Amazon ebook readers

Kindle 3 (hardware)

There are two versions of the Amazon Kindle 3: a wi-fi only version and a wi-fi and 3G version that can connect wherever you are, like a mobile phone. Unlike a mobile phone, there is no ongoing charge for the 3G facility in the UK and many other countries.

It is possible to use the Kindle to purchase and download ebooks directly to the device, but this facility does not work with the speech or magnification facilities. You can also use the Amazon website to purchase material and have it sent wirelessly to your Kindle device.

Benefits

Text to speech feature for ebook content.
Keyboard shortcut to turn on text to speech (Shift+Symbol key).
VoiceGuide (audible menus) for most menu items. Once VoiceGuide is switched on, it stays on whenever you turn on the device.
New improved e-ink display for improved contrast and sharper display.
Three font options: standard, condensed and sans serif.
Eight text size options, up to point size 36 (approximately).
Three settings for customising line spacing, equating to single-, 1.5- and double-line spacing approximately.
Three settings for customising words per line, so column width of text can be 5-6cm (2 inches); 6-7cm (2.5 inches) or 7-8cm (3 inches) wide approximately.
Preserves visual settings: when you open a book and customise your settings, they apply equally to any other book you open.

Obstacles

Text to speech feature is not enabled for all ebooks: we estimate it is enabled for approximately 80 per cent of titles.
Text to speech is not navigable - you can simply stop and start it.
Voice Guide does not work on the Kindle store.
No keyboard echo for text input for audio users.
Voice Guide and Text to Speech features do not work seamlessly. together, so functions such as 'Table of Contents' and 'Search' are inaccessible to audio users.
No text inversion option.
Cannot increase font size of menu items.
Download our initial user assessment of the Kindle 3 for more details.

Kindle for PC with accessibility (software)

In May 2011, a new release of Kindle for PC that incorporates a text-to-speech engine was made available from Amazon.

Benefits

Built-in text-to-speech for content of all books (requires active screen reader).
Choice of two voices and three speed settings.
Continuous reading or single page modes, and navigation by sentence.
Many font size options up to approximately point size 56.
Three colour options: white on black, black on white, and sepia.
Margins are adjustable, which affects words per line.
Brightness is adjustable from within the program.
Some keyboard navigation, which could be useful to people with low vision.
Preserves settings across all titles.

Obstacles

Colours cannot be customised outside the range identified above.
Adjustable text size applies to content only, not menus or other controls.

Kindle for iPad (software)

Benefits

'Zoom' increases font size to point size 80 approximately.
Screen brightness is adjustable.
Inherent White on Black option for content only.
Content and menus accessible with iPad's White on Black function.

Obstacles

Only four font sizes, up to point size 14 approximately.
Not accessible with VoiceOver.
No custom colour options.

Kindle DX (hardware)

Please note this device is not available from UK outlets.

Benefits

Large screen: 9.7 inches.
Text to speech feature.
Eight text size options, up to point size 36 (approximately).
Zooming feature for PDFs.
Line spacing and words per line can be customised.
Preserves your settings.
Portrait and landscape orientation.
Wireless ebook delivery, so you don't need to use a computer to download your ebook.