[Athen] Best practices for captioning videos?

[Russell Solowoniuk]

Hi Katherine,

Thanks so much for your response. The information I've been able to gather also recommends using a standard captioning pattern. Apparently Descript allows for this as well, but I wasn't aware of the poor captioning on the video promoting Descript, so thanks for pointing that out.

Have a great weekend everyone,

Russell

From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> On Behalf Of Stager, Catherine
Sent: Friday, February 4, 2022 12:00 PM
To: Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: [Athen] Best practices for captioning videos?

EXTERNAL:  Use caution.<https://myportal.macewan.ca/help.html#external-email>

Hi Russell,
I would suggest that he use the standard captioning pattern.  The syncing of the caption and the speech is crucial for some users.  Timed transcripts with links to places within the movie are very nice, but matching the basic expectations of two lines of captioning per screen should be available.  Using .VTT files for the captioning is my preferred default.

With tools like Chrome's built-in Live Caption, folks who want them to display in other manners can do so.   It's great if you have a tool that can toggle between the cc and the timed transcripts, but you don't want to force folks into an unexpected environment.

I don't know what tools you use by default or where your videos live, but I have always been a fan of using players that give you the option to switch between the different displays or allow you to show both.  Able Player<https://ableplayer.github.io/ableplayer/> (thank you Terrill Thompson!) , of course, is fantastic for this flexibility, accessibility, and user friendliness.  Accessibility Oz's ozplayer<https://www.accessibilityoz.com/ozplayer/> is free for non-profit use and offers similar benefits.

Just checked out the Descript video Introducing Descript and they have very poor captioning on it...
Can't say I will look any further into what they offer.


Best regards,
Cath

Catherine M. Stager
Disability Support Services - Assistive Technology
Create Inclusive E-mail and Materials
https://bit.ly/inclusive-checklist
Getting