AEL Data
AEL Data was established 2001 by a group of IT professionals with several decades of experience in IT and data conversion. AEl Data produces DAISY talking books from any source - printed text, microfilms or digital images.
Conversion Tools and Services
DAISY 2.02 Regenerator
The DAISY Regenerator is a software tool designed to enable organizations to repair and upgrade existing DAISY 2.0 and 2.02 DTBs.
The tool takes a DAISY 2.0 or 2.02 DTB as input, and performs a series of operations on it in order to output a valid DAISY 2.02 DTB.
Features include:
- Conversion of HTML and SMIL files to valid XML
- Fixes of reoccuring errors and inconsistencies that existed in the output of early versions of production tools
- Ability to rename files sequentially (so that they play in order in MP3 players)
Why use the Regenerator?
- Because the elimination of possible errors will yield a better experience for the end user reading the DAISY 2.02 DTB.
- Because a valid DAISY 2.02 DTB is future safe. Only valid DAISY 2.02 DTBs are guaranteed to be upgradeable to the DAISY 3 standard. In this respect, the Regenerator may be regarded as an organization's "Swiss Army knife" of longevity.
The Regenerator works together with the DAISY 2.02 Validator. After regeneration has been done, the DTB can be automatically validated, to ensure that no errors or inconsistencies remain.
DAISY Mark-up Service (DMS)
The Daisy mark-up service (DMS) from xml-tekst in Denmark is a web-based tool, that will insert mark-up automatically, based on just a few markers inserted by the user in a word document from a scanner.
After the first upload of the document, DMS will return the original document with
- correct mark-up of all page numbers (both roman numbers in front and arabic numbers)
- mark-up of all headings
- mark-up of images
- mark-up of all special text (italic, bold and underline)
The user can apply corrections and the remaining mark-up in the document. After a second upload of the corrected document, DMS will return an xml-file in the DTBook format. Individual users can use the service free of charge. Large-scale users will have to negotiate a small fee per page. More information is available on the xml-tekst website.
DAISY Pipeline
(formerly DMFC - the DAISY MultiFormat Converter)
DAISY production is being implemented in more organizations and companies around the world at an ever increasing rate, and the DAISY Standards continue to evolve. To meet the resulting production and conversion demands, the DAISY Consortium has hosted the development of the DAISY Pipeline, a suite of cross platform tools designed to meet these needs and to support both production and distribution.
The DAISY Pipeline is a DTB and XML-oriented transformation pipeline designed to be used in both server-side and desktop environments.
Latest Release: DAISY Pipeline Release 20111215
Additional information and links are available in the DAISY Pipeline Project area of the DAISY website.
EasyConverter
EasyConverter is designed for use in schools, colleges, universities, small or large companies and government organisations. It is simple to use for those with no altformat creation experience, and is equally suited to experienced professionals looking for a single flexible high quality altformat creation tool to meet the needs of dyslexic, visually impaired and learning disabled students.
Key Benefits:
- Offering students the formats of their preference ensures that you meet the growing legislation on inclusion.
- Popular materials can be stored for future years and simply converted to specifically meet the needs of new students in their preferred format.
- Significant time saving benefits allow you the tutor to concentrate on teaching the curriculum.
- EasyConverter ensures that you remain adaptable, and able to convert from a wide range of file formats including printed handouts to downloaded PDFs, Word files and HTML documents.
Latest Release: Dolphin EasyConverter Version 5.06
Version 5.06 comes with Braille output fixes. Other fixes: Improvements to DAISY and large print modules and improvements to adding alternative text descriptions to images. More info can be found on the Dolphin Computer Access website.
For more information, please visit the official website for EasyConverter .
EasyProducer: Text to Digital Talking Book software
(Formerly Dolphin Producer)
Dolphin's EasyProducer converts standard Word files into DAISY digital talking books (synchronised audio and text) that can be searched and navigated.
- Easy to use one-click operation instantly converts text into a DAISY DTB, no training required.
- Convert text documents into fully accessible DAISY books with sychronised text and audio.
- Create synthetic audio in a fraction of the time required to produce recorded audio.
- Convert an average textbook chapter in 90 seconds, compared to 2 hours when narrating onto audio cassette.
- Click to write files to CD for easy distribution and to listen on the move. Simple toolbar integration with Microsoft Word so you can work in a familiar environment.
