RE: Adopting the media accessibility requirements

Philip Jägenstedt wrote:
>
>
>   (DV-9) Allow the author to use a codec which is optimised for voice
> only,
> rather than requiring the same codec as the original soundtrack.

Philip,

On the companion Check List document we are still working on 
(http://www.w3.org/WAI/PF/HTML/wiki/Media_Accessibility_Checklist), this 
requirement is listed as a *May*


>
>   (CA-4) Support pre-emphasis filters, pitch-shifting, and other
> audio-processing algorithms.

This is also listed as a *May*, although UAAG has it as an AA or AAA 
requirement:

3.8.2 Speech Pitch and Range: The user can set all of the following 
synthesized speech characteristics, overriding any values specified by the 
author (Level AA):
(a) pitch ("pitch" refers to the average frequency of the speaking voice), 
and
(b) pitch range ("pitch range" specifies a variation in average frequency),

3.8.3 Advanced Speech Characteristics: The user can set all of the speech 
characteristics offered by the speech synthesizer, according to the full 
range of values available, overriding any values specified by the author. 
(Level AAA)
http://www.w3.org/TR/UAAG20/#gl-speech-config


>
>   (DV-14) Support metadata, such as copyright information, usage
> rights,
> language, etc.

This is listed as a *Should* right now.

Both Eric Carlson (WebKit) and Frank Olivier (Internet Explorer) have 
referenced the use/need for metadata, however I agree that this needs 
further clarification, and asked Frank Olivier about this yesterday: 
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html-a11y/2010Oct/0615.html


>
>   (CN-6) Support direct access to any structural element, possibly
> through
> URIs.

This has been listed as a *Should*.

There has been a fair bit of discussion to date about the need to be able to 
navigate longer media pieces using a more structured method than just time 
off-sets; that richer transcripts could provide a means of navigating a 
longer work, such as a play in three acts, or an Opera or Symphony in 4 
movements, etc. This type of functionality is already available in other 
Alt-format delivery mechanisms (such as Daisy), and so while this might 
require some thinking and fiddling about, it is neither a pie-in-the-sky 
suggestion nor something that could not be implemented as far as I can tell 
(and I have not been left with that impression from any of the other 
engineers involved in the sub-team). If the time-stamp format we arrive at 
can support <h> headings, then for example we could likely use that as a 
means of navigation.

Thinking outside of the box for a minute, it is not beyond the realm of 
feasibility to have hyperlinks embedded into sub-titles and caption files, 
which users could then use to navigate to enhanced content inside or outside 
of the media asset. (Think also along the lines of DVD's 'alternative 
viewpoint' feature - being able to click to view alternative content, etc. 
As well, while clicking on an educational video could link to any number of 
other multi-modal learning mechanisms - items that could assist people with 
cognitive disabilities, etc. - the very same functionality could also be 
used for monetization of other types of video content: like the way this 
widget wobbles on the video? - click and off you go to an online order-form: 
Universal Design at it's max!)

This might likely also feed nicely into initiatives such as 
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-web-and-tv/2010Sep/0002.html as 
well as:

http://www.opera.com/press/releases/2010/09/10/,
http://www.opera.com/business/solutions/devices/tv/,
http://dev.opera.com/articles/view/creating-web-content-for-tv/

JF

Received on Friday, 29 October 2010 01:39:13 UTC