Obi-Tobi 2.0 Call for Participation
We are reaching out to developers and testers who would like to contribute to the Obi-Tobi
continuation project (Phase 2) described in the project charter (approved at the November
2011 Sao Paulo DAISY Consortium Board Meeting):
http://data.daisy.org/projects/tobi/obi-tobi_charter_2011-12_updated/
1. Scope
The Obi-Tobi 2.0 project aims to provide support for EPUB multimedia and develop
enhanced features like an image/graphics description workflow, Media Overlays, and more.
The 26 month long project is executed in two phases. Phase 1 (November 2010 to October
2011), has come to fruition with the release of Obi 2.0 and the implementation of an image
description workflow (text only) in Tobi 1.5.
Phase 2 (November 2011 to December 2012) will concentrate on developing Tobi into an
EPUB 3 authoring tool by providing support for EPUB 3 Media Overlays and implementing
a full text - full audio image description workflow as specified by the DIAGRAM project.
Other tasks may include SVG / graphics support for the DIAGRAM project and
implementing Tobi / Obi features requested by the DAISY community.
2. Objectives
The overall objectives of the project:
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Obi and Tobi code base merger to reduce development and maintenance costs, and
create an environment in which both of these tools can evolve collectively.
Add support for DAISY- EPUB multimedia.
Implement features proposed by the DIAGRAM Project and possibly add support for
DAISY AI (also known as Z39.86 Authoring & Interchange framework or ZedAI).
Add features requested by the DAISY community to Obi/Tobi.
Objectives for Phase 2:
B1 - Implement image description workflow with text synchronized audio (November
2011 to April 2012)
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Implement full text - full audio image description workflow providing output in
DAISY 3.
Implement EPUB 3 export for publishing the image description within an EPUB 3
e-Book.
Testing and Debugging.
B2 - Add support for authoring EPUB 3 Media Overlays (November 2011 to June 2012):
EPUB 3 Media Overlays are similar to full text - full audio DAISY production. It will
be implemented with the following tasks:
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Write EPUB 3 export module for Media Overlays.
Update existing EPUB import functionality.
Update Tobi user interface.
Testing and debugging.
Remark: The burst mode work for implementation of Media Overlays is expected to
end in June 2012 but maintenance and improvements will continue up to December
2012.
B3 - Implement new features, set forth by the DIAGRAM project (May 2012 to
November/December 2012):
The deliverable for the second year of the DIAGRAM project implementation is yet
to be determined. A concrete plan for this part of the project will be formulated by
April 2012.
3. Expected contributions and skill requirements
3.1. Developers
3.1.1 Expected contributions
B1:
 Contribute to development of design and / or implementation of the full text full audio image description workflow in Tobi using C# / WPF.
B2:
 Contribute to development of design and / or implementation of the full text full audio image description workflow in Tobi using C# / WPF.
 Contribute to development of a ClickOnce installer for Tobi.
3.1.2 Skill requirements:
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Extensive experience with C#, VS .NET 2005 and VS .NET 2008 and/or
.NET 3.5 WPF
Experience with XML processing using C#
Basic knowledge of C# design patterns
Good knowledge of the DAISY Standards
Experience of working in a virtual environment
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Good written and spoken English.
3.2 DAISY / EPUB production experts
3.2.1 Expected contributions:
B1:
 Contribute to design of image description workflow for Tobi
 Provide feedback on usability regarding the image description workflow
 Contribute to documentation for guiding users in producing image
descriptions using Tobi.
B2:
 Contribute to design of EPUB 3 media overlays for Tobi
 Provide feedback on usability regarding the media overlays
 Contribute to documentation for guiding users in producing EPUB 3 Media
Overlays content using Tobi.
3.2.2 Skill requirements:
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Experience with handling images for DAISY production or EPUB content
generation
Good written English.
3.3. Testers & proactive users
3.3.1 Expected contributions:
B1:
 Contribute to testing of text synchronized audio image description workflow
(Commencement of testing phase is scheduled for mid-February 2012)
B2:
 Contribute to alpha and beta testing of Tobi with Media Overlays
(Commencement of testing phase is scheduled for May 2012).
3.3.2 Skill requirements:
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Extensive experience with structured testing of DAISY / EPUB recording
and/or production tools and processes
Flexible mindset to accept new ideas
Good written English.
Apart from the above schedule, contributors are welcome to participate in maintenance
releases of both Obi and Tobi, the timeline for which would be determined in accordance
with the progress of the project.
4. Participation Guidelines
Participants are expected to dedicate a minimum of 10 hours per week to the project. The
project team is expected to have one conference call each week.
For written discussions, the development team is expected to use the Obi-Tobi continuation
project group.
Web interface:
http://groups.google.co.in/group/obi-tobi-development
Email:
[email protected]
5. Face-to-Face Meetings
Two face-to-face meetings are proposed in 2012, each lasting for 1 business week.
The first meeting is scheduled for January 2012, to prepare a design for the implementation
of Media Overlays.
The second meeting will be scheduled around mid- or late 2012 for the DIAGRAM project
deliverable. Direct costs for the meeting (travel, accommodations, etc.) will not be covered
by the DAISY Consortium. Attendance is optional for contributors.
6. Participation confirmation timeline and main contacts
Contributors are required to confirm their participation according to the following timeline:
Developers and Usability experts:
Testers for Phase 2 B1:
Testers for Phase 2 B2:
December 15, 2011
February 15, 2012
April 30, 2012
Contacts:
Avneesh Singh (Project Lead)
[email protected]
[email protected]
Daniel Weck (Principal Architect)
[email protected]
[email protected]
Edited by Avneesh Singh
Nov. 11, 2011