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From: Johanna Frohm
Date: Sat, Aug 25 2001 11:38AM
Subject: Using closed captioning versus open
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I would like to thank the responses I received on my question regarding
"Capturing audio portion of a video and converting to text". We are
pursuing several ideas, but it may take a little while to see which will
work. If anyone has other ideas, I would like to hear them.
I noted the questions regarding how to display the captioning in the
SMIL file in RealPlayer. I am wondering about the merits of using open
captioning in a SMIL file versus using closed captioning. Closed
captioning will display if the accessibility feature is enabled in
RealPlayer Preferences. If open captioning is used, it will be visible
to everyone without any additional steps. It benefits the person with
the hearing impairment, but it may also benefit others, such as the
person working at a workstation with their speakers turned off, the
person working at a computer without speakers, or a person working in a
noisy environment. There are probably other reasons open captioning can
be useful, but are their reasons for not using it?
Thanks, Johanna

From: Holly Marie
Date: Sat, Aug 25 2001 1:15AM
Subject: Re: Using closed captioning versus open
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Johanna Frohm"
> I am wondering about the merits of using open
> captioning in a SMIL file versus using closed captioning. Closed
> captioning will display if the accessibility feature is enabled in
> RealPlayer Preferences. If open captioning is used, it will be visible
> to everyone without any additional steps. It benefits the person with
> the hearing impairment, but it may also benefit others, such as the
> person working at a workstation with their speakers turned off, the
> person working at a computer without speakers, or a person working in
a
> noisy environment. There are probably other reasons open captioning
can
> be useful, but are their reasons for not using it?
You bring up a very good point Johanna, and I was wondering myself,
wouldn't it even be better if captioning view was set up as default on
and requiring someone to turn it off if not wanting to view?
seems that the captioning already available to everyone, then off for
those that do not want it on, would be a nicer solution. However, I do
realize that we as designers go so far and the users should know how and
where to set their settings, or use their special tools, programs, or
devices.
holly

From: Paul Bohman
Date: Sat, Aug 25 2001 2:49PM
Subject: Re: Using closed captioning versus open
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Both of you have brought up excellent points. I would have to agree that it
is better to provide captions in a way that the people who really need them
don't have to work to hard to see them. I don't know if there are any real
advantages to having the captions off by default, other than the idea that
most people aren't used to seeing them. Despite some potential usability
problems, closed captioning is very acceptable. Television has a history of
being closed captioned, rather than open captioned. Still, some people won't
realize that captions are even available if they have the "display captions"
setting turned off.
One way around this would be to provide a text sentence prior to the link to
the video which says "Closed captioned: follow this link for instructions on
accessing the captions." Something like that.
The choice is left to the web designer. I have no problem with closed
captioning, but you should consider your audience, the purpose of the video
and so on before deciding on closed versus open captioning.
Paul Bohman
Technology Coordinator
WebAIM (Web Accessibility in Mind)
www.webaim.org
Utah State University
www.usu.edu

From: Rachael Zubal
Date: Mon, Aug 27 2001 8:04AM
Subject: Re: Using closed captioning versus open
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As a person with a hearing loss, I think captioning is important. Too often
I cannot hear the pronunciation of words, especially with the sometimes
grainy quality of on-line video.
I like Paul's idea about instead of having open captioning, you have closed
captioning, with instructions on how to select/change this feature on your
Real Player.
Rachael Zubal
Information Coordinator
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =

>>> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = 08/25/01 13:37 PM >>>
I would like to thank the responses I received on my question regarding
"Capturing audio portion of a video and converting to text". We are
pursuing several ideas, but it may take a little while to see which will
work. If anyone has other ideas, I would like to hear them.
I noted the questions regarding how to display the captioning in the
SMIL file in RealPlayer. I am wondering about the merits of using open
captioning in a SMIL file versus using closed captioning. Closed
captioning will display if the accessibility feature is enabled in
RealPlayer Preferences. If open captioning is used, it will be visible
to everyone without any additional steps. It benefits the person with
the hearing impairment, but it may also benefit others, such as the
person working at a workstation with their speakers turned off, the
person working at a computer without speakers, or a person working in a
noisy environment. There are probably other reasons open captioning can
be useful, but are their reasons for not using it?
Thanks,
Johanna