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A Call for Millions: Ending the Global Book Famine for the Blind

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

Billions have been spent addressing the problem over the past decade. Benetech has already solved this problem for students in the United States. Very few philanthropic opportunities come with the chance to solve a global problem with modest risk. How can we solve a centuries-old problem for so little money?

Global 109
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Technological Protection Measures and the Blind

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

Why Circumvention for the Purposes of Access is Crucial A Bookshare Briefing Paper Prepared for the Diplomatic Conference for Visually Impaired Persons The distributors of digital content often use technological protection measures (TPMs) to discourage the making of unauthorized copies.

Measure 181
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Big News at Benetech (and for me!)

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

Under Betsy’s guidance, Benetech is developing new software for social good enterprises to connect communities with inclusive technology: Service Net: Reshaping the social safety net in human services to better connect people to the services they need. I look forward to staying in touch with you about technology for good!

News 189
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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. Love of the print book. We can do better!

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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. We operate at the intersection of technology and social impact, and therefore our ideal candidates will demonstrate these dual interests and experiences.

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

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

Zach has Cerebral Palsy , which causes movement and coordination problems, and which keeps him from speaking and walking. 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 loves reading non-fiction. This wasn’t always the case, though.

Challenge 144
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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. Next month, I will be heading to TOC a couple of days early in order to participate in a W3C Workshop on eBooks and the Open Web Platform, where I will be talking about Social DRM (Digital Rights Management).