Re: Videoconference for deaf spanish speakers?

Hello Chaals,

Regarding your request about the accessibility of videoconference platforms for D/deaf people, in Spanish, as the D/deaf community is very heterogeneous, an important aspect to consider is: whether people using this technology aims at receiving an accessible alternative to the audio in the form of text (captions/SDH) or if they aim to receive an alternative media in the form of sign language interpreting. Or maybe both.

It is true that nowadays most videoconference platforms include automatic captions (Zoom, Google Meets, Teams, Skype, under others) in different languages, such as Spanish. However, it is important to consider that the accuracy level of the automatic generated output text is not always satisfactory for the users, so "automatic captions are not sufficient" as stressed in the Making Audio and Video Accessible<https://www.w3.org/WAI/media/av/captions/> guide W3C/WAI.

Therefore, it is important to provide a human based captioning/subtitling service, which in fact not all platforms allow. That's why it is mentioned that Zoom allows someone to be identified as a "captioner" (human based captions/CART services). In fact, the Ava app that you mention combines AI generated captions with human captions in order to improve the quality of the output text.

Regarding sign language interpreting in these platforms, this service is human based, so sign language interpreters will join the meeting and users will pin their window when needed. In fact, this in line with the Pedious service that you mention.

I hope it helps.

Best,

Estel·la Oncins Noguer
Post Doctoral Research Fellow TransMedia Catalonia
Edifici MRA 126  - Campus UAB
08193 Bellaterra
Barcelona
T. +34 610 655 149

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http://grupsderecerca.uab.cat/transmedia<http://grupsderecerca.uab.cat/transmedia/>
<http://grupsderecerca.uab.cat/transmedia/>
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________________________________
From: Carlos Muncharaz <carlos.muncharaz@springernature.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 9, 2022 13:15
To: Charles 'chaals' (McCathie) Nevile <charles.nevile@consensys.net>; w3c-wai-ig@w3.org <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
Subject: Re: Videoconference for deaf spanish speakers?

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Hi Chaals!

Google Meet supports autocaptions in Spanish language.

More info: https://support.google.com/meet/answer/9300310

Best wishes.
Carlos Muncharaz
Accessibility Specialist
Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC)

Springer Nature
www.springernature.com<http://www.springernature.com>

________________________________________
From: Charles 'chaals' (McCathie) Nevile <charles.nevile@consensys.net>
Sent: 07 August 2022 20:46
To: w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
Subject: Videoconference for deaf spanish speakers?

[External - Use Caution]

Hi folks,

I am wondering if my knowledge is out of date, and thought showing my
ignorance might get me to check, if someone else doesn't know the answer.

a request in a private forum that is generalist but with a heavy presence
of people in medicine asked for information about videoconference systems
that will work for deaf people, in spanish.

The Spanish Centre for Captioning and Audio-description have a helpful
article
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.cesya.es/articulos/accesibilidad-auditiva-en-plataformas-de-videoconferencia__;!!NLFGqXoFfo8MMQ!u2VYV2CBZlQgNYBKoddSM4ZKzj43-fZaTMeM_AvQZoNc_ZROAA2MX5dS4lnf7AVicfy5_nD0WfMgbM19uglyzH10y0FL_rT0h2cfp04$
but the short answer seems to be "none of the autocaptioning works in
Spanish", but Zoom allows someone to be identified as a "captioner"
(much like the way W3C has been using IRC in teleconferences for the
last quarter-century, but without the supporting tools we have).

I wonder if anyone here can add to this.

I'll also report here with a summary of that discussion, which also linked

- Visualfy https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.visualfy.com/es__;!!NLFGqXoFfo8MMQ!u2VYV2CBZlQgNYBKoddSM4ZKzj43-fZaTMeM_AvQZoNc_ZROAA2MX5dS4lnf7AVicfy5_nD0WfMgbM19uglyzH10y0FL_rT0yaLxttA$  - "a technology that can notify
deaf people of various events"das de diferentes eventos

- Ava https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://es.ava.me/__;!!NLFGqXoFfo8MMQ!u2VYV2CBZlQgNYBKoddSM4ZKzj43-fZaTMeM_AvQZoNc_ZROAA2MX5dS4lnf7AVicfy5_nD0WfMgbM19uglyzH10y0FL_rT0CZP4B3M$  An app that allows real-time conversation
transcription

- Pedius pedius.org

cheers

Chaals

--
Charles "chaals" Nevile
ConsenSys Lead Standards Architect