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Re: Best Possible Audio Description

for

From: Birkir R. Gunnarsson
Date: Jul 27, 2021 7:27PM

As a blind person myself I typically only use videos because I'm
looking for something and it's typically on YouTube. I know YouTube
sometimes has video, sometimes only audio, but I'm not really paying
attention to it.
I often follow along with videos with friends (or with colleagues when
it's work related) and in those situations it would be best to have
togglable audio description, especially when it can be fit into the
pauses between natural dialog and do not need a separate "extended"
version of the video.
For those situations I prefer a text transcript that captures the
dialog and a transcript of the information that is presented between
scenes in the dialog.
WCAG does allow for a conforming alternative solution, if it can be
accessed from the same page and contains all the same information as
the inaccessible version.
The examples given are primarily webpages, but same logic can be
applied to videos.
A few things to consider:
1. What video players are you planning to use (and does that player
have the ability to toggle a separate audio description track). This
was unusual a couple of years ago but support for this is being added
to some of the mainstream video platforms.
2. Can you still update the video script to maximize the information
that is communicated through the spoken word/audio (as opposed to
on-screen text and other infomration), keep in mind that you don't
have to describe everything, only communicate the visuals that provide
actual info to supplement the infomration in the audio (you don't have
to describe a random screenshot or a person who happens to be visible
in the background if they're not part of the plot or information).
3. If not, can you fit in audio description without stretching out the
video track?

If no to all of the above you can either
* Create a separate video with audio description added as well as the
necessary additional pauses (the audio description does not have to be
togglable since it is part of another version of the video).
* Do the same, but usse audio only version, not a video version (it's
a smaller footprint, easier to use without streaming extra data so it
could be useful for those who want to consume the videos as podcasts.
* Create an extended text transcript that incldues spoken word
transcript and all the visual clues (including identifying speakers if
more than one), post that transcript along with the video.

I really like that you're trying to go such extra length to provide
equivalent experience for all!

And, yes, though it's not what you asked and I'm sure you're already
aware of it, add captions for those who can't hear the audio (either
because they have a hearing impairment or they are watching at work
and can't keep the sound turned on).




On 7/27/21, L Snider < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
> Hi David,
>
> That is possible with HTML 5 players like AblePlayer, where you can
> turn on and off audio description, sign language, etc. So it depends
> on how you made the video/audio track.
>
> Cheers
>
> Lisa
>
> On Tue, Jul 27, 2021 at 4:36 PM Andrews, David B (DEED)
> < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>>
>> In an ideal world, you would be able to turn on and off audio description
>> just like any other service in the player, such as captioning.
>>
>> You need to be able to get to, and use all the controls from the keyboard.
>>
>> Dave
>>
>>
>>
>>