Braille in DAISY

It is currently not possible to prepare a DAISY XML (DTBook) file that will automatically output braille. Producers must edit the DAISY XML file, creating a separate file for braille output. This is inefficient for several reasons:

• it leaves two originals – one that has been edited for braille production and one that hasn’t
• errors in markup or contents discovered in braille production have to be edited back into the original document, or vice versa
• the braille editing environment may not exhibit the benefits of an XML-workflow.

This project aims to improve the efficiency of braille print production from DTBook by:

• identifying and documenting the editing requirements of braille
• providing a vocabulary for braille editing in DTBook
• creating a printer independent, non-proprietary and universal "embosser ready" braille format
• providing a framework for, and a basic implementation of, a fully automated conversion between DTBook (including the braille editing vocabulary) and the "embosser ready" braille format.