Digital Accessible Information System
{{short description|Technical standard for digital audiobooks, periodicals and computerized text}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
Digital accessible information system (DAISY) is a technical standard for digital audiobooks, periodicals, and computerized text. DAISY is designed to be a complete audio substitute for print material and is specifically designed for use by people with print disabilities, including blindness, impaired vision, and dyslexia. Based on the MP3 and XML formats, the DAISY format has advanced features in addition to those of a traditional audiobook. Users can search, place bookmarks, precisely navigate line by line, and regulate the speaking speed without distortion. DAISY also provides aurally accessible tables, references, and additional information.{{cite web |first1=Sabine |last1=Tenta |translator-first1=Jonathan |translator-last1=Uhlaner |title=The Audible Gate to the World: The West German Audio Book Library for the Blind |website=Goethe-Institut |date= August 2009 |url=http://www.goethe.de/wis/bib/dos/bip/nrw/en4789945.htm |lang=en |access-date=26 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730084405/http://www.goethe.de/wis/bib/dos/bip/nrw/en4789945.htm |archive-date= Jul 30, 2014 }} As a result, DAISY allows visually impaired listeners to navigate something as complex as an encyclopedia or textbook, otherwise impossible using conventional audio recordings.Ask-it: [http://www.ask-it.org/documents/best_practices/BP_Daisy%20Digital.doc A5.5.3: Examples of best practices of design for all] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303184937/http://www.ask-it.org/documents/best_practices/BP_Daisy%20Digital.doc |date=3 March 2016 }}. Accessed 23 November 2009.
DAISY multimedia can be a book, magazine, newspaper, journal, computerized text, or a synchronized presentation of text and audio.[http://www.daisy.org/z3986/ DAISY/NISO Standard] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312010708/http://www.daisy.org/z3986/ |date=12 March 2009 }}. Accessed 23 November 2009. It provides up to six embedded "navigation levels" for content, including embedded objects such as images, graphics, and MathML. In the DAISY standard, navigation is enabled within a sequential and hierarchical structure consisting of (marked-up) text synchronized with audio.George Kerscher: "[http://www.digitaltalkingbook.com/publications/docs/20040510214528/DAISY-in-Brief_final.htm DAISY is]", December 2003. Accessed 23 November 2009. The original DAISY 2 specification (1998) was based on HTML and SMIL. The DAISY 2.02 revision (2001) was based on XHTML and SMIL.DAISY Consortium: [http://www.daisy.org/z3986/specifications/daisy_202.html DAISY 2.02 Specification - Recommendation, February 28 2001]. Accessed 23 November 2009. DAISY 3 (2005) is based on XML and is standardized as ANSI/NISO Z39.86-2005.[http://www.daisy.org/z3986/2005/Z3986-2005.html ANSI/NISO Z39.86-2005 Specifications for the Digital Talking Book] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517022219/http://www.daisy.org/z3986/2005/Z3986-2005.html |date=17 May 2008 }}. Accessed 23 November 2009.
The DAISY Consortium was founded in 1996 and consists of international organizations committed to developing equitable access to information for people who have a print disability.DAISY Consortium: [http://www.daisy.org/about_us/ About The DAISY Consortium]. Accessed 23 November 2009. The consortium was selected by the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) as the official maintenance agency for the DAISY/NISO Standard.DAISY Consortium: [http://www.daisy.org/z3986/index.php DAISY/NISO Standard]. Accessed 23 November 2009.
Specification
A Digital Talking Book (DTB) is a collection of electronic files arranged to present information to the target population via alternative media, namely, human or synthetic speech, refreshable Braille, or visual display, e.g., large print. The DTB files comprising the DAISY format is
- Package File: A set of metadata describing the DTB
- Textual content file: Contains the text of the document in XML
- Audio Files: human or synthetic speech MP3 recordings
- Image files: for visual displays
- Synchronization files: synchronizes the different media files of the DTB during playback
- Navigation control file: for viewing the document's hierarchical structure
- Bookmark/Highlight file: support to user-set highlights
- Resource file: for playback management
- Distribution Information File: maps each SMIL file to a specific media unit
Access to materials
Since DAISY is often used by people with disabilities, many of the existing organizations which produce accessible versions of copyrighted content are moving to the DAISY standard, and slowly moving away from more traditional methods of distribution such as cassette tape.
