eReader
Guide

Sideloading and low vision

A valuable skill for accessing digital media with low vision, here is how to side load content on an eReader or tablet.

One of the most helpful skills I’ve developed for accessing digital media with low vision is learning how to sideload content into another application. In this context, sideloading refers to loading titles into a reading or productivity application that were purchased or downloaded from another source using the file browser or cloud storage tool and is a valuable skill to have for accessing downloaded content or files and displaying them with the user’s preferred reading settings. Here is an overview of how to sideload content on an eReader or tablet, and examples of how I use sideloaded content on my eReader and tablet.

Places to open side loaded content

I do a lot of reading on my eReader and tablet computer because I can adjust the display with a greater range of flexibility and position the screen underneath the lined bifocal in my glasses, something that is more difficult to do with a computer. Tablets often offer more options for reading applications than eReaders, and I have multiple applications downloaded on my iPad that I use for reading different types of content. I have a post that provides an overview of various accessibility settings for mainstream eReading applications linked below, however users may prefer a specialty application for low vision/print disabilities if they need support for larger font sizes or more advanced support for accessing audiobooks/braille displays.

Related links

Option 1: How to side load content on an eReader (eInk or LCD)

eReaders traditionally come with one of two types of displays, LCD and eInk. LCD displays are similar to the displays found on smartphones and tablet computers and are optimized for reading in indoor environments or areas with limited lighting, while eInk displays mimic the appearance of a book page and are optimized for use with other environmental lighting such as a lamp or outdoor reading. Some eInk displays may have an optional backlight feature for providing additional illumination. In general, eInk devices offer a longer battery life compared to LCD devices. eReaders are less expensive than tablets, and a secondhand eInk reader can be purchased for less than $40.

Before sideloading content on an eReader, take note of what file formats are supported by the device. Nook eReaders support PDF and EPUB formats, while the Amazon Kindle eReaders support PDF, DOC/DOCX, TXT, EPUB, HTML, and Kindle’s proprietary file formats.

To side load content from a computer to an eReader:

  1. Connect the eReader to a computer via USB cable
  2. Once the computer recognizes the eReader, select the option to open the device to view files.
  3. Locate the device file folder for content or books
  4. Copy/paste files from their computer into the device folder to add the content to the device library
  5. Once finished, ensure that the device is safely ejected from the computer and restart if needed to refresh the library.

I like to organize all of the content I plan to sideload onto my eReader in a folder, and then select all of the files and copy/paste or drag them all into the destination folder on my eReader.

Related links

Option 2: How to side load content on a tablet

One of the benefits of using tablets for reading is that users can download multiple apps for reading content or download online files directly to their device. There are a few ways to sideload reading content for a tablet, including:

Related links

Examples of how I use side loading for low vision accessibility

Reading books from Bookshare

Bookshare is an accessible digital library for people with print disabilities that offers millions of titles across a variety of genres. Bookshare offers files in multiple file formats, and I often use the EPUB format so I can open the books with my eReader or another reading application and customize the font size or other display options without editing the text. While users can open Bookshare titles with several reading applications, I prefer to download the EPUB files from the Bookshare website and load them into the reading application(s) of my choice.

I frequently sideload novels or leisure reading materials from Bookshare onto my eReader because I like the paper-like display for prolonged reading.

Enlarging a cookbook and adjusting the display

One of my favorite types of sideloaded content is my collection of cookbooks I’ve downloaded from Bookshare, and I love that I can add them to another reading application on my tablet like the Nook app or Kindle app, so I can customize the display of text and rest it on the table while I’m cooking or baking. This was actually the first type of content I ever sideloaded because I was frustrated with trying to enlarge a cookie recipe on my smaller eInk reader display, and realizing that I could enlarge a cookbook made me more comfortable with accessing my textbooks and other academic content.

Accessing textbooks provided by another organization

Sometimes I can’t purchase a digital copy of a textbook online or locate it in an accessible format, so I will submit a request to another organization to request them to convert it into an accessible format for me. This can involve submitting a request through my college’s Disability Services/Assistive Technology office, contacting Bookshare, or when I was in high school my school would submit a request to our state’s NIMAC agency, AIM-VA to receive a copy of my textbook in a digital format.

To read these textbooks, I will need to sideload them into another reading application so that I can access them offline or use reading tools like large print or options for highlighting/annotating text.

Downloading classwork and using markup/annotation

When I was in high school, my teachers and I had a shared classroom folder where I could download copies of my classwork or other assignments and complete them in another application before saving the file to the shared folder again. In college, I download materials directly from the course website and either upload them or email them to my professor.

Many of my teachers and professors provide copies of classwork, forms, or similar content in a PDF format that requires me to write on top of content. These files are sideloaded into the Notability app by using the Share sheet to send the content to Notability, and then saved/exported as a PDF. If I had to read something without writing directly on the document, I could sideload it into the Kindle application or Capti, and adjust the font size, line spacing, and other display options for a more comfortable reading experience.

Studying and accessing classroom readings

I have an entire post dedicated to how I sideload content on my eReader or tablet for accessing text content in my in-person and virtual classes. I like to use my eReader that has a paper-like eInk display because the display is optimized for reading in well-lit environments and has an optional backlight, so I don’t have to stare at bright screens for the entire time that I’m reading. Plus, both types of devices can comfortably fit in my hands or in my lap, so I can use them with my computer or other devices as needed without crowding my desk.

Related links

More resources on side loading and reading accessibility for low vision

By Veronica Lewis/Veronica With Four Eyes, www.veroniiiica.com

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