Vision Australia provides services to Australians who are blind or have low vision. Their i-access program aims to improve access to information by creating and acquiring digital audiobooks (DAISY format), storing them in a central repository, and allowing clients to search for, select, and receive titles either online or on compact discs. The service has grown significantly over four years and now includes over 150 newspapers/magazines online, 15,000 audio titles, and the ability to produce braille. Clients benefit from timely access to relevant information, increased choice, and a reading experience similar to sighted users. Ongoing development includes expanding the online collection and automated conversion capabilities.

1. i-access®
How Vision Australia is Improving Access
to Information
Karl Hughes & Andrew Furlong

2. Think Globally,
Act Locally!
Biggest barrier is the lack of accessible information
available
 i-access®
embraces innovation, information & independence
Global partnerships and local abilities have enabled
solutions for Vision Australia to act locally in removing
barriers to accessing information

3. Context - Who is
Vision Australia?
“Vision Australia is a partnership between people who are
blind, have low vision and are sighted…”
Largest provider of blindness, low vision and print
disability services in Australia
38,000+ clients of all VA services
18,000+ library clients across Australia

4. Challenges – the
External Environment
Our clients say the biggest barrier is the lack of accessible
information
< 5% of the world’s published material & < 20% of the
world’s websites are accessible
300,00 blind and low vision Australians
Over 3 million people in Australia have a print disability
Continued population growth and ageing
Mass media changes – information gap widening

5. Characteristics – an
i- access®
Overview
Innovation, Information & Independence
 Content Creation Processes – DAISY titles created or
acquired & automated format conversion
 Content Storage & Management – a high capacity
central repository
 Content Search, Selection & Delivery – choice of
material, choice of delivery channel
 Digital Reading Devices – software or hardware, training
& support
 A free service, including a DAISY reading device
 Global and local partnerships and solutions to access
digital information (e.g. Plextor, Dedicon, RNIB)

6.  The service has grown over 4 years
• 150+ Daily newspapers & magazines online
• 15,000 DAISY audio titles plus DAISY text, eBraille & Braille
 Choice of Plextor desktop or Humanware handheld DAISY player
 i-access® Burn on Demand: Automated CD production
• 28,000+ Burn on Demand CDs per month
 i-access® Online: online access to content
• 4,000+ downloads per month
• Newspapers, magazines, books, podcasts, music braille
 i-access Production Manager is an automated production ‘engine’ –
text in, DAISY out
Characteristics – an
i- access®
Overview

7. Client Benefits
i-access®
from the client perspective:
1. The Library provides me with the latest relevant titles and information
2. I can access news and current affairs when I need it
3. Self-served content reduces waiting and increases choice
4. A wide range of DAISY content is available; its navigation features
mean an experience similar to a sighted reader
5. I can choose how, when and where I receive content:
 Online (from anywhere in the world)
 On CD (streamlined delivery using custom mailer)
 In Braille (an important literacy option)

8. Plextor PTX
Online DAISY player
CD and online capable
No PC required
Wireless of cable network
DAISY online protocol (coming soon)
 User Searches library catalogue
 Library assisted book selection
 Streaming or Download
 Store books in “My Library”
 Integrated DRM
 Ongoing development

9. Humanware Victor
Reader Stream
Portable Handheld DAISY player
Very easy to use
DAISY, MP3 player
Voice recorder
15 hours battery life
Connected via USB to PC
SD card
Headphones

10. Concept:
i- access®
Flowchart
DAISY LibraryFTP Server
Narrator OCR
Electronic file
from Publishers
and Clients
i-access®
Web Services and Distribution Server
DAISY
Converter
Vision Australia Production Manager
Synthetic Voice
(If requested)
DAISY 2.02
&
DAISY 3
Automated
BOD
Pack and send
Email File to
Client
Telephone Web Radio
DAISY CD
Internet
DAISY
Text and Audio
Kiosk
60TB

12. i-access®
Web Interface

13. The Future:
Ongoing Development
i-access®
DAISY access
 Software and phone player options
i-access®
Online
 All library content to be available online – linked to catalogue
 Adoption of DAISY Online Protocol
i-access®
Production Manager
 Online lodgment and conversion of personal and other materials by
clients
 Extend automated conversion, producing synthetic voice and Braille,
ePub and DAISY 4 (when available)
i-access®
Burn on Demand
 Multi-title CDs, automated packing and dispatch

14. Thank You
Q & A