In the United States, Learning Ally,{{Cite web |url=http://www.rfbd.org/ |title=Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D) |access-date=7 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703154613/http://www.rfbd.org// |archive-date=3 July 2008 |url-status=dead }} AMAC Accessibility,[http://www.amacusg.org/ AMAC Accessibility] Bookshare,[http://www.bookshare.org/ Bookshare - Accessible Books for Individuals with Print Disabilities] the Internet Archive{{cite web|first1=Caralee|last1=Adams|access-date=24 July 2022|title=Meet the Librarians: Jessamyn West, Accessibility|url=http://blog.archive.org/2022/04/04/meet-the-librarians-jessamyn-west-accessibility/|date=4 April 2022}} and the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS),[https://www.loc.gov/nls/ National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS)] among others, offer content to blind and visually impaired individuals. Learning Ally and Bookshare also allows access by those with dyslexia or other disabilities which impair the person's ability to read print. The NLS uses a library methodology, on the basis that the books are loaned (as they traditionally have been, on physical cassette), hence they are able to offer content free of charge, just as any public library can. Learning Ally and Bookshare both are subscription-based services.[http://www.learningally.org/Membership/20/ Learning Ally Membership] Bookshare membership is free to U.S. students due to funding from the U.S. Department of Education.{{Cite web |url=http://www.bookshare.org/membershipOptions |title=Bookshare membership |access-date=1 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924174903/http://www.bookshare.org/membershipOptions |archive-date=24 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}
Content from both the NLS and the Learning Ally organizations uses the DAISY Protected Digital Book (PDTB) encryption standard.[https://www.loc.gov/nls/specs/1205_Final_nov15_1_07.pdf NLS/BPH Secification 1205] The basic structure of the DAISY definition files remains the same, however, the audio itself, and in some cases certain information tags in the DAISY SMIL files, are encrypted and must be decrypted in order to be read/played back. The organization which offers the content provides a decryption key to the user, which can be installed into a DAISY player to allow decryption. As the encryption schemes are not part of the core DAISY standard, only players which specifically implement the necessary algorithms and key management will be able to access these titles. Bookshare utilizes its own digital rights management plan including fingerprinting each digital book with the identity of the downloading user.[https://www.bookshare.org/cms/legal/seven-point-digital-rights-management-plan Bookshare Seven Point Digital Rights Management Plan] These actions are done to comply with law {{UnitedStatesCode|17|121}} requiring copyrighted material to be distributed in a specialized format to prevent unauthorized individuals, such as those who do not have a qualifying disability, from accessing the materials.
Playback and production
{{main|List of DAISY software}}
DAISY books can be heard on standalone DAISY players,[http://www.daisy.org/tools/tools.shtml?Cat=hplayback DAISY: Hardware Playback Tools]{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} computers using DAISY playback software,[http://www.daisy.org/tools/tools.shtml?Cat=splayback DAISY: Software Playback Tools]{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} mobile phones, and MP3 players (with limited navigation). DAISY books can be distributed on a CD/DVD, memory card or through the Internet.{{Cite web |url=http://www.daisy.org/about_us/dtbooks.shtml |title=DAISY: Technology Overview |access-date=6 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214220251/http://daisy.org/about_us/dtbooks.shtml |archive-date=14 February 2009 |url-status=dead }}
A computerized text DAISY book can be read using refreshable braille display or screen-reading software, printed as braille book on paper, converted to a talking book using synthesised voice or a human narration, and also printed on paper as large print book. In addition, it can be read as large print text on computer screen.DAISY Consortium: "[http://www.daisyindia.org/02HelloDAISY.html WHAT IS DAISY?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418232758/http://www.daisyindia.org/02HelloDAISY.html |date=2010-04-18 }}". Accessed 23 November 2009.George Kerscher: "[http://www.dinf.ne.jp/doc/english/Us_Eu/conf/z19/z19001/z1900115.html Braille Production the DAISY Way]", IFLA/SLB Pre-conference Seminar in Penang 1999. Accessed 23 November 2009.
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.daisy.org/ DAISY Consortium]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20081216045049/http://www.daisynow.net/core/onlinePlayback/default.aspx DaisyNow.Net - The first online DAISY delivery web application]
- [https://publikationen.bibliothek.kit.edu/1000010574/709866 Daisy 3: A Standard for Accessible Multimedia Books] (PDF)