Kindle Format 8 (KF8) is the latest version of Amazon's eBook format. KF8 offers significant features and enhancements including support for HTML5, CSS3, fixed layouts, numbered lists, nested tables, drop caps, embedded fonts and more.
Whilst KF8 is compatible with the later model eInk Kindle eBook readers a tablet device such as the Kindle Fire is needed to take advantage of all the new features including multimedia content such as audio and full colour video.
Accessibility
At the present time there is no completely accessible solution for reading fully featured Kindle eBooks for blind and partially sighted consumers in the UK. However, KF8 files are compatible with the Kindle Keyboard eInk reader which supports both text-to-speech and voice guide. Together these enable the eBook to be read out loud as well as providing spoken menus for navigation, but it should be noted that the Kindle Keyboard does not support the full range of KF8 features.
The Kindle Fire colour tablet devices are able to take full advantage of the new KF8 features. Providing text-to-speech is enabled, Kindle eBooks can be read out loud but as yet the devices currently available in the UK are not accessible to people who rely on voice guidance for navigation.
Even though the newest UK Kindle devices are not yet fully accessible to blind and partially sighted readers, following the guidelines given in Accessible eBook creation will help to ensure that your eBooks reach the widest possible market audience. Your eBooks will also be ready as and when fully accessible reading devices become available in the UK.
Future developments
The Kindle Fire range of devices is built on the Android platform which does have accessibility features built-in to its latest versions. In the US the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 inch already has Voice Guide and Explore by Touch included as standard.
Voice Guide enables a user to hear what they have tapped on screen rather than having to rely on being able to see it. Explore by Touch compliments this by enabling actions, such as opening an app, to be accomplished by first finding the item and then tapping anywhere on screen to activate it.
Amazon has announced that these and other accessibility features will be launched across the whole Kindle Fire range sometime in 2013. The other promised accessibility features include the facility to change font size and colour on the devices themselves which will benefit partially sighted and dyslexic users particularly.
Until then, KF8 and the range of devices and software supporting it cannot be considered fully accessible for blind and partially sighted people in the UK.