Re: Captions requirement for picture in picture videos

Hi Ajay,

A number of years ago, as part of the then emergent HTML5 efforts, a
smaller group inside of the W3C got together and created the MAUR - the
Media Accessibility User Requirements. As part of that effort, we looked
at, and significantly discussed, captions and caption needs for multiple
user groups.

While most of the requirements detailed in the MAUR are not considered
"normative requirements" (i.e. they are not specifically part of WCAG),
the requirements go beyond minimal expectations and are hopefully
the "everything-for-everyone document", outlining the needs of users with
differing disabilities. That document, and it's guidance, can be found at:
https://www.w3.org/TR/media-accessibility-reqs/

To your use case:

> does a video being displayed within picture in picture frame need to have
captions?


Yes. To be WCAG compliant, *all videos* require captions (unless there is
no audio track/narrative present)

> if we  show the captions it will appear very small and very hard to read,
so would  it be still a compliance requirement or a good to have feature?

It remains a compliance requirement. WCAG states:

*Success Criterion 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded) (Level A)*


*Captions are provided for all prerecorded audio content in synchronized
media, except when the media is a media alternative for text and is clearly
labeled as such.*


You will note however that the Success Criterion does not speak to caption
placement, caption font size, or (frankly) any other aspect of captions,
only that they must be present.

MAUR goes further and suggests a few additional requirements, such as:

   - [CC5] Support positioning in all parts of the screen - either inside
   the media viewport but also possibly in a determined space next to the
   media viewport.
   - [CC-9] Permit a range of font faces and sizes.
   - [CC-11] Render text in a range of colors. The user should have final
   control over rendering styles like color and fonts; e.g., through user
   preferences.

Add those all up, and yes, the concern you articulate is indeed a concern.
Since today I am personally unaware of a video player that supports those
specific MAUR requirements, I would advise that at a minimum, you also
ensure that a text transcript *ALSO* be readily available for those users
who will need text equivalencies. It may not be "the letter of the law",
but it *IS* the right thing to do.

HTH

JF

On Tue, Sep 7, 2021 at 3:38 PM Ajay Sharma <ajaysharma89003@gmail.com>
wrote:

> Hello,
>
> Looking for some insights on a situation where we have a video player that
> shows captions when viewed in original player, and this video player will
> also show up within picture in picture frame so that people can multitask
> while viewing the video. So, the question is does a video being displayed
> within picture in picture frame need to have captions? Since even if we
> show the captions it will appear very small and very hard to read, so
> would  it be still a compliance requirement or a good to have feature?
>
> Thanks,
> Ajai
>


-- 
*John Foliot* |
Senior Industry Specialist, Digital Accessibility |
W3C Accessibility Standards Contributor |

"I made this so long because I did not have time to make it shorter." -
Pascal "links go places, buttons do things"