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

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From: geoff freed
Date: Wed, May 02 2007 12:45 PM

Hi, Dave:

I don't know about this. It looks like we're providing too much
information. Also, I wonder about the wisdom of providing more than
one paragraph. In the interest of brevity, I think one would be better.

Geoff/NCAM


On May 2, 2007, at 1:26 PM, Dave Singer wrote:

> I tend to agree with Geoff that shorter is
> better, and this is getting awfully long. It has
> too many examples mixed into the text, and it has
> an explanation of why you might want it which
> focuses on disability (which I have been told is
> not the right way to express things).
>
> How is this, split into a crisp definition, and then examples and
> notes?:
>
> VIDEO DESCRIPTION: (often referred to as audio
> description), is the provision of audible
> descriptions of key aspects of the visual
> information, to allow people who are unable fully
> to see the video to understand the content.
>
> Notes: 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, and
> so on. Video descriptions should normally not
> obscure the original audio content, and in some
> cases content timing may be lengthened for the
> description to be inserted. Audible descriptions
> are usually supplied interspersed with the
> original audio, or sometimes an alternative audio
> track is made in order to contain both the
> original and descriptive audio material.
>
>
>
> At 23:07 -0400 1/05/07, David Poehlman wrote:
>> I like this even better than mine:
>>
>> 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.
>>
>> On May 1, 2007, at 1:55 PM, 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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