For more information, please visit the official website for EasyProducer: Text to Digital Talking Book software.
gh, LLC
gh, LLC offers several conversion services for accessible media. These services include Braille, Tactile Graphics, Large Print, Digital Talking Books, and other electronic media. gh produces high quality DTBs to meet customers' needs. They offer phonetic markup to improve TTS playback, full use of all DTB features, and fast turnaround. With gh DTBs and feature-rich playback software, persons with print-disabilities can read books with ease, save time finding information, benefit from flexible reading solutions, and improve reading productivity. Read more on the gh,LLC website.
MathDaisy from Design Science
MathDaisy works with Microsoft Word, the Save As DAISY add-in for Microsoft Word, and MathType. Save As DAISY add-in installation adds a \Save As DAISY\ menu item to Word's File menu. This command saves the document as a DAISY Digital Talking Book. MathDaisy enhances the Word-to-DAISY conversion process, converting the equations in the document to MathML as required by the DAISY format. If the original document contains mathematical equations, then users will need to install the MathDaisy add-in to add support for mathematical equations, making them accessible to students, teachers, engineers, and scientists with disabilities.
Latest Release: MathDaisy Release 1.0 from Design Science
MathDaisy is Design Science's add-in for both the DAISY Pipeline and the Save As DAISY Microsoft add-in for Microsoft Word. If the original document contains mathematical equations, then users will need to install the MathDaisy add-in to add support for mathematical equations, making them accessible to students, teachers, engineers, and scientists with disabilities.
For more information, please visit the official website for MathDaisy from Design Science.
Net Systems Informatics - BarrierBreak Technologies
Net Systems Informatics is committed to providing innovative content development solutions. They deliver new learning dimensions with services like Content Digitization and DAISY Conversion. They help you convert your printed publications including textbooks into accessible formats such as DAISY.
For more information, please visit the official website for Net Systems Informatics - BarrierBreak Technologies.
odt2daisy - OpenOffice.org Writer Extension
odt2daisy is an OpenOffice.org Writer extension, enabling Export as DAISY output in DAISY 3 format, including support of mathematical content.
Latest Release: odt2daisy Version 2.1.1
This release includes numerous improvements.
For more information, please visit the official website for odt2daisy - OpenOffice.org Writer Extension.
Planman Technologies
Planman Technologies, a content conversion and a publishing services provider actively supports the DAISY vision to promote international standards and technologies. Planman Technlogies assists their clients in converting their print / electronic media to DAISY compliant format using their proprietary workflows. Planman is actively offering DAISY conversion services and workflows to all major Libraries, Organizations and Publishers worldwide. More information is provided on the Planman Technologies website.
RoboBraille
RoboBraille is an e-mail service capable of automatically transforming documents into a variety of alternative formats for the visually and reading impaired: Contracted Braille, mp3 files, DAISY books and visual Braille. Furthermore, RoboBraille can convert otherwise inaccessible documents into more accessible formats. RoboBraille is available free of charge to all non-commercial users who do not need to register in order to use the service. In addition to the traditional email-interface, RoboBraille can be accessed via a simple, accessible web-interface. The objective is to create an unlimited supply of accessible material to anyone, anywhere with a need. More information is available on the RoboBraille website.
Save as DAISY add-in for Microsoft Word
Microsoft's Word Save as DAISY add-in translates Microsoft Word 2003, 2007 and 2010 documents into DAISY.
The Save as DAISY - Microsoft project area provides current information and related communications about the Microsoft Word add-in, as well as links for downloading the latest version. The new version that supports Microsoft Office Word 2010 was released December 15, 2011.
Latest Release: Save as DAISY add-in Version 2.5.5.1 for Microsoft Word
"Save as DAISY" add-in for Microsoft Office Word incorporates a "Lite" version of the DAISY Pipeline. You can select to generate the DAISY XML for further processing, or you can generate a fully conforming DAISY file set with full navigation and full text synchronized with audio. The audio is generated by the default text-to-speech (TTS) engine on your Windows computer. Download is available on the Save as DAISY Microsoft project page.
The source document in Microsoft Word has to be well structured, created using styles and saved before it can be converted to fully conforming DAISY book.
Save as DTBook (DAISY XML) option in Adobe InDesign
Adobe InDesign CS4 includes a \Save as DTBook\ (DAISY XML) option. Users can choose DTBook (aka DAISY XML) content within EPUBs, compatible with the NIMAS standard that has been mandated in the U.S. for providing access to K-12 instructional materials for the visually impaired.
Latest Release: Save as DTBook (DAISY XML) option in Adobe InDesign
Adobe InDesign CS4 includes a "Save as DTBook" (DAISY XML) option. More information is available on the Adobe's Digital Editions blog. It provides a clear overview of the DAISY XML and ePub support features in CS4.
