ION Systems Release ION eMonocle Reader

By Planet eBook Editor
August 14, 2001

ION Systems has released the first Open eBook (OeB) reading software for sighted, low visioned and blind users. The software allows readers to resize text and images to a level that exceeds the Americans with Disabilities Act. ION eMonocle Reader is offered free for download from the ION Systems Web site.

Press Release

ION Systems, Inc. Releases the ION eMonocle Reader, an Open eBook (OeB) Reader Application that Exceeds the Low Vision Requirements for both the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 508

ION's eMonocle Reader, One of the first Open eBook Readers delivering "Readability" and "Accessibility" Over Other Screen Readers in the Market

Crystal City, MO August 1st, 2001 –After 10 years of research and development creating electronic screen rendering products for simultaneous use by sighted, low visioned and blind users, ION Systems, Inc. launches their first OeB screen reader called ION eMonocle Reader. Special content flow technology allows text and graphics to be adjusted by individual users, maximizing comprehension and retention over other interfaces available today. The ION eMonocle Reader allows for text on-screen to be resized from 4 point to 144 point size on demand. Besides making content easier to read, all text and graphics can now automatically be resized on demand to exceed the Americans with Disability Act requirement for low-vision readers. When converted to the OeB format (a service of ION Systems), any text or graphic content, at no additional charge to the publisher or end user can now be instantly converted to large print electronic books for the underserved low-vision market.

The power of the ION eMonocle application is demonstrated in its ability to open any OeB publication without modification. Publishers will have the freedom to build a variety of content files that will be able to be read by any user operating the ION eMonocle Reader application.

Installed as a downloaded application, the eMonocle Reader will offer standard features of word and phrase search with navigational controls (either keyboard or mouse commands). Page turning commands mimic the real life book turning experience; no scrolling or page manipulation is required to read text or graphics from one page to the next. Any graphic may easily be enlarged or rotated for improved viewing at a click of a button to fill the entire screen or larger than screen size for full detail disclosure.

ION's eMonocle Reader is free to the end user and licensed to vendors either as a stand alone application or made available through ION Systems' GalaxyLibrary.com ePublishing service. The eMonocle interface is designed to work with most existing Digital Rights Management systems offering the most flexibility to the content owners. Future releases are planned to include interface options for existing Braille readers and advance features targeted at the educational market. For a free download and demonstration of ION eMonocle Reader application click on: www.ionsystems.com/emonocle.

About ION Systems, Inc.

Founded in 1992, ION Systems, Inc., is a privately held company based in Crystal City, MO. It specializes in the development of Internet software for simultaneous use by sighted, low visioned and blind users. GalaxyLibrary.com is a secure ePublishing service of ION Systems, Inc. that provides an end-to-end distribution and ePublishing solution for publishers, retailers and end users. GalaxyLibrary.com uses ION's patent-pending eMonocle tm Reader technology which allows content to be re-flowed so text and graphics can be adjusted by individual users, maximizing comprehension and retention over other readers available today. The ION eMonocle Reader's unique design maximizes readability by allowing text on-screen to be resized from 4 point to 144 point font size on demand, exceeding the Americans with Disabilities Act standards for the Low Visioned. Key to ION's strategy is being an IBM business partner. To experience ION Systems’ patent-pending technology in action, visit http://www.ionsystems.com or http://www.galaxylibrary.com.