How to get the best results from the AFS
The Alternative Format Suite (AFS) provides a service for staff needing to produce accessible electronic texts for students who have difficulty with printed texts. We produce both an audio file and a proof-read electronic copy of the text. The audio version is produced either by skilled volunteers reading the text aloud, or, if a quicker result is needed, using a computer-generated voice.This page describes what is required in order to get the best results from this service.
For the greatest efficiency and accuracy of conversion, we start from one of two possible sources:
- an existing electronic text version
- good quality printed text which we convert to electronic text using a sophisticated scanner and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
When scanning a document, the quality of the final product depends on the quality of the printed text that is supplied to the AFS. Previously scanned pages, unless they have been scanned specifically for processing by OCR software, will not usually be adequate: we would usually need to scan the originals again.
Similarly, a poor quality photocopy will cause major problems for the OCR software, and in fact is virtually useless; even a good photocopy when scanned will cause some problems for the OCR software.
The original book is always preferable.
If an electronic text version is already available, we still require either the original printed text or a high-quality photocopy, for proof-reading and for the production of an audio version that deals with the footnotes and illustrations in a proper manner.
We reserve the right to reject material that is of insufficient quality to produce good results in timely fashion.
To summarise: so that we can produce a good quality result, please supply the following:
- an electronic text, if available:
that is, an editable text file or Word document, not a scanned image of printed pages
You can either send this by e-mail or provide a link to a copy on the web.
- a good paper copy:
- the original book if available: this is preferable if scanning is required
- a good photocopy otherwise
If we can hold the book only for a short period (for example if the book is needed back in the Library for the 3-day or short-loan collections) we shall scan it quickly; we then still require a good photocopy for proof-reading and the audio version.
If you have any questions please contact Paresh Raval (e-mail pr19, telephone 2066).
