WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

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RE: embedding video

for

From: Mike Foskett
Date: May 26, 2006 1:10PM

Hi Connie,

The url given didn't play the video on my PC in IEv6 until I selected Windows Media Player.
Not very accessible.
I would have expected an image, or a piece of text, to appear giving clear instruction where the video should have been.

The delivery method Real / Quicktime / Windows media options, are to my mind excessive.
Three options for player and two for connection speed.

Personally I'd recommend Flash video. One format all platforms.
Flash is on 95% - 98% of all machines (macromedia figures), and is easily the most reliable format cross browser / cross platform.
There are also methods which detect the connection speed then supply content accordingly.
Take a look at this site: http://www.teachnow.org/
Apart from Flash they supply Media Player and Quicktime as options for download.
The method demonstrated is let down by poor keyboard support, and the lack of captioning or a text transcript.

I have a demo for JavaScript enabled / disabled video delivery here: http://becta.org.uk/mike%20foskett%20testing/video/
and another here: http://becta.org.uk/mike%20foskett%20testing/video/swishvideo.html
Though I must point out these are "test pages" only and may not be fully functional or accessible.

There are other accessibility concerns apart from the delivery method.
For example the DRC's (Disability Rights Commission) "Talk video": http://www.drc-gb.org/citizenship/talkvideos/talkvideo/index.asp
Uses three versions: original, subtitled and BSL (British Sign Language)-signed, and audio-described to communicate to different disabilities.

Overall the situation with video is improving but it still has a way to go.

I hope it helps

Regards

Mike

_____________________________________
Mike Foskett
Web Standards & Accessibility Consultant
Communications
British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta)
Milburn Hill Road, Science Park, Coventry CV4 7JJ
Email: <EMAIL REMOVED>
Tel: 02476 416994 Ext 3342 [Tuesday - Thursday]
Fax: 02476 411410
http://www.becta.org.uk <http://www.becta.org.uk/>;
_____________________________________






________________________________

From: <EMAIL REMOVED> [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Connie Robinette
Sent: 22 May 2006 17:12
To: <EMAIL REMOVED>
Subject: [WebAIM] embedding video



I am aware that in the past, embedded video was not accessible. I was wondering if things had changed...

I had seen this PBS site and noticed that they were dealing with embedded videos in html but in a highly flexible and colorful way. I should like to use this approach if it is accessible. Can anyone give me some advice please?

http://pbskids.org/fetch/show/video/preview.html

Thank you...

Connie