e-book Hardware

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.

Ideas that work.The DIAGRAM Center is a Benetech initiative supported by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (Cooperative Agreement #H327B100001). Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of the U.S. Department of Education.

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