The tale The Mirror – Outline of a new theory of the human soul, by Machado de Assis, received a special version from Editora da Unicamp. Transitioning between paper and digital, the edition explores reality effects and interactivity with social networks. In addition, it has several accessibility features, which promise to make reading more enjoyable for people who are deaf or visually impaired. The 100% Unicamp production, as highlighted by Márcia Abreu, director of the Editora, is the result of a partnership between the Editora of Unicamp and the Permanent Commission for Unicamp Entrance Exams (Comvest), the César Lattes Central Library (BCCL) and the Executive Secretariat for Communication (SEC). The book was launched this Wednesday (3), at the Bookstore of the Institute of Language Studies (IEL).
“The idea is to allow the reader to interact with the narrative in a different, more contemporary way. Everyone who reads interacts with what they are reading, imagining it. Now, in addition to imagining, you will be able to move and see yourself in the character's shoes. We believe that this can enrich the reading of those who are taking the entrance exam, for example”, explained Márcia, remembering that the story is mandatory reading in the Unicamp Entrance Exam.
The augmented reality and interactivity effects allow the reader to visualize environments described in the text and even put themselves in the character's shoes. The application also offers a sharing option, which adds the excerpt of the text to which it refers to the image of the reader-character. You can also opt for the audiobook, with a dramatic narration by the Institute of Arts student, Alice Garcia. To help readers who are not accustomed to the language of the 19th century a little more, the publication has a glossary, which describes the terms in Portuguese and in Libras, and an introductory explanation by professor Marisa Lajolo.
For Gabriel Collado, a student at the Institute of Computing, who received a scholarship to develop the software, the publication can offer a more relaxed read to pre-university students. “This entrance exam period is very stressful. When you get something related to the subject and that helps you relax a little, without losing focus, it’s really good,” he commented.
Accessibility
Among the accessibility resources, readers can read the entire work in Libras, the Brazilian sign language. This option gives deaf people the possibility of reading in their first language, considering that Portuguese, for them, is the second. The translation into Libras was done by Liliam Ferreira Paiato, Juliana Fernandes da Silva and Andrea Rosa, employees of the Brazilian Sign Language Translators and Interpreters Center (Tils) at Unicamp, and can be viewed via the app.
The ePub version of the book also has one more feature, aimed at blind people. It is a comprehensive reading tool, which includes audio description of images and the possibility of regulating the reading speed. “The publication is a way of telling people with disabilities that they can also be at the University”, said Fernanda Alves Landim, from BC's Accessibility Laboratory (LAB), responsible for the e-Pub's audio description.
Likewise, José Alves, coordinator of Comvest, highlighted the publication's consonance with the inclusion policies developed by Unicamp. “When the works, which are recommended for the Entrance Examination, also start to dialogue with students with special needs, you favor equal conditions between candidates”, he pointed out. The coordinator of the Unicamp Library System, Valéria Martins, highlighted the pioneering nature of the project and its importance at the University. “For the first time, we have a book with all accessibility features,” she highlighted.
The mirror - Outline of a new theory of the human soul
Author: Machado de Assis
Organizer: Marisa Lajolo
ISBN: 978-85-268-1481-3
Edition: 1st
Year: 2019
Pages: 72
Dimensions: 10,5 x 8
R$20,00
