Digital Text: Holding promise for diverse learners!
Questions and Answers

by Brian Doore

Q: What is “digital text?”

A: Digital Text is information that has been encoded into a computer. And for a more detailed definition click on: http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/ideas/presentations/digitaltext.cfm

Q: What can you do with digital text?

A: Once information is digitally encoded, special software allows the user to:

View the information as a video with sound.
View the video with text (similar to close captioning)

View only the text in large print.

Braille the text on a Brailler.

Change the speed of the information as it is presented.

Change the sound output of the information.

In some cases, change the reading / comprehension level of the information.

Q: What are within media transformations?

A: Within media transformations are just that – changes within a given media to provide or improve access for all people. On example is the computer’s ability to display text in a variety of sizes. Another within media transformation is the option of slowing down the speech the computer is reading aloud. Within media transformations provide access for many learners but not all.

Q: What are across-media transformations?

A: Across media transformations are changes that allow written text to be spoken, and visual graphics to be described in words or text. Similarly, written and spoken materials can be represented by pictures, graphs and symbols. One challenge of across-media transformations is the degree to which the meaning is lost or changed when going from a visual presentation to words. Across media transformations require thoughtful consideration of the information being presented, and in the case of text to speech, complicated algorithms to determine the exact usage and meaning on the text in the context it is being used.

Q: Why should schools and businesses invest time and money in digital text?

A: There are many reasons it makes good sense to move to digital versions of information. First, we have an ever-increasing amount of information that can be accessed. Already, paper versions of reference materials have become largely obsolete. As information changes, the same computer can access it, while printed books must be thrown out and re-printed. Also, the ability to use information in multiple ways will benefit everyone, in all walks of life. For example, digital text is what allows a person to receive a voice mail message on the phone, from a pager, or from their computer. As more people make use of digital text, the greater the market demand will be, and the stronger the competition between businesses developing these technologies. In the end, all people in our society will benefit from the greater efficiency and ease of digital text – just as we have befitted from the development of the computer.

Q: How do I learn more about digital text?

A: There are many different web sites on this topic. A great place to start is at the Center for Applied Special Technologies (CAST) website (www.cast.org) or with any of the following links to more information.

Searchebooks: http://www.searchbooks.com

The Berkeley Digital Library: http://sunsite.berkeley.edu

The University of Virginia E-book library: http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/ebooks/

Project Gutenberg: http://www.promo.net/pg/

On-Line Books Page: http://digital.library.upenn.edu/books/index.html

The Children’s Literature Web Guide: http://www.ucalgary.ca/

The Internet Public Library: http://www.ipl.org/

Universal Design for Learning Associate Editor Column, Journal of Special Education Technology E Journal, Volume 17, Number 2, Spring 2002: http://jset.unlv.edu/17.2T/tasseds/rose.html

This is an official publication of The University of Maine
A member of the University of Maine System

Updated: 01/11/2007