TECHNOLOGIES FOR AIM AND NIMAS

These resources focus on the production and use of AIM in a variety of formats and include information on content development, creating NIMAS files, conversion services, digital talking books and other output formats, and hardware and software for AIM.

Production

Information on the creation of AIM.  For additional information about the production of AIM source materials, see also the Production page of our Learn section.

Understanding XML

A brief introduction to XML providing an overview and links to additional information and resources.

Understanding  DAISY

A brief introduction to DAISY and digitial talking books (DTBs) including links to additional information and resources.

NIMAS Technical Specification v1.1

The NIMAS Technical Specification includes information about its publication in the Federal Register and its status as a regulation, the Baseline Element Set, the Optional Element Set, and a Modular Extensions section.

MathML in NIMAS

In March, 2009, the NIMAS Standards Board voted by a clear majority to recommend to the Office of Special Education Programs, United States Department of Education that MathML become part of the required NIMAS Baseline Element Set. The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) responded with a letter to all state directors of Special Education.

NIMAS Exemplars

The NIMAS exemplars are sample materials intended as resources for those creating and learning about NIMAS filesets.

Validators Comparison

The validators comparison page shows what each of three NIMAS fileset validators check for in XML, OPF, and images files comprising a valid fileset according to the NIMAS technical specificcation: the Bookshare NIMAS Validator, the DAISY Pipeline DTBook Validator, and the NIMAC validator.

Tools

This section provides access to a variety of AIM tools, both for creation (NIMAS Conversion Tool, for example), and use (readers that import NIMAS files, guidelines for use of playback hardware) of AIM.

Digital Talking Books (DTBs)

Information about DTBs including descriptions of play-back software and hardware, DAISY-capable play-back and production options, and reviews and comparisons of DTB products.

NIMAS Conversion Tool

The NIMAS Conversion Tool converts NIMAS source files into leveled XML files and/or into leveled HTML files that can be opened and viewed in a browser.

Other Conversion Tools

This page contains information about and links to other conversion tools that work with NIMAS files.

Readers that Import NIMAS Files

This page describes products that use and convert NIMAS filesets. These products open or import NIMAS filesets and either read them or export them as another format (some products change NIMAS source files to a different format before reading and some work with the files directly).

Authoring Software

Among the many varied kinds of authoring software available, two of the most pertinent to AIM are those designed for creating digital talking books and those for creating images.