Producing advanced alternate media with SensusAccess

Presented at 2:15pm in Windsor on Thursday, November 17, 2016.

#4951

Speaker(s)

  • Lars Ballieu Christensen, Senior Advisor, SensusAccess
  • Tanja Stevns, , Sensus ApS

Session Details

  • Length of Session: 1-hr
  • Format:
  • Expertise Level: Expert
  • Type of session: General Conference

Summary

SensusAccess automates the conversion of documents into alternate formats. The more sophisticated media formats have requirements on source documents. Participants learn to produce talking math books, talking e-books and multi-lingual audio books, to upgrade scanned documents and how to read the documents using free apps.

Abstract

SensusAccess automates the conversion of documents into alternate formats such as MP3 files, e-books and Braille books. The service can also convert otherwise inaccessible documents into more accessible formats. Taking advantage of the more sophisticated media formats puts requirements on source documents in terms of semantic mark-up, composition, language settings, reading order and accessibility. It may also be necessary to submit the document several times to achieve the best results. This lecture will teach participants how to author and prepare their source documents in order to be able to produce advanced alternate media including talking math books, e-books with media overlays and multi-lingual documents. Furthermore, participants will learn how to use SensusAccess to gradually upgrade scanned documents to Word files to interactive, talking books. Finally, participants will learn how such advanced formats can be read on computers, tablets and smartphones using free apps

Keypoints

  1. The need for semantic markup and accessibility features in source documents
  2. How to produce talking math books, talking e-books and multi-lingual audio books
  3. How to find free apps to read advanced alternate media formats

Disability Areas

Cognitive/Learning, Mobility, Vision

Topic Areas

Alternate Format, Assistive Technology

Speaker Bio(s)

Lars Ballieu Christensen

Lars Ballieu Christensen (born 1963) works with technology and design for people with special needs. He advises government, organizations, academic institutions and companies on accessibility and inclusive design. Furthermore, he is the inventor of a range of innovative technologies that support inclusion and self-sufficiency amongst people with special needs, including the award-winning RoboBraille service. Lars holds master degrees in computer science and journalism, as well as a Ph.D. degree in computer science, all from the University of Roskilde, Denmark.

Tanja Stevns

Tanja Stevns (born 1967) works with education and technology to support inclusion of people with disabilities. With more than 25 years experience working at the Danish National Center for Blind and Partially Sighted Children and Youth, Tanja is a special education teacher and speech therapist, specializing in visual impairment and general learning disorders.