Print Access Project
The Print Access Project was charged with:
- surveying the field of services and delivery mechanisms for alternative access to print materials,
- establishing an accessible digital newspaper that meets the needs of print-disabled people.
The print-disabled population, which numbers over 11.5 million, includes blind and visually impaired people, as well as others who have physical or learning disabilities which prevent them from being able to read a newspaper in its standard format. The Project was conducted by the CPB/WGBH National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) with funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
The first phase of the Project surveyed existing and emerging technologies which provide alternative access to daily newspapers. The list includes radio reading services, dial-in talking newspapers, commercial audiotext services, on-line services, and videotext. The Project concluded that none of these services satisfied all of the demands of print-disabled people. NCAM interviewed hundreds of print-disabled people who demanded the same things from a newspaper as the general population: news that is immediate, affordable, comprehensive, includes advertising and local information, and allows the reader to select, browse, re-read, and save articles of interest.
The second phase of the Project set out to create a solution that would meet these needs. NCAM joined with the National Federation of the Blind to create Newsline for the Blind, a digital version of USA Today delivered over the telephone using synthesized speech. Users navigate through the newspaper via various menu options. After choosing a section of the newspaper, the user may read continuously, scan through and read selectively by article, move backwards or forward within an article, and conduct word searches. The user may slow down or speed up the voice of the newspaper or select from any of nine voices. At any time, the user may pause or exit to the main menu.
The service is the first of its kind anywhere in the world. Although other dial-in newspapers exist, they rely on volunteer readers, often resulting in incomplete coverage and erratic availability. In contrast, digital service is almost entirely automated. Special software converts the newspaper's text from pre-press format to electronic text, which is then converted to synthetic speech. This electronic text can also be delivered on-line via modem for PC users to convert into their preferred format (i.e. braille, large print, or synthesized speech).
The service was tested by approximately 300 users from September through December 1994. Responses were overwhelmingly positive with users citing timeliness and ease of use in particular.
For more information about Newsline for the Blind,
contact:
The National Federation for the Blind
1800 Johnson Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
410 659-9314 (voice)
410 685-5653 (fax)
For more information about the Print Access Project or to request a copy of the report, contact:
Larry Goldberg, Director
CPB/WGBH National Center for Accessible Media
WGBH Educational Foundation
125 Western Avenue
Boston, MA 02134
617 300-3400 (voice/TTY)
617 300-1035 (fax)
Larry_Goldberg@wgbh.org
