Thanks to Jim Homme for passing on this item. Visit
http://www.isSound.com / http://www.audiopublisher.com /
http://www.daisy.org if you are unfamiliar with the Daisy e-book which
synchronizes an audio recording with an electronic text copy of a book.
--- forwarded info ---
Microsoft, isSound and Labyrinten strike a Deal.
Microsoft Licenses Technology to Enable Synchronized Audio For eBooks
on Microsoft Reader
Labyrinten Data AB, isSound and Microsoft to Provide Unique Benefits
For Book Lovers and People With Impaired Vision
CHICAGO ? June 1, 2000 ? Microsoft Corp. today announced a licensing
arrangement with Labyrinten Data AB and isSound that will enable
text-to-audio synchronization of eBooks created for the Microsoft®
Reader format.
Announced at the annual Audio Publishers Association Conference (APAC),
the technology will give publishers the option of including additional
information within their eBooks to enable synchronized audio narration.
This will enable consumers to freely switch between the audio and
text versions of an eBook so, for example, they can choose to read
the text of one chapter and then listen to another chapter being
read aloud.
The technology, developed by Labyrinten Data of Falköping, Sweden,
and isSound of Ewing, N.J., will enhance the Microsoft Reader client
to accommodate synchronized audio data and allow it to be played
back in a variety of ways. The technology will combine the benefits
of on-screen reading with the freedom and accessibility of audio
books.
"Sometimes, the only thing better than reading a good book is to
have someone read it to you out loud," said Dick Brass, vice president
of technology development at Microsoft. "With this innovative technology,
Microsoft Reader will offer the book lover yet another way to enjoy
a great title, with lots of flexibility and control. For the vision-
and print-impaired, it can also open up whole worlds of reading
that were not readily available before."
As part of the licensing agreement, isSound and Labyrinten will also
create enhanced versions of their
LpStudio/PLUS toolkit
to support production of mixed media materials for Microsoft Reader.
Microsoft Reader currently ships with the Pocket PC and is scheduled
to be available for other platforms later this summer. Text-to-audio
synchronization in Microsoft Reader will not be included in the
initial release, but are planned for incorporation in a subsequent
version. Likewise, the tools for publishers to implement the new
technology into eBook titles are scheduled to be available after
the first version of Microsoft Reader is released.
"The unique nature of our publishing tools makes the creation of
synchronized media materials both simple and straightforward," said
Anders Frankenberg, managing director of Labyrinten. "Support for
the Open eBook and DAISY standards further enhances the eBook publishing
process."
The enhanced capabilities of Microsoft Reader will open the door
to a wide range of advantages for book lovers, including greater
flexibility to enjoy books and more value in learning from books
by hearing words as well as seeing them on screen.
"Having Microsoft embrace the ongoing efforts in digital talking
books by providing these capabilities directly in a mainstream product
like Microsoft Reader is a major step forward in the evolution of
electronic books," said Mark Hakkinen, CTO of isSound. "The benefits
to all readers ? particularly to those with visual and learning
disabilities ? highlights the tremendous potential of eBooks to
enhance our lives."
"As the leading supplier of spoken audio for Microsoft Reader, Audible
fully supports this technology development," said Brian Fielding,
senior vice president of Content, Business and Legal Affairs at
Audible Inc. "This allows more consumers to use and appreciate our
collection of audio book titles and also has useful applications
in the world of education, thus furthering the development of eBook
technologies for text and spoken audio."
Future versions of Microsoft Reader incorporating the technology
will help ensure that persons with visual and print disabilities
are included in the eBook "revolution." The capabilities for enhanced
navigation of audio content developed specifically for talking books
for the blind are critical to applications such as education and
take the concept of audio books to a new level of usability.
In support of efforts to establish an international standard for
the production, exchange and use of the next generation of audio
books, Microsoft, through its relationship with isSound and Labyrinten,
will donate a portion of revenues generated through this licensing
deal to The DAISY Consortium, an international nonprofit group dedicated
to defining a standard for digital talking books specifically for
persons who are blind or print-disabled.
"Microsoft Reader's support of text and audio synchronization will
greatly benefit students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia.
This is a welcome and necessary step toward ensuring that the world
of eBooks is fully inclusive and accessible to all readers," said
John Churchill, senior vice president of operations at Recording
for the Blind and Dyslexic.
"Several years of development for the low-vision market, in addition
to our work with the DAISY Consortium, has contributed to this exciting
publishing technology," said Jan Lindholm, founder of Labyrinten
Data. "I am delighted it will be made available, providing eBook
access to a wider audience."
About Labyrinten
Labyrinten Data AB is a subsidiary company of Dolphin Computer Access
Ltd., United Kingdom. Dolphin is one of the leading companies within
the area of adaptive computer equipment for people who are nonsighted
or partially sighted, worldwide. Labyrinten is a Swedish software
company with over 16 years experience, specializing in producing
digital audio and multimedia solutions. Labyrinten is the leading
development company for the Digital Audio-based Information System
(DAISY) consortium.
About isSound
isSound is a provider and developer of software products for the
auditory enabling of the Web and related applications and software.
It provides software to audio-enable both applications and Web devices,
and is particularly interested in open standards and creating and
maintaining equality of access to information and resources for
all people. isSound ? because the future is listening.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader
in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and
business computing. The company offers a wide range of products
and services designed to empower people through great software ?
any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft
Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be
the trademarks of their respective owners.
For further information, press only:
For Microsoft:
Phil Missimore, Waggener Edstrom, (408) 654-5200,
[log in to unmask]
Rapid Response Team, Waggener Edstrom, (503) 443-7000,
[log in to unmask]
For isSound:
Mark Hakkinen, isSound Corp., (609) 637-0099,
[log in to unmask]
For Labyrinten Data AB:
P.O. Box 132
521 02 Falköping
Sweden
Tel: +46 515-821 75
Fax: +46 515-808 47
[log in to unmask]
www.audiopublisher.com
[log in to unmask]
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information
on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/
on Microsoft's corporate information pages.
is-sound dot com, home page.
... because the future is listening
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