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Re: Accessibility of EPUB vs PDF

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From: Ajay Sharma
Date: Jan 15, 2018 8:13AM

Hi,

Due to the fixed layout nature of PDF, it is not a suitable format for many.
Users cannot customize the display e.g. line spacing, word spacing,
background and foreground colour, font etc. All this is very important for
users with dyslexia and visual impairments.
Further, PDF is not suitable for viewing on small screens.
Since it isolates a large group of users, PDF should not be considered for
electronic publishing. When documents are intended to be printed, then PDF
should be used.

EPUB fulfils all the requirements listed above.
When we talk about accessible content, the main principle is that users with
different disabilities have different needs and they may prefer different
formats for a variety of reasons.
Some may like DAISY just because they are used to it while others may like
HTML pages because it does not require them to use specific apps and
devices.
EPUB is the most suitable master format. If needed other formats can be
easily derived from it.
EPUB is the format through which Inclusive Publishing can be promoted.
EPUB version 3 and later has been created for the mainstream, it fulfils the
market requirements and at the same time has accessibility bilt into it.
Publishers can create EPUB to sell through online retailers like Amazon,
Google etc. The same file be used by users with disabilities without any
modification.

You may find a few arguments here:
https://www.kotobee.com/blog/epub-vs-pdf-battle-formats/
and
https://blog.reedsy.com/epub-vs-mobi-vs-pdf/

Best Regards,
Ajay



-----Original Message-----

> On 13-Jan-2018, at 2:59 AM, L Snider < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>
> Hi Derek,
>
> One of the big publishers went to EPUB, and not PDF about a year ago. I
> could be totally wrong, but it was a big one like Harper Collins.
>
> The one other issue I found a year or so ago, was that the readers were not
> as common as I would have liked...That was a sticking point as well, even
> though EPUB is basically HTML in a box. Today, I am not sure I would say
> that, but it hasn't changed significantly.
>
> I still like the idea of EPUB a lot, and think it has great potential.
> PDF/UA has helped PDFs, and I now don't consider them apples and oranges,
> even though one can still argue that PDFs are problematic in many ways.
>
> Hope that helps!
>
> Cheers
>
> Lisa
>
> On Fri, Jan 12, 2018 at 2:35 PM, Jackson, Derek <
> <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>
>> Hi Lisa,
>>
>>
>> Yes that helps a lot! It also leads me down another good path of looking
>> at other publishers that have made the switch to EPUB.
>>
>>
>> Thank You!
>>
>> Derek
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> >> From: WebAIM-Forum < <EMAIL REMOVED> > on behalf of L
>> Snider < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
>> Sent: Friday, January 12, 2018 3:07:20 PM
>> To: WebAIM Discussion List
>> Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Accessibility of EPUB vs PDF
>>
>> Hi Derek,
>>
>> I did extensive research on EPUB about a year ago, and just started another
>> round. I found a ton of resources in the academic book publishing industry,
>> like this one:
>> http://accessinghigherground.org/epub-versus-pdf-epub-is-
>> the-new-standard-for-accessible-ebooks/
>>
>> A link to a PowerPoint is here (sorry for the long URL)
>> https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&
>> cd=5&cad=rja&uact=8&ved
hUKEwjhxryUm9PYAhUO7mMKHf5FB
>> mQQFghSMAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Faccessinghigherground.org%
>> 2Fwp%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F06%2FePUB-versus-PDF.
>> pptx&authuser=1&usg=AOvVaw2KpeGmfDfsMf93m2GUW6TD
>>
>> I would suggest not going lower than EPUB 3, as Daisy was brought into that
>> version.
>>
>> Major places like IBM went to EPUB:
>> http://forums.techsoup.org/cs/community/f/24/t/38861.aspx
>>
>> There is now a good EPUB checker that was brought out recently:
>> http://validator.idpf.org/
>>
>> One problem I found was the creation tools were lacking. InDesign can make
>> a pretty good EPUB (if you make that doc accessible), but for Word, etc. I
>> had real problems finding a good solution. There are a couple of creation
>> programs out there, but that was the sticking point at that time. Calibre
>> was a really easy to use convertor, but it only did EPUB 2 files...I wish
>> someone would update it, it would really make a huge difference!
>>
>> Hope that helps!
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Lisa
>> PS-Some of the links above are not the best resources, but they were the
>> ones that sprang to mind first!
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Jan 12, 2018 at 1:51 PM, Jackson, Derek <
>> <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>>
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>>
>>> I am trying to make the argument that relying solely on PDF has a lot of
>>> pitfalls when considering the need to provide accessible digital content,
>>> while offering EPUB in conjunction with PDF brings great benefits in
>> terms
>>> of accessibility (providing DAISY Files, customizable
>>> color/font/background, Reflowable, etc.). I wonder if anyone on this
>>> listserv might know of related resources or have thoughts that I could
>> rely
>>> on to make this argument... or perhaps does anyone find an issue with
>> this
>>> notion?
>>>
>>>
>>> In addition I have been looking for any information on user preferences
>>> for accessible formats, e.g. what is the break down of usage/preference
>> for
>>> accessible content in different formats (PDF vs EPUB vs HTML(browser)).
>>> Does anyone know if that has been gathered anywhere?
>>>
>>>
>>> Any help, ideas, references, or suggestions is greatly appreciated!
>>>
>>> Derek
>>>
>>>
>>> Derek Jackson
>>>
>>> Manager, Content Production
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> HARVARD BUSINESS PUBLISHING
>>>
>>> 20 Guest Street, Suite 700 | Brighton, MA 02135
>>>
>>> 617.787.6711 | 617.783.7492 fax
>>>
>>> hbsp.harvard.edu
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> >>> >>> >>> >>>
>> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>
> > > >