Microsoft intros DAISY XML for visually impaired

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Microsoft Corp. has partnered with industry and advocacy group leaders worldwide to launch new software that will make it easier for anyone to create documents and content that will be accessible for blind and print-disabled individuals.

The new “Save as DAISY XML” add-in, designed for Microsoft Office Word 2007, Word 2003 and Word XP, will allow users to save Open XML-based text files into DAISY XML, the foundation of the globally accepted DAISY standard for reading and publishing navigable multimedia content, Microsoft said in a press release.

The “Save as DAISY XML” add-in was created through an open source project with Microsoft, Sonata Software Ltd and the Digital Accessible Information SYstem (DAISY) Consortium.

The new version of the DAISY Pipeline, a free downloadable transformation suite that supports the seamless conversion of DAISY XML into DAISY Digital Talking Book (DTB) format was also released today.

Together these technologies provide a comprehensive solution for converting text documents into accessible formats for people with print disabilities, the press release said.

“This new ‘Save as DAISY XML’ functionality for Microsoft Word has the potential to break down barriers for millions of visually impaired individuals around the world and enhance the experience for virtually anyone who loves to read,” said Chris Capossela, senior vice president of the Information Worker Product Management Group at Microsoft.

“This tool will make it easier for anyone— from a child learning her or his lessons, to a government agency providing vital information to its citizens — to create accessible content.”