The first step to ensure that students can retrieve Alternative Formats from course documents that are processed through Panorama, they will need to install the Browser plugin.
Installing the Browser Extension on Chromium-Based Browsers
- To download the YuJa Panorama extension, log in to Blackboard and select a Panorama-enabled course. Then, from the left-side panel, click on Panorama.
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This will direct you to the LTI application. From the left-hand navigation menu, select User Setup.
- This will display the official browser plugin that will identify and scan your documents.
- Once the plugin is installed, the setup is complete! All documents currently attached to Blackboard provide students with their required Alternative Formats for download within the browser.
For best performance, we recommend installing the extension only on Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browsers.
Accessing Alternative Formats
Alternative Formats are generated on your documents automatically and do not require any extra configuration or editing in Blackboard on your behalf.
- Locate the document within your course for which you'd like to generate an Alternative Format.
- In your course content, click the Alternative Formats icon
to the right of the document title.
Note: Your instructor may have disabled Alternative Formats for certain documents. They will be indicated by the disabled Alternative Formats icon.
Understanding Alternative Formats
Alternative Formats allow for the conversation of documents into a wide variety of accessible documents. Below is the list of available Panorama Alternative Formats.
- Source File: View the document in its original format, suitable for download viewing.
- PDF: View the document in PDF format, suitable for both online and download viewing.
- Text File: View the document in a pure text format without any formatting styles, suitable for both online and download viewing.
- Immersive Reader: Allows for cCustomizations to text preferences, grammar options, and reading preferences while following along with the audio playback.
- Gradient Reader: Enhances visual word recognition when reading by providing a guiding color gradient.
- EPUB: View the document in the ebook format, suitable for any ebook reader application.
- Braille: View the document in the braille grade 2 format, suitable for download viewing (a braille reader is required).
- Audio Podcast: Audio playback for documents, suitable for both online and download listening.
- Enhanced HTML: HTML documents can be displayed in a dedicated tab to customize the appearance of the document using the Website Accessibility tool.
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OCR: Convert images with text into machine-encoded text that can be searched and read by screen readers.
- OCR Overlaid Tagged PDf: Generate a tagged PDF that allows for selectable text overlaid on the original document
- OCR Reconstructed DOCX: Generate a brand new DOCX file from scanned documents or images.
- OCR Reconstructed Tagged PDF: Generate a brand new tagged PDF from scanned documents or images.
- OCR Reconstructed HTML: Generate a brand new HTML file from scanned documents or images.
- OCR Text: Recommended for those who’d like plain text, the OCR tool will extract and display text within images and GIFs as a TXT file.
- OCR Audio: Extract text within images and GIFs into an MP3 text-to-speech audio player.
- OCR Semantic Text: Converts scanned text into readable, structured text while preserving context and layout.
- OCR Semantic Audio: Transforms scanned text into audio with natural intonation and emphasis, enhancing listening comprehension.
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Math Formats: Convert documents containing math equations into LaTeX, Math Text (i.e. numbers and symbols to words), or MP3 files.
- Latex: Convert documents into LaTeX document format.
- Math Text: Convert documents into printed English, including numbers and symbols.
- Math Audio: Convert documents to MP3.
- MathML: Extract mathematical equations from documents and convert them into HTML files.
- Language Translation: Translate a document automatically to over 100 languages, which can be downloaded.
Accessing Website Accessibility Widget
The Website Accessibility Widget can adjust the content and color of web pages to suit various accessibility needs. Web developers can integrate Website Accessibility directly into their website, or users can enable Website Accessibility by downloading the Panorama Browser Extension. Below is a brief overview of the features Website Accessibility offers. For a complete overview, please visit our guide on Panorama's Website Accessibility Widget.
- Color Adjustments: Create an accessible viewing experience by adjusting contrast and saturation, highlighting specific elements, changing text colors, and more.
- Content Adjustments: Alter the content on a web page by adjusting the line height, letter spacing, applying readable fonts, and more to create an accessible viewing experience.
- Profiles: Select a predefined set of accessibility improvements, such as the ADHD profile, which removes visual clutter and provides a reading mask, or the Seizure & Epileptic profile, which eliminates blinking, flashing, or flickering visuals.
- Preferences: Provides the option to temporarily or permanently hide the Website Accessibility icon.
- Formats: Provides a list of all documents found on the web page. You may then access Alternative Formats for these documents and add them to your DocHub page.
Accessing AccessNotes
AccessNotes allows you to record or upload audio-based recordings to your Panorama platform. You can also embed supplementary materials to your audio-based notes and ask AI assistant questions during audio playback to clarify complex concepts. For a complete overview, please visit our guide on Panorama's AccessNotes.
Accessing SmartSpeaker
Smart Speaker provides text-to-speech functionality enabling you to access digital content on websites. You can play web content in your LMS with various voice options, color highlights, and customization features. For a complete overview, please visit our guide on Panorama's SmartSpeaker.
Accessing AudioName
AudioName allows you to record the pronunciation of your name and select your preferred pronouns so that others can address you correctly. Simply click the AudioName icon next to your profile name to add your preferred name, phonetic spelling, pronouns, and pronunciation of your name.
Accessing DocHub
The DocHub page is a platform for accessible document storage that allows you to upload and store files in Panorama Cloud. You can share files via email and synchronize your accessible content across multiple devices. For a complete overview, please visit our guide on Panorama's Doc Hub.