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Re: Video Transcript Question (Bump)

for

From: Tim Harshbarger
Date: Nov 24, 2014 9:58AM


I think whether or not a downloadable transcript would be useful depends on the use cases.

When it comes to using the transcript as an accessible alternative, I think there is a tendency for the user to utilize the transcript just like they would use the video. I do not believe that people typically download video for later viewing offline and so I'm uncertain someone using a transcript as the accessible alternative is likely to behave any differently.

In that case, why not just use HTML for the transcript? They are already viewing a web page in the browser to access the video. Switching to PDF is going to change the user's context. They are going to have to mentally switch their frame of mind from navigating a web page to navigating a PDF document. With HTML, you can keep them in the same mental context. No switching gears. No swapping back and forth between using the web page and navigating the PDF document.

I expect there are use cases where a downloadable PDF transcript would be useful. However, in most cases, I suspect that HTML transcripts maintain a slight advantage over PDF transcripts.

It does sound like maybe some of this conversation might be more about ease of production than use cases. That is definitely a worthwhile consideration. How easy is it to convert the transcript from its original format into another format that is accessible? I have not had to convert a Word document to either an accessible HTML or PDF in some time, so I don't know what the level of effort or skill it would take to do that now. Depending on your video production process, you'll likely have some limitations on the amount of time you have to create an accessible transcript before the video is published. And that could potentially have a large impact on your format choices.

-----Original Message-----
From: <EMAIL REMOVED> [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of L Snider
Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2014 3:20 PM
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Video Transcript Question (Bump)

Hi John,

Yes, good reminders and the link text example was a good one. The Word
documents will be made into PDF documents, so people can download them. My
feeling was always that if you create an accessible Word>PDF that it was
better than an HTML page as one can download it and read it when they like
(not having to be on the net).

I would be curious to hear your view, and others, on PDF versus HTML (oh
and for forms, HTML is the way to go, not the PDF in my view).

Cheers

Lisa

On Sat, Nov 22, 2014 at 12:58 PM, John Foliot < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:

> Hi Lisa,
>
>
>
> Overall, I agree with Karl's recommendation, while at the same time
> pointing
> out a few things (that hopefully others might learn from too):
>
>
>
> 1) Providing a transcript is more than a "nice to have" (in case others
> might start thinking that) - it is in fact often a requirement for WCAG AA
> Compliance:
>
>
>
> 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded): An
> alternative for time-based media or audio description of the prerecorded
> video content is provided for synchronized media, except when the media is
> a
> media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such. (Level A)
>
>
>
> ...where the transcript is the 'alternative' to the audio-description. (The
> audio description piece of course being a AA requirement:
>
> 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded): Audio description is provided
> for all prerecorded video content in synchronized media. (Level AA))
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> 2) You mentioned having a transcript in Word. While obviously we want to
> avoid formats that may introduce their own issues (i.e. user does not have
> MS Office), there are examples of .rtf and .pdf transcripts that are
> provided for download, which technically meet the WCAG Requirement, so
> providing the transcript in an alternative format is not forbidden.
>
>
>
> However, as always, HTML is the preferred format for interoperability.
> Semantically structured HTML (aka POSH - Plain Old Semantic HTML) is still
> the best :) Karl's suggestion of using <h>headings is one that I would
> also
> recommend, although depending on the content I might also look at the
> viability of definition lists:
>
> <dl>
> <dt>Question 1</dt>
>
> <dd>Response to question 1</dd>
>
> <dt>Question 2</dt>
>
> <dd>Response to question 2</dd>
>
> <dt>Question 3</dt>
>
> <dd>Response to question 3</dd>
>
> </dl>
>
>
>
> 3) Currently HTML5 lacks a programmatic way of *directly linking* a
> transcript to a video, which can be problematic, especially if a web page
> contains more than one video.
>
>
>
> While this is a known issue (and it is being worked on now), I highly
> recommend that the link text for your transcript be well labeled; i.e.
> avoid
> this:
>
> <a href="">transcript</a>
>
>
>
> .in favor of either:
>
>
>
> <a href="">Transcript for the XYZ Video</a> [explicit, clear link text]
>
> or
>
> <a href="" aria-label="Transcript for the XYZ Video ">transcript</a>
>
>
>
> .although the second solution is only viable for users with Assistive
> Technology.
>
>
>
>
>
> FWIW.
>
>
>
> JF
>
> ------------------------------
>
> John Foliot
> Web Accessibility Specialist
> W3C Invited Expert - Accessibility
>
> Co-Founder, Open Web Camp
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
>
> > From: <EMAIL REMOVED> [mailto:webaim-forum-
>
> > <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of L Snider
>
> > Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2014 10:20 AM
>
> > To: WebAIM Discussion List
>
> > Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Video Transcript Question (Bump)
>
> >
>
> > Hi Karl,
>
> >
>
> > Thanks so much. That is how I was thinking of approaching it, with
>
> > headings, so that a screen reader user could list them and go to a
>
> > particular one. Oh and this transcript will be made accessible for
>
> > people with all disabilities, but it was the screen reader part that I
>
> > was trying to work out-and headings are great!
>
> >
>
> > Thanks again, appreciate it!
>
> >
>
> > Cheers
>
> >
>
> > Lisa
>
> >
>
> > On Fri, Nov 21, 2014 at 7:10 AM, Karl Groves <
> <mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> > <EMAIL REMOVED> >
>
> > wrote:
>
> >
>
> > > Lisa,
>
> > >
>
> > > You should treat the transcript like any other content, really.
>
> > > Without knowing the exact nature of the videos, it is hard to
>
> > > recommend an exact structure. For instance, you mention that the
>
> > text
>
> > > is "...just Q and A over and over again". Based on that description,
>
> > > it might make sense for each question to be a heading, under which is
>
> > > the answer, like so:
>
> > >
>
> > > <h2>Question: ______</h2>
>
> > > <p>text of answer</p>
>
> > >
>
> > > Another idea, especially if the interview is well structured, might
>
> > be
>
> > > something like:
>
> > >
>
> > > <h2>Topic: (time-start to time-end)</h2>
>
> > > <h3>Question: ______</h3>
>
> > > <p>text of answer</p>
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> > > Keep in mind the audiences of a transcript: They may be people who
>
> > are
>
> > > hard of hearing, obviously, but might also be screen reader users or
>
> > > even users who have cognitive impairments. A well-structured
>
> > > transcript can help all of those users. For users who are not
>
> > visually
>
> > > impaired it might even make sense to include images, such as screen
>
> > > captures of the interview, especially if visual aids exist in the
>
> > > video.
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> > > On Wed, Nov 19, 2014 at 1:58 PM, L Snider < <mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> >
> <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>
> > > > Hi All,
>
> > > >
>
> > > > I am trying this one again, as I was having some major email issues
>
> > > > when
>
> > > I
>
> > > > sent this the first time!
>
> > > >
>
> > > > For videos, I provide CC or open captioning, but I also like to
>
> > > > include a text transcript of the content as well. The content of
>
> > the
>
> > > > videos is usually interviews, so there are a lot of questions and
>
> > > > answers, and sometimes multiple people talking.
>
> > > >
>
> > > > I have done a lot of research and have not yet found a source that
>
> > > > talks about the best way to make that text transcript accessible
>
> > > > (other than to have one-which I have always done).
>
> > > >
>
> > > > For example, the documents would be created in Word and would
>
> > > > usually
>
> > > only
>
> > > > have a couple of headings at the top, but the rest of the text
>
> > would
>
> > > > just be Q and A over and over again...Does anyone have a good
>
> > > > example of an accessible text transcript or an online source that
>
> > > > talks about this
>
> > > aspect?
>
> > > >
>
> > > > Thanks in advance,
>
> > > >
>
> > > > Lisa
>
> > > > >
> > > > > http://list.webaim.org/ Address
>
> > > > list messages to <mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> >
> <EMAIL REMOVED>
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> > > --
>
> > >
>
> > > Karl Groves
>
> > > <http://www.karlgroves.com>; www.karlgroves.com
>
> > > @karlgroves
>
> > > <http://www.linkedin.com/in/karlgroves>;
> http://www.linkedin.com/in/karlgroves
>
> > > Phone: +1 410.541.6829
>
> > >
>
> > > Modern Web Toolsets and Accessibility
>
> > > <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uq6Db47-Ks>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uq6Db47-Ks
>
> > >
>
> > > <http://www.tenon.io>; www.tenon.io
>
> > > >
> > > > http://list.webaim.org/ Address
>
> > > list messages to <mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> >
> <EMAIL REMOVED>
>
> > >
>
> > >
> > > http://list.webaim.org/ >
> > messages to <mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> >
> <EMAIL REMOVED>
>
> > > >