Learn About Formats
Learning materials can be tailored by CILS to meet the needs of individual students and instructors. These formats include:
E-Text
Accessible PDF
Digital Audio (MP3)
DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System)
Large Print
Tactile Graphics
Braille (not produced at CILS)
E-Text
E-text or electronic text, is computer readable text. There are many formats of e-text, but CILS generally produces e-text in ASCII plain-text, Rich Text Format (RTF), or MS Word format (.doc). E-text is ideal for people who want to magnify text on their computer screen, use a screen reader, use text to speech software or use braille devices.
View Reading Electronic Text with Read Please (CILS Tutorial).
View Reading Electronic Text with Text Aloud (AT-BC Tutorial).
View Using JAWS for Windows (AT-BC Tutorial).
Accessible PDF
Accessible PDF is a form of e-text that preserves the look of the original document. The advantage of this format is that CILS can produce it quickly; nevertheless, it is not suitable for complex texts with sidebars, text-boxes and multiple columns because such complications may interfere with audio output. View Accessible PDF Tutorial.
Digital Audio (MP3)
A digital audio talking book may be played back by a computer or MP3 player, such as an iPod. Digital audio produced by CILS is generated automatically from e-text or accessible PDF, and is read by an electronic voice. View Digital Audio (MP3)Tutorial.
DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System)
DAISY is a talking book format that allows users to navigate the text by chapter, section and page number. DAISY books can be played on a computer or on a portable DAISY player. At CILS, DAISY is produced using human voice with navigation as well as full text with synthesized voice. View DAISY Tutorial.
Large Print
Large print comes in a variety of formats:
* Electronic text format See E-Text above.
* PDF Image Only format - for students with low vision who can enlarge their own print products or read them off the computer screen. Portable Document Format (PDF) allows documents to appear on the computer just as they would in print.
* Large print enlargement on paper.
Tactile Graphics
Raised or sculptured drawings. CILS produces simple tactile graphics. CILS will also borrow tactile graphics when they are available.
Braille
A tactile system of cells of dots. CILS does not produce braille at this time but will locate and borrow braille when it is available.
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