Amazon developing Kindle tools to aid the blind

by Stevie Smith - Dec 8 2009, 07:38

Online retailer Amazon has revealed two fresh features for its popular Kindle electronic book reader, both of which have been designed to increase the device’s appeal for prospective users that are either blind or suffer with visual impairment.

The feature additions, which were officially announced by the Seattle-based giant on Monday, come after the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Syracuse University both refused to circulate the Kindle as an alternative to published textbooks because of the device’s lack of accessibility for blind students.

Their refusal to carry the Kindle has seemingly prompted Amazon to reveal it is developing extra large fonts for the device, along with an audio-based menu navigation system that will help visually impaired users reach the Kindle’s integrated read-aloud feature.

Speaking with the Associated Press, a spokesman for the National Federation of the Blind said that, while the organisation doesn’t know enough about Amazon’s updates to definitely comment as to their benefit or suitability for the blind community, Amazon’s commitment to improve its Kindle platform is certainly a good sign.

According to Amazon, its new Kindle features will be ready by the summer of 2010.

In related news, Amazon has announced the Atlantic Fiction for Kindle series, which is a digital extension of The Atlantic magazine. Exclusive to Kindle users, the series will feature never-before-published short stories by both established and up-and-coming authors.

The series is set to begin with Shovel Kings by award-winning author Edna O’Brien, and also Cynara by Christopher Buckley – a long time contributor to The Atlantic. Future works are expected from the likes of Patricia Engel, Anne Korkeakivi, Richard Lange and Stuart Nadler.

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