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Bringing Millions of Books to Billions of People: Making the Book Truly Accessible

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

Today, we are poised at a moment in time where we can transcend the limitations of past book technologies and bring the power of books to all humans. However, as a technology, printed books come with serious challenges for some communities (like blind people) that technology can unlock. First, they are place-based.

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Are You Passionate about Technology and Social Good? Benetech Needs You!

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

Guest post by Betsy Beaumon, President, Benetech We are seeking visionary leaders to join Benetech in applying technology to advance the rights of disadvantaged people around the world. You’ve come to the right place: Benetech. We are Silicon Valley’s deliberately nonprofit software company.

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Join Benetech in the Skoll Foundation’s 2014 Social Entrepreneurs Challenge!

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

“They get frustrated and don’t want to read,” she says, “but access to digital books and reading technologies changed all that for Zach.” Zach Bryant The change happened when Zach was in high school and his Assistive Technology teacher introduced him to Benetech’s Bookshare library. Thank you for your support!

Challenge 144
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Receiving the 2013 Migel Medal

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

This is the field where I found my life’s calling, applying technology to meet critical needs of society, where the market is likely to fail. And when the idea of a peer-to-peer ebook library came to me, it was George who I went to with the idea. I especially want to acknowledge two people who helped make this award possible.

eBook 221
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The Gift of Reading, a Circle of Life

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

It became a burden to his family and caregivers to constantly drop what they were doing to turn a page, so he began seeking out ebooks. It also demonstrates how each ebook that is added to the Bookshare collection is a brick in our members’ foundation of independence and inclusion. Eventually he had to ask others to turn pages for him.

Life 147
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Social DRM: It’s About Equal Access for All

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

There is no better place to engage with colleagues about new technologies, changing business models, fresh ideas, and shared standards. However, strong DRM turns out to be an impediment to the commercial distribution of accessible ebooks.

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Increasing Accessible Publishing Globally

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

The November 2012 General Assembly took place in Bangkok, Thailand. The world has finally moved beyond just electronically creating books that are then distributed as ordinary print books to actually delivering digital ebooks. The organization’s priorities are decided upon at the WBU General Assembly, which is held every four years.