Thread Subject: Re: Subpart A Definitions-VideoDescription-Action Needed

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From: Andrew Kirkpatrick
Date: Tue, May 01 2007 1:30 PM

I hate to be fussy, but I'd say "should not obscure the main audio content" at the end. There are times where judgement calls need to be made, sometimes that means ducking the primary audio to get important descriptive info in.

AWK

> -----Original Message-----
> From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of
> Katie Haritos-Shea
> Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 3:13 PM
> To: TEITAC Subpart A Subcommittee; TEITAC Audio/Video Subcommittee
> Subject: Re: [teitac-subparta] [teitac-video] Subpart A
> Definitions-Video Description-Action Needed
>
> I agree with Geoff revised revision of Video Description here
> below also.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> >From: geoff freed < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> >Sent: May 1, 2007 2:38 PM
> >To: "Hoffman, Allen" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >, 'TEITAC Subpart A
> >Subcommittee' < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >, TEITAC Audio/Video
> >Subcommittee < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> >Subject: Re: [teitac-subparta] [teitac-video] Subpart A
> >Definitions-Video Description-Action Needed
> >
> >
> >Here's a revised revision:
> >
> >======
> >Video Description: Video descriptions, also known as audio
> >descriptions, make visual media (such as broadcast programming or
> >videos found on Web sites or DVDs) accessible to people who
> are blind
> >or visually impaired. They provide descriptive narration of
> key visual
> >elements, such as movements and actions, sets, and on-screen
> text and
> >graphics that may not be conveyed by the main audio track
> alone. Video
> >descriptions shall not obscure the main audio content.
> >======
> >
> >I think the last sentence is a good addition, given that in the
> >definition of captions we say that captions shall not
> obscure on-screen
> >info.
> >
> >Comments?
> >Geoff/NCAM
> >
> >
> >
> >Hoffman, Allen wrote:
> >> I think mine emphasize that the important thing is to
> describe the information critical for comprehension of the
> nonverbal content--which to me is kind of overshadowed a bit
> by the costumes, sets, part of yours. if we really want
> short wording, "audio or video description means that you
> include an audio track which describes verbally what's
> happening in the multimedia program so that someone who can't
> see it will know what happened.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Allen hoffman -- 202-447-0303
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: geoff freed [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ]
> >> Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 2:21 PM
> >> To: Hoffman, Allen
> >> Cc: TEITAC Audio/Video Subcommittee; TEITAC Subpart A Subcommittee
> >> Subject: Re: [teitac-video] [teitac-subparta] Subpart A
> >> Definitions-Video Description-Action Needed
> >>
> >>
> >> Hi, Allen:
> >>
> >> I won't argue with the use of video descriptions vs audio
> descriptions (frankly, I prefer the latter). A Larry said
> elsewhere, we should probably align ourselves with what other
> federal agencies already use, so video descriptions makes sense.
> >>
> >> But aside from the inclusion of language stating that
> video descriptions are AKA audio descriptions, your
> definition is stating the same thing as mine, only in more
> words. Am I missing a critical difference? I'd rather go
> with as few words as possible.
> >>
> >> Geoff/NCAM
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Hoffman, Allen wrote:
> >>> I suggest we insert definition for audio-description that
> refers to video description to alleviate any
> misunderstanding. Also, in a recent session at CSUN Joel
> Schneider from national captioning institute noted that there
> is a symbol for a/d sometimes used on media. I don't think
> it matters much on the overall what it is called as long as
> we all agree on what it is--personally "video description"
> makes more sense to me as the description is of the important
> information in the video content not discernible from the
> audio content alone.
> >>>
> >>> I do not agree with Jeff's language as it focuses on
> items that are
> >>> not specifically related to the description of the
> critical information from a video content. I think the
> previous language was better.> Jeff wrote:
> >>>> AUDIO DESCRIPTION: Audio descriptions make visual media (such as
> >>>> television programs or training videos) accessible to people who
> >>>> are blind or visually impaired. They provide
> descriptive narration
> >>>> of key visual elements, such as sets, costumes and other
> important
> >>>> on-screen information that may not be conveyed by the
> main audio track alone.
> >>>>
> >>> I might suggest an alternative as:
> >>>
> >>> Video Description: Video description, also often
> referred to as audio description or audio describing, is the
> provision via alternate audio track, or interspersing of
> additional narration in to the existing audio, of verbal
> descriptions of key pieces of information from an audio/video
> "multimedia" item, such as a broadcast, DVD, or web page,
> to allow people with visual disabilities to understand the
> content as a whole. Video descriptions may include
> descriptions of movements or actions which are not
> discernible or identifiable from the audio track alone,
> facial expressions if important to an understanding of the
> content, background visuals, sets, or text that appears on
> screen such as a mailing address or web reference. Video
> descriptions must not override the original audio content,
> and in some cases content timing may be lengthened for the
> audio-description to be inserted.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Allen Hoffman -- 202-447-0303
> >>> DHS Office on Accessible systems & Technology -----Original
> >>> Message-----
> >>> From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> >>> [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Larry
> >>> Goldberg
> >>> Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 10:59 AM
> >>> To: TEITAC AV list; Geoffrey Freed; 'TEITAC Subpart A
> Subcommittee'
> >>> Subject: Re: [teitac-video] [teitac-subparta] Subpart A
> >>> Definitions-Video Description-Action Needed
> >>>
> >>> The Telecommunications Act and the Federal Communications
> Commission
> >>> both use the term "video description" which is the most commonly
> >>> used term to refer to description of video materials;
> "audio description"
> >>> has been more commonly associated with live theatrical
> description.
> >>> I would suggest we continue to use the term used since 1990 and
> >>> adopted by the Federal
> >>> government: "video description."
> >>>
> >>> - Larry
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Gerald Freda wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> To be consistent and not confuse the definition label I
> support and
> >>>> recommend the adoption of "audio description" as indicated within
> >>>> 1194.24 of the technical standard as the definition label.
> >>>>
> >>>> I also agree with Goeff that since the 1194.24 technical
> standard
> >>>> is not only referencing video and including multimedia products
> >>>> that the selected language should not limiting nor
> restrictive in nature.
> >>>>
> >>>> I would recommend a few changes to the definition submitted by
> >>>> Goeff as indicated below (replace VIDEO with AUDIO as the
> >>>> recommended language, and replace cannot with may not).
> >>>>
> >>>> AUDIO DESCRIPTION: Audio descriptions make visual media (such as
> >>>> television programs or training videos) accessible to people who
> >>>> are blind or visually impaired. They provide
> descriptive narration
> >>>> of key visual elements, such as sets, costumes and other
> important
> >>>> on-screen information that may not be conveyed by the
> main audio track alone.
> >>>>
> >>>> thanks
> >>>>

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