Introducing Thorium a new free desktop EPUB reader

Introducing Thorium, a new free desktop EPUB reader for Windows and Mac November 21, 2019 Accessing Higher Ground, Westminster, CO

Presentation summary Thorium is a new desktop reading app with the ambition to become a true world-class reading solution for students using for Windows, mac. OS or Linux. We will demonstrate the application, with an emphasis on features of interest to students who are blind, low vision or have a specific learning disability.

Your workshop presenters George Kerscher Richard Orme

Overview Why do we need another reading app? The main features of Thorium Reader Accessibility highlights On the roadmap Gathering your input Next steps

Digital reading is embracing EPUB provides • a delightful reading experience across diverse reading surfaces • cross platform solution based on, and evolving, with the web • an open format for distribution into multiple channels • a format with accessibility baked in from the beginning The publishing industry has embraced EPUB 3 • > 80% of new Higher Education textbooks are in EPUB 3 • textbook platforms Vital. Source & Redshelf around 1 M EPUBs • journals are supporting HTML online and EPUB download • Apple, Amazon, Kobo and Google ingest millions of EPUBs

Another reading app? Readium provides a core technology stack This a reference implementation of Readium 2 Follows developments in standard and best practice Open source, for others to build upon EPUB support in Edge is going away Requests for better options on mac. OS

Main features ● “Desktop” reader app ○ Windows ○ Mac ○ Linux ● Free (of charge) ● Free (Open Source Software) ● Developed by EDRLab

A Few Key Features ● Accessible User Interface ○ blindness, low vision, dyslexia ○ keyboard use, screen readers, high-contrast ● Organized bookshelf (publication metadata, user tags, sorting, filtering, searching) ● Customizable text layout / formatting ● Text To Speech (TTS) read aloud ● Bookmarks, annotations / highlights

Supported formats ● EPUB ○ reflow and fixed layout ● LCP (DRM) ● OPDS (feeds / online catalogs) ● PDF, audio books, comics ● Web Publications

Under the hood ● Made with Readium desktop SDK ● Built with Electron (Chromium) ○ User Interface = Web technologies ○ HTML + CSS + SVG + Javascript

Start of live demo The following slides highlight the main points covered in the live demonstration of the application

Bookshelf and Reader Views two main windows minimalist, distraction-free environment

Organized Bookshelf custom user labels / tags, filtering, sorting, searching

OPDS publication feeds, online catalogs

LCP (DRM) passphrase-protected publications encrypted resources books loans, time-constraints

Multiple Reader Windows e. g. comparative book study large / extended display

Customizable Document Styling text layout, formatting, colour themes, typography etc.

Custom Fonts preloaded selection, includes dyslexia font + system font, web fonts

Dark and Sepia Modes

Pagination, Scrolling two-page spread vs. single column

Selection Highlights / Annotations (“test app” prototype, will come to Thorium)

Text To Speech (TTS) / Read Aloud (“test app” prototype, will come to Thorium)

User Interface Localization (currently English, French, German)

Navigation Table of Contents page navigation EPUB landmarks Search

Keyboard Navigation outlined document hyperlinks automatic page turn

Text To Speech (TTS) Read-Aloud ● Support for mixed languages ● Word-level highlighting / emphasis ● Linear timeline control (quick seek and play) ● Sentence detection ○ breaks down long text into short utterances ○ pause/resume, previous/next navigation ● Configurable text styling / formatting

In the works Read aloud Math

End of live demo

Current status ● ● Released in the Windows Store Soft launch and seeking feedback Fixing user interface bugs Improving screen reader support ○ Narrator, NVDA, JAWS, Voice. Over ● Read aloud and Math support

Learn More. . . ● Download the app in Windows Store ● Git. Hub for mac. OS and other versions ○ https: //github. com/readium-desktop ○ “readium desktop” is the SDK ○ Thorium is an app based on the SDK ● EDRLab ○ https: //edrlab. org

Take aways • • • Thorium Reader is a free and accessible reading application for Windows and mac. OS Thorium is in active development, the team welcomes feature requests and bug reports If you are looking for an EPUB app to replace Edge, Thorium an option for all students, including those with print disabilities