[Enhancement]: Enable EPUB 3 Support in Audiobookshelf for Synced Audiobooks and Ebooks

[ashwinm4friends]

Type of Enhancement

Server Backend

Describe the Feature/Enhancement

Audiobookshelf currently supports various audiobook and ebook formats. This feature request is to enable support for EPUB 3 files, which allows for synchronized audiobooks and ebooks within a single file. EPUB 3 is a versatile and widely adopted format that can integrate both text and audio, providing a seamless reading and listening experience.

Why would this be helpful?

Integrating EPUB 3 support in Audiobookshelf would provide several benefits:

• Unified Experience: Users can enjoy a synchronized reading and listening experience without needing to switch between separate files for text and audio.

• Enhanced Accessibility: EPUB 3 format supports features such as text highlighting and navigation, which can be beneficial for users with visual or reading impairments.

• Improved Comprehension: Synchronized text and audio help in better comprehension and retention of information by reinforcing the content through both reading and listening.

• Support for Dyslexic and Visually Impaired Users: The synchronization of audio and text can significantly aid users with dyslexia or visual impairments by allowing them to follow along with the text as they listen, improving their reading experience and accessibility.

• User Convenience: This feature simplifies the process of managing and accessing audiobooks and ebooks, as users would only need to handle a single file format.

  For reference, Storyteller (https://smoores.gitlab.io/storyteller/) already provides the capability to create EPUB 3 files with synchronized audio and text. By implementing EPUB 3 support, Audiobookshelf can leverage the advanced features of this format to offer a richer, more accessible, and more integrated user experience.

Future Implementation (Screenshot)

The EPUB 3 format allows for precise synchronization of audio with text, enabling features such as word-level or sentence-level highlighting. As the audio plays, the corresponding text is highlighted, providing a dynamic and engaging reading experience. Implementing this feature in Audiobookshelf will bring significant value to users by offering a more interactive and supportive reading environment.

Audiobookshelf Server Version

latest

Current Implementation (Screenshot)

No response

[advplyr]

This reads like ChatGPT.

We have discussed this a lot #189 #1723 #601

[yourmoonlight]

If Audiobookshelf could achieve the synchronization of ePub and audiobooks, it would be a very popular feature.

[Daemonias]

This reads like ChatGPT.

We have discussed this a lot #189 #1723 #601

I think it's something entirely else.

It wouldn't require abb to generate anything.
In a epub3 the text and the Audiofiles are already there and synchronised. Abb would just need to support it, maybe give us a toggle to switch between reading and listening or have both at once.

[coandco]

I too would be very interested in EPUB3 support.