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Re: Outdoor captioning contrast

for

From: Chagnon | PubCom
Date: Mar 23, 2014 6:08PM

Jay wrote:
" We're advising the local NFL franchise, which is building a new stadium,
on how to make it fully accessible.
Of course we want captioning. We currently plan to recommend that the
captioning display be separate from the ginormous Jumbotron-style screens
(and we will probably reference the ANSI A117.1 standards, as much as they
are usable). "

Fabulous! Sure wish the other sports leagues would follow suit. Given that
all of our sports arenas in the US (I think) are at least partially funded
by tax dollars, as well as the transportation infrastructure, policing, etc.
during games and events, I agree with Cliff's comment that the NFL should be
funding the bill for figuring out how to be accessible.

It's about time our sports leagues start paying attention to all forms of
accessibility, not just architectural barriers. Maybe we need to have the US
Access Board create a new section of coverage: sports facilities partially
subsidized by tax dollars.

Personally, I prefer captioning that's right below the visual picture rather
than on a separate screen from the jumbotron. Less eye-movement for me. Why
not a horizontal scroller screen just below the jumbotron? Like those
*&^%$#@ scrolling marquee ad things. Separate imaging device, but close to
the visual picture.

Idea for captioning: having friends and family members with disabilities,
they've often been left out of fully enjoying live games. One friend would
bring a radio and listen to the radio broadcast of it. Good, in that he
heard what that particular broadcaster had to say, but he often missed what
the rest of us experienced or at least got a different viewpoint.

Why not also provide closed captioning as well as an audio feed of the
game's announcer on a local, limited range broadcast and Wifi feed? Those
attending the game can access their choice of captioning or audio on their
personal mobile device, control their own visual contrast and audio settings
to suit their needs. The NFL would be required to provide the signals in
appropriate versatile formats.

FYI, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) is reviewing applications
for Low Power FM radio licenses (LPFM) with a limited range of a mile or so.
Many communities and neighborhood groups are hoping to have licenses.

1 mile is enough to cover the stadium's attendees, but not erode the NFL's
monopolistic stranglehold it has on broadcasting games to the local
residents, so this could be a way to broadcast an audio signal for AT users
attending the games.

And then there's the issue of bathrooms for women...don't get me started.
(grin)

-Bevi Chagnon
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