Marisa DeMeglio

Languages, tools, and technologies

• Web: HTML, CSS, Javascript
• General: C++, C#, Java, Python
• XML-focused: XSLT, XProc
• Frameworks and tools: React, Redux, Eleventy, Express, Django
• Databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL, GraphQL

Software Developer

The DAISY Consortium
May 2008 – Present (14 years)

During this long tenure, I've had many roles and been involved in many aspects of the accessible ebook ecosystem.

Roles

• Lead developer/architect: Accessible Books in Browsers, a tool to transform ebook content into an accessible, browser-based reading experience.
• Lead developer/architect: epubtest.org, a web-based accessibility testing framework for reporting on EPUB reading system accessibility.
• Core developer: Ace and the Ace App, the EPUB accessibility checking tools used throughout the publishing community.
• Chair: W3C Synchronized Media for Publication Community Group, to experiment with different approaches to text/audio synchronization for reading.
• Specification editor: EPUB Media Overlays, the industry-wide standard for narrated ebooks.
• Developer: contributed to Readium, Tobi, Obi, and the DAISY Pipeline; involving Javascript, C#, Java, XProc, XSLT, and REST API design and implementation.

Software Developer

The DAISY for All Project
May 2003 – May 2008

Core member of the 5-year DAISY-for-All project, to implement DAISY technology in low and middle income countries in Southeast Asia. My specific focus was on creating DAISY talking book reader software localized for distribution in Southeast Asian languages.

Roles

• Lead developer/architect: AMIS, an open source desktop program for reading DAISY books, distributed globally.
• Localization manager: added support to AMIS for internationalization, and coordinated 30+ volunteer-sourced translations. To facilitate remote work, I created a web-based translation maintenance system.
• Workshop facilitator: guided attendees through the process of translating text and audio materials at in-person workshops held by the DAISY for All Project in Bangkok and New Delhi.
• Standards participation: joined the W3C's SMIL 3.0 working group to more closely align DAISY and SMIL standards.

Software Engineer

Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (JSRPD)
September 2001 – April 2003

Developed kiosk-style talking book playback software with plug-in system that allowed for incorporation of alternate interfaces such as joystick controls, enlarged text on a separate screen, and Braille display output.

Software Engineer

isSound Corporation
July 2000 – May 2001

Wrote an application used to voice webpages for visually-impaired users. Developed a telephone-based application for audible delivery and navigation of Word documents, including both user experience via voice and automated backend document conversion.