An iPad book for the deaf

16 years ago

“With its color screen and ability to run multiple applications, Apple’s iPad holds great promise for creating multimedia work that can redefine the nature of a book,” Erica A. Taub reports for The New York Times.

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“One new attempt to do so is ‘Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy,’ an iPad version of the well-received children’s book that brings to it what the publisher, iStoryTime, says is a first: an iPad book complete with sign language for deaf children,” Taub reports, “The US$2.99 app offers three versions of this charmingly illustrated work: one that children can read themselves, one that would be read to them and one signed by a woman who stands off to the side of the screen, with the reduced-size book running next to her.”

Taub reports, “The signed version is actually a QuickTime movie, which can be paused by the user. The woman signing stands against a black background, her movements flowing flawlessly as the book is read aloud by an off-camera narrator.”