Re: Magnified Caption Files

Hi John,
We had a good discussion about this today on the LVTF call [1].
The LVTF does not believe that author testing with screen magnification
will have any benefit for users. Screen magnification software will
pixelate captions as it does the video and pictures. We don't know of
anything the author could do to the captions that would prevent the
pixelation.

It seems the issue has been taken over by laws and technological
advancements because of CVAA and 2014 FCC rules mandating user control of
caption adjustments [2]. As examples, see 3PlayMedia's discussion of user
interface controls for caption adjustments [3] and YouTubes caption
settings [4]. Users are able to adjust captions to a significant degree.

1.
https://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-low-vision-a11y-tf/2018Feb/0014.html
2.
http://www.fcc.gov/document/closed-captioning-quality-report-and-order-declaratory-ruling-fnprm
3.
https://www.3playmedia.com/2014/05/09/brightcove-responds-user-control-mandate-launching-customizable-closed-captions/
4.
https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/100078?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en

Jim Allan, Chair Low Vision Task Force.

On Wed, Feb 7, 2018 at 2:46 PM, John Foliot <john.foliot@deque.com> wrote:

> (copying the WCAG Low Vision TF)
>
> All,
>
> As you are possibly aware, we are currently closing off some old comments
> with the VTT Working Group (with spill-over to the TTML / IMSC Working
> Group) around the ability to enlarge caption text to support Low Vision
> users.
>
> Sylvia Pfeiffer responded with the following:
>
> If I understand correctly, you'd like me to add authoring guidance around
> magnification and its potential impact.
>
> Could it be done with a single paragraph such as:
> *"Authors of WebVTT caption and subtitle files are encouraged to test the
> rendering of their files using Assistive Technology. Specifically, the use
> of magnification tools by low-vision users may require editing their files
> to allow for sufficient space within cue lines and cue line heights. It is
> recommended to allow for a 200% magnification without clipping."*
>
> My personal opinion is that this is effectively what we seek (Ref: WCAG SC
> 1.4.4 Resize Text), but before I respond more formally to the GitHub issue (
> https://github.com/w3c/webvtt/issues/426) I'd welcome some feedback.
>
> LVTF, does this sound right? LV members, have you encountered something
> like this previously? (the ability to enlarge caption files independent of
> the video?)
>
> APA - are we comfortable with Sylvia's proposal? Would something like this
> also meet our needs with the TTML / IMSC group?
>
> Given that the VTT WG are keen on disposing with all comments, I'd like to
> try and resolve this one fairly quickly.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> JF
> --
> John Foliot
> Principal Accessibility Strategist
> Deque Systems Inc.
> john.foliot@deque.com
>
> Advancing the mission of digital accessibility and inclusion
>



-- 
Jim Allan, Accessibility Coordinator
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
1100 W. 45th St., Austin, Texas 78756
voice 512.206.9315    fax: 512.206.9452 http://www.tsbvi.edu/
"We shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us." McLuhan, 1964