Web Accessibility
Multimedia: Provide Captioning and Transcripts of Audio, and Descriptions of Video
Checkpoint 1.1
[Priority 1] Provide a text equivalent for every non-text element (e.g., via "alt", "longdesc", or in element content). This includes: images, graphical representations of text (including symbols), image map regions, animations (e.g., animated GIFs), applets and programmatic objects, ASCII art, frames, scripts, images used as list bullets, spacers, graphical buttons, sounds (played with or without user interaction), stand-alone audio files, audio tracks of video, and video.
Tips:
To make your multimedia files accessible:
- Create a text transcript for audio content (e.g., podcasts).
- Provide synchronized text transcripts (captions) for videos that have an audio component.
- For strictly video content, provide text alternatives or have a D-link (separate link) to a description.
*UConn Accommodations and Services for Students with Disabilities:
Information on the LIFT Text Transcoder software and Technology Located at the Center for Students with Disabilities.
Text Transcripts:
A text transcript is a written version of the spoken word. Transcripts must be provided for all podcasts placed on public pages. Creating a text transcript can be time consuming and can be expensive. Transcripts can be created:
- From a script created prior to development of the multimedia presentation.
- By manually typing the text version of the audio file.
- By using voice recognition technology like DragonDictate or ViaVoice. These products are user specific and require the user to train the system. These technologies give individual users an easier process by which to create transcripts of their audio content.
- By using a technique called "shadowing" where a hearing person shadows the speakers words into a voice recognition system trained to their voice.
- By using a thrid party transcription services like eScriptionist.com or Casting Words. The price at these two services ranges between $0.75/ minute to $2.25 minute depending on number of speakers and turn around time.
Captions:
All major media players allow for automatic streaming of captions with the video content. The captions are stored in a secondary file which is delivered synchronized with the media track. Captioning is a two step process requiring
- Creating a text transcript of the audio track
- Synchronizing the transcript with the multimedia presentation.
Text Descriptions:
These convey visual information of video or multimedia content. They are required for individuals with visual impairments and they also help expand visual awareness of people with learning and processing deficits. Text description can be presented:
- as alt attribute if less then 50 words
- a separate link (d-link)
- link to descriptive audio file
Descriptive Video:
Audio Descriptions (AD) are simply additional narrative tracks that describe the current scene or setting. Described video intersperses explanations of important video with the normal audio of a multimedia presentation.
Resources for Multimedia Accessibility:
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