Last updated: May 28, 2014
Notes
The table below describes whether an e-book hardware reading system…
- includes built-in text-to-speech (TTS);
- displays images, scalable vector graphics (SVG) or MathML;
- provides screen-reader or TTS access to descriptions of images or SVGs;
- provides screen-reader or TTS access to MathML.
Unless stated otherwise, all of the reading systems below support the display of images. A field containing a dash does not necessarily indicate that a feature is unsupported, but that more research is required to make a determination.
For more information about metadata and image descriptions, read DIAGRAM’s Potential Use of Image Description Metadata for Accessibility and the follow-up addendum, Alternatives, Content Model, New Tools, Dependencies and Updates. Also, read the results of the 2012 DIAGRAM Reading Technology Survey to learn how people who are blind and visually impaired obtain and access reading material.
| Name, Cost | OS | Source files | Alter text/image size | Built-in TTS | Read alt or longdesc | Display MathML | Read MathML | Display SVG | Read SVG title or desc | Misc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPad; $ | iOS | Varies depending on software reading system | Yes | Comes with VoiceOver screen reader; some software reading systems may also provide independent TTS | Depends on software reading system | Depends on software reading system | Depends on software reading system | Depends on software reading system | Depends on software reading system | VoiceOver screen reader will interact with apps that have been authored accessibly |
| iPhone; $ | iOS | Varies depending on software reading system | Yes | Comes with VoiceOver screen reader; some software reading systems may also provide independent TTS | Depends on software reading system | Depends on software reading system | Depends on software reading system | Depends on software reading system | Depends on software reading system | VoiceOver screen reader will interact with apps that have been authored accessibly |
| iPod touch; $ | iOS | Varies depending on software reading system | Yes | Comes with VoiceOver screen reader; some software reading systems may also provide independent TTS | Depends on software reading system | Depends on software reading system | Depends on software reading system | Depends on software reading system | Depends on software reading system | VoiceOver screen reader will interact with apps that have been authored accessibly |
| Kindle Paperwhite 3G; $ | Linux | Kindle Format 8 (AZW3), Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, HTML; others | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | Comments based on documentation only. |
| Kindle Fire HD/HDX; $ | Android | Kindle (AZW), KF8, TXT, PDF, HTML; others | Yes | Comes with TalkBack screen reader; some software reading systems may also provide independent TTS | No | No | No | No | No | TalkBack screen reader will interact with apps that have been authored accessibly. Read about the Kindle’s accessibility features. |
| Kobo Aura HD; $ | Linux | EPUB, PDF, MOBI, HTML; others | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | Comments based on documentation only. |
| Nexus 5; $ | Android | Varies depending on software reading system | Yes | Comes with TalkBack screen reader; some software reading systems may also provide independent TTS | Depends on software reading system | Depends on software reading system | Depends on software reading system | Depends on software reading system | Depends on software reading system | TalkBack screen reader will interact with apps that have been authored accessibly |
| Nexus 7, Nexus 10; $ | Android | Varies depending on software reading system | Yes | Comes with TalkBack screen reader; some software reading systems may also provide independent TTS | Depends on software reading system | Depends on software reading system | Depends on software reading system | Depends on software reading system | Depends on software reading system | TalkBack screen reader will interact with apps that have been authored accessibly |
| Nook Tablets; $ | Android | EPUB, PDF, CBZ, DOC, DOCX, others | Text, yes; images yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | Comments based on documentation only. |
| Nook eReaders; $ | Android | EPUB, PagePerfect, PDF, CBZ, others | Text, yes; images yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Comments based on documentation only. |
