More Information
Second Sight is specifically designed for screen-reading software programs like Freedom Scientific's JAWS. JAWS works by reading aloud what's on the computer screen, and sending the output to either an audible voice simulator or refreshable Braille device. (While there are other software programs available, JAWS is the only one I'm familiar enough with to talk about.)
JAWS reads in a literal fashion and cannot distinguish between the main text of a rendered document and it's supporting features like line numbers or footnotes. Science and Health's supporting features, specifically line numbers and Marginal headings, are interpreted by JAWS as part of the book's main text.
For example, consider the following paragraph from page 213, line 20. First, please read the following text to yourself, and listen to your inner voice as you go. Then, listen to the four mp3 files following.
A quick word about the audio samples. For someone who is not used to it, the JAWS voice can be a little rough, but that is not the issue here. What's important is whether or not you can make sense of and understand what JAWS is reading. As you listen, look at the paragraph below and see if you can follow along with JAWS.
Listen to JAWS read this paragraph on Spirituality.com.
Listen to JAWS read this paragraph in the old Concord for Windows 95.
In the last example, JAWS reading from Second Sight, the Marginal heading has been placed at the beginning of the paragraph; line and page numbers are hidden, but can be recalled with the press of a key; hyphenated words are collapsed; and the text sounds almost as lovely as it is written.
More Audio Samples
The following mp3 audio samples consist of JAWS reading various selections from Concord, and then from Second Sight. There is a short pause between the readings in each sample.
Science and Health, page 219, lines 23 through 28
Science and Health, page 200, lines 25 through 29
Matthew, chapter 5, verses 8 through 14
