Thread Subject: Re: Proposal for closed captions & timed text

Note

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From: Sean Hayes
Date: Tue, Aug 28 2007 10:30 AM

I don't know the answer to that.

Sean Hayes
Incubation Lab
Accessibility Business Unit
Microsoft

Office: +44 118 909 5867,
Mobile: +44 7875 091385


-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Hoffman, Allen
Sent: 28 August 2007 17:25
To: TEITAC Audio/Video Subcommittee
Subject: Re: [teitac-video] Proposal for closed captions & timed text

Sean:
Are we doing "readily achievable" or "undue burden" bar here? I think
this would be the undue burden bar since this kind of captioning was not
in my understanding, part of the Section 255 portion of our work.


I'm not debating the feasibility of doing this, just questioning which
bar we are supposed to be applying.




Allen Hoffman -- = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ; v: 202-447-0303

-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Sean Hayes
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2007 12:00 PM
To: TEITAC Audio/Video Subcommittee
Subject: Re: [teitac-video] Proposal for closed captions & timed text

There are two parts to the idea of 708 equivalence. The first is the
data encoded in the captions themselves, I think most of the common
formats have broad equivalence to the coding functionality of 708; SAMI
and DFXP, the two I'm most familiar with, do.

The other half are the FCC player rules (which are not part of 708)
which require user adjustment/replacement of these. No other player
(software or hardware) that I am aware of allows for this; it's a unique
feature for US DTV at this point (Larry or Geoff correct me if I'm wrong
here). While I believe asking for this to be a feature of all captioning
systems is a worthy goal, I don't believe its readily achievable in the
short term.

Sean Hayes
Incubation Lab
Accessibility Business Unit
Microsoft

Office: +44 118 909 5867,
Mobile: +44 7875 091385


-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Geoff Freed
Sent: 28 August 2007 16:52
To: TEITAC Audio/Video Subcommittee
Subject: Re: [teitac-video] Proposal for closed captions & timed text


Hi, Paul:

Thanks for submitting this proposal. One area of concern that I see is
the 708 equivalency requirement for certain devices, like IP players or
non-broadcast personal media players:

> CEA 708 or timed text with functionality equivalent [or comparable]
> to CEA 708 (see end-note for definition of functional equivalent)

Some, but not all, of the 708 functional equivalents can be accomplished
in the current text-display formats used by media players, such as
QText, SAMI, RealText and DFXP. That's one problem. Another is that
you're requiring media players like QuickTime, WMP RealPlayer and Flash
to include controls that permit users to switch styles that provide
708-equivalent behavior. My guess is that this is going to be difficult
for player manufacturers to support, but I don't want to speak for them.
However, I'd like to hear if Andrew, Sean and Dave Singer have any
opinions about this.

Geoff/NCAM




On Aug 28, 2007, at 11:09 AM, Schomburg, Paul wrote:

> Folks: Here is a proposal to provide clarity the requirements for
> (1) other digital video source devices, and (2) personal video display

> devices. We look forward to discussing this on today's call.
>
>
>
> Best regards, Paul
>
>
>
> -------BEGIN-------
>
> 3. Equipment of this type...
>
> Other digital video source products without broadcast reception
> capability, such as playback products for removable media (e.g.
> optical disc, tape, flash memory, etc.), IP-enabled playback products
> for downloaded or streaming video content, and media player software,
> that is procured for the purpose of displaying video on a DTV display
> or monitor with a screen size greater than
> 13 inches.
>
>
>
> Uses this standard...
>
> CEA 708 or timed text with functionality equivalent [or comparable] to

> CEA-708 (see end-note for definition of functional equivalent)
>
>
>
> To provide these functions:
>
> - Pass CEA-708 caption data, when available, to the
> caption decoding circuitry of DTV displays
>
> OR
>
> - Decode caption data or timed text, when available, and
> pass a decoded ("open-captioned") video signal to the DTV display or
> monitor.
>
>
>
> 4. Equipment of this type...
>
> Personal video display products without broadcast reception capability

> with an integrated display less than 13 inches.
> [Examples: Portable DVD players, Apple iPods, cell phones, etc."]
>
>
>
> Uses this standard...
>
> CEA 708 or timed text with functionality equivalent [or comparable] to

> CEA 708 (see end-note for definition of functional equivalent)
>
>
>
> To provide these functions...
>
> - Decode caption data or timed text, when available, for
> viewing on the integrated display unless not readily achievable.
>
> -------END-------
>
>
>
> Rationale: It appropriate to leave the decision to the government
> agency as to the type of content and purpose for which the device will

> be used.
>
> 1. CEA-708 is required for content originally authored for
> broadcasting or transmission in an MPEG transport stream. Such
> content may thereafter be provided via prerecorded media or
> downloaded/streamed from the Internet. Both players of prerecorded
> media (e.g. DVD, Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, video tape, etc.) and IP-enabled
> media players and associated software will require this capability if
> they are used to display such content.
>
> 2. Timed text is required for content not authored for broadcasting
> or transmission in an MPEG transport stream, but that may be provided
> via prerecorded media or downloaded/streamed from the Internet. Such
> timed text formats should provide functionality equivalent [or
> comparable] to CEA-708 to enable author and/or user control of fonts,
> background transparency, and location of text on screen so as to
> provide the most accessible viewing experience.
>
>
>
> End Note: TEITAC definition of "Functional Equivalent" to CEA 708
>
>
>
> Equivalent text display functionalities must:
>
>
>
> * support caption placement control by caption authors for any
> position within the TV safe area.
>
>
>
> * support standard, large, and small caption sizes and must allow the
> caption author to choose a size and allow the viewer to choose an
> alternative size.
>
>
>
> * support eight font variations. Caption authors may specify one of
> these eight font styles to be used to write caption text.
> Equivalents must include the ability for users to choose among the
> eight fonts. The equivalent must display the font chosen by the
> caption author unless the user chooses a different font.
>
>
>
> * support the eight font styles defined as follows: default
> (undefined), monospaced with serifs (similar to Courier),
> proportionally spaced with serifs (similar to Times New Roman),
> monospaced without serifs (similar to Helvetica Monospaced),
> proportionally spaced without serifs (similar to Arial and Swiss),
> casual font type (similar to Dom and Impress), cursive font type
> (similar to Coronet and Marigold), and small capitals (similar to
> Engravers Gothic).
>
>
>
> * support author and user choice of eight character foreground and
> eight character background colors: white, black, red, green, blue,
> yellow, magenta and cyan).
>
>
>
> * support author and user selection of character and background
> opacity options: SOLID, TRANSLUCENT, TRANSPARENT [FLASH option
> deleted]
>
>
>
> * support options for altering the appearance of caption character
> edges.
>
>
>
> * support the authoring and selection of the six caption services,
> but information from only one service need be displayed at a given
> time.
>
>
>
> * include an option that permits a user to choose a setting that will
> display captions as intended by the caption provider (a default).
> Equivalents must also include an option that allows a viewer's chosen
> settings to remain until the viewer chooses to alter these settings,
> including during periods when the video source device is powered off.
>
>
>
> Multimedia content creation products and/or software must:
>
>
>
> * support the creation of equivalent text display functionalities as
> listed above
>
>
>
> * support interoperability and conversion between other common caption

> formats such as CEA 608, CEA 708, and Timed Text (e.g. DFXP).
>
>
>
>
>
>

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