Thread Subject: Re: audio-description definition

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From: Jim Tobias
Date: Wed, Sep 19 2007 5:25 AM

I agree about not defining terms we don't use, but I think there is value in
indicating where alternate terms are sometimes used. We would not be
defining those alternate terms, just indicating to users of the document
that they may see another term sometimes used. Allen's point is also
strong: by mentioning the alternate term we are clearly stating that we are
*not* using it in these regs. Consider the poor novice who searches the
document for "audio description", finds nothing, and reports to the boss "I
guess it's not required, because it's not in there."

So I suggest that our definition of "video description" end with "Video
description is sometimes referred to as 'audio description'." We could do
the same with the TTY definition: "TTYs are sometimes referred to as
Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf, or TDDs."

***
Jim Tobias
Inclusive Technologies
+1.732.441.0831 v/tty
+1.908.907.2387 mobile
skype jimtobias


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Karen Peltz Strauss [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ]
> Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 7:00 AM
> To: TEITAC Audio/Video Subcommittee
> Subject: Re: [teitac-video] audio-description definition
>
> I agree - policymakers generally do not define terms not used
> in the body of guidelines or regulations.
>
> Karen
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Larry Goldberg" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> To: "TEITAC AV list" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 9:05 PM
> Subject: Re: [teitac-video] audio-description definition
>
>
> > However, this point of view must be considered:
> >
> > In standards you only define terms in definition section
> that you actually
> > use.
> >
> > We use the term video description in our definition - so
> that is what we
> > define, as it appears in the latest draft:
> >
> > Video Description
> >
> > The insertion of verbal or auditory description(s) of
> on-screen visuals
> > intended to describe important visual details that are not
> contained in,
> > or
> > that cannot be understood from, the main audio output alone. Video
> > descriptions supplement the regular audio track of the
> program and are
> > usually inserted between dialogue narration to provide
> information about
> > actions, characters, and on-screen text that appear without
> verbalization.
> > Video descriptions are a way to let people who are blind or
> have low
> > vision
> > know what is happening on screen.
> >
> > ... Larry ...
> >
> >
> > Hoffman, Allen wrote:
> >
> >> I don't think we use the term audio-description, but shouldn't we
> >> recommend that the term be included in the definitions
> section to point
> >> to video-description to make it clear that we use the
> other term. both
> >> terms are widely used, so clarifying that we are using one
> of them would
> >> seem helpful to me.
> >>
> >> Allen Hoffman -- DHS Office on Accessible Systems & Technology
> >>

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