Re: Encrypted Media proposal: Summary of the discussion so far

Hi Ben,

Removing the flash dependency would result in native capabilities for
interacting with media built in to the browser.
For example, in Firefox both the audio and video elements default controls
can be operated using the keyboard.
The controls while not represented in the DOM are represented in the
accessibility tree so that assistive technology can provide access to users
This is not the case with Flash on non windows platfroms..

One of the promoted benefits of HTML5 is built in accessibility, this is
the case for <audio> and <video>
users are less reliant on developers doing the right thing.

Note: this is not an argument for or against CDM's, it's an argument for
providing use of native HTML5 video and audio over embedded inaccessible
functionality.

regards
steve



On 14 March 2012 22:55, Benjamin Hawkes-Lewis
<bhawkeslewis@googlemail.com>wrote:

> On Wed, Mar 14, 2012 at 9:12 PM, Steve Faulkner
> <faulkner.steve@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Are the flash based media players generally used accompanied by scripted
> > HTML controls or are they in the flash file?
> >
> > looking at random youtube video controls are in the flash
> >
> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1PFq2LuyTs&feature=b-mv
> >  same goes for metacafe and daily motion
> >
> http://www.metacafe.com/watch/8202183/god_bless_america_exclusive_clip_silence_is_golden/
> >
> > http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xpafej_alain-robert-best-of-2011_sport
>
> Probably most video sites today are using Flash to deliver the video
> itself are also using Flash to deliver some of their UI.
>
> I think you'll find that reflects their general deprioritisation of
> accessibility in product design and QA, lack of dedicated content
> aimed at people with disabilities (e.g. captions, audio descriptions,
> sign language interpretation), the Flash-focused skillset of the
> developers, and a desire to force ads on users by obfuscating the
> loading of the ads and video in Flash, not technical problems with
> using DHTML to drive Flash.
>
> e.g. http://icant.co.uk/easy-youtube/
>
> But if you can point to specific technical problems, please do.
>
> >> switching to HTML5 <video> would require switching to DHTML controls
> >
> > If this is the case then it is a positive effect of removing the flash
> > dependency.
>
> My point is we can gain this benefit without removing the Flash dependency.
>
> --
> Benjamin Hawkes-Lewis
>



-- 
with regards

Steve Faulkner
Technical Director - TPG

www.paciellogroup.com | www.HTML5accessibility.com |
www.twitter.com/stevefaulkner
HTML5: Techniques for providing useful text alternatives -
dev.w3.org/html5/alt-techniques/
Web Accessibility Toolbar - www.paciellogroup.com/resources/wat-ie-about.html