Where is DAISY heading?
The DAISY standard was originally developed to benefit people who are unable to read print due to a disability, but it also has broad applications for improved access to text in the mainstream.
The DAISY community are an active bunch and production and playback development is often quite rapid and involves extensive user testing and feedback via beta testing cycles.
DAISY standard development
The revision process for the next version of the ANSI/NISO Z39.86 Specifications for the Digital Talking Book, referred to as DAISY Version 4, was officially approved by National Information Standards Organisation (NISO) in August 2008, and was scheduled for completion by the end of 2010. Final approval from NISO for formal standardisation is expected in early 2011.
Current live DAISY developments
There are a number of live projects within the DAISY Consortium, which will result in DAISY being an even better way to publish and read accessible multi-media content.
Current projects are:
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Obi - free audio recording tool to produce audio DAISY books
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Tobi - free audio recording workflow tool to produce full-text and audio DAISY books
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AMIS - free self-voicing DAISY playback software
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Microsoft Save-as-DAISY - free plug-in for Word to produce synthetic audio and full text DAISY books
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Open Office Save-as-DAISY - free plug-in for Open Office to produce synthetic audio and full text DAISY books
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DAISY online delivery - developing the specification to enable online delivery of DAISY materials
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Global Library Initiative - joint project between the DAISY Consortium and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, Libraries for the Blind Section (IFLA/LBS) to identify the issues around establishing a global library for the world community of print disabled people
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Pipeline2 - developing a framework for automated production of accessible materials
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Harmonising DAISY and EPUB standards