • Microsoft Reader, for reading LIT e-books.

You will also need Winzip to unzip the e-book files, Apple's QuickTime Player and RealNetworks' RealOne Player to view the multimedia.

Next, download the MAGpie User's Guide in the format of your choice:

• MAGpie User's Guide, OEBPS format (11MB)
• MAGPie User's Guide, PDF format (26MB)
• MAGPie User's Guide, LIT format (398 KB)

Unzip and install the e-book. Locate and open the appropriate starter file as shown in the following list:

• eMonocle: MAGpie_2.opf
• Adobe Reader 6: MAGpie_2.pdf
• Microsoft Reader: MAGpie_2.lit

Each e-book contains 11 brief captioned movies demonstrating various aspects of operating MAGpie, plus five movies illustrating different styles of audio descriptions. You do not need an internet connection to view the movies when using eMonocle or Adobe Reader, but you do need one when using Microsoft Reader.

NCAM gratefully acknowledges the Educational Development Center for granting permission to use two clips, "Jebel Barkal and Magnetometry" and "Making Mud Bricks," in these prototypes. These clips were taken from EDC's digNubia Web site and are copyright © 2002 Educational Development Center, Inc. This material is used by permission of Educational Development Center, Inc.

DTB Samples

Prototype: Extracts from the Seeing Math Project

Using materials generously provided by The Concord Consortium and Teachscape, the Beyond the Text project has created brief DTBs based on the Seeing Math Telecommunications Project that demonstrate the integration of accessible video and audio clips, usable with software and hardware players. Each DTB contains four multimedia clips; depending on the DTB, these clips may be in the form of embedded video, embedded audio or linked audio. All samples were created using Dolphin's EasePublisher.

Learn more about the Seeing Math Telecommunications Project.

Instructions for downloading and using the Seeing Math DTB prototypes.

Download the Seeing Math prototype of your choice from the list below. Each DTB contains full audio with structure and full text (Type 4 DTB). Note that the DTB containing video may only be played using Dolphin's EaseReader, as this is currently the only DTB reader that supports embedded video. Other DTB samples may require specific player capabilities, as described below. A list of DTB players may be found on the project's software/hardware page.

Use Winzip to unzip the downloaded files.

1. Seeing Math DTB with in-line, described audio clips (4.2MB). No Internet connection is necessary to play this DTB once it has been downloaded. Each described audio clip has been integrated directly into the DTB and will play automatically, rendering this book usable on all software and hardware devices. Copy all the files (except the ZIP file) onto a CD for use in a hardware DTB player. If you are using a software player, open either NCC.HTML or VO_EP, depending on the player you are using, and be sure to set your options to play recorded speech.
2. Seeing Math DTB with linked, described audio clips (1.5MB). An Internet connection is necessary to play this DTB once it has been downloaded, and your player must support hyperinks. Each described audio clip is presented via an externally linked MP3 file. If you are using a software player, open either NCC.HTML or VO_linkedaudio_EP, depending on the player you are using. Copy all the files (except the ZIP file) onto a CD for use in a hardware DTB player.
3. Seeing Math DTB with embedded, captioned and described video clips (14MB). No Internet connection is necessary to play this DTB once it has been downloaded, but your player must support the display of embedded video. Currently, the only DTB player that meets this requirement is EaseReader. Each video clip is presented via an embedded QuickTime Player. Using EaseReader, open VO_embedded_EP. This DTB is not usable on hardware players.