The 'Save as DAISY XML' add-in was created through an open source project with Microsoft, Sonata Software Ltd and the Digital Accessible Information SYstem (DAISY) Consortium and can be downloaded by Microsoft Office Word users for free.
Also released today is the new version of the DAISY Pipeline, a free downloadable transformation suite that supports the conversion of DAISY XML into DAISY Digital Talking Book (DTB) format. Together, these technologies provide a solution for converting text documents into accessible formats for people with print disabilities. Users can download the DAISY Pipeline from the DAISY Project page at http://www.daisy.org/projects/pipeline/.
Information about other technologies that can convert DAISY XML into DAISY DTB format and other products that support the DAISY standard is available on the DAISY Web site at http://www.daisy.org/tools/index.shtml.
“This new ‘Save as DAISY XML’ functionality for Microsoft Word has the potential to break down barriers for millions of visually impaired individuals around the world and enhance the experience for virtually anyone who loves to read,” said Chris Capossela, senior vice president, information worker product management group, Microsoft. “We are proud of our collaboration with the DAISY Consortium and Sonata Software to deliver valuable benefits for people with a visual impairment. This tool will make it easier for anyone — from a child learning her or his lessons, to a government agency providing vital information to its citizens — to create accessible content.”
“Microsoft’s initiative to put ‘Save as DAISY XML’ in Microsoft Word is the first step to bring fully accessible content to people who are blind or who have a print disability. We know that much of the information in documents today is created with Microsoft Word; this new add-in provides an unprecedented leap forward in the worldwide effort to make information available to all,” said George Kerscher, secretary general, DAISY Consortium.
Microsoft said the open source nature of the Open XML to DAISY XML translation project enables technologists to utilise the source code and other resources for their own applications. |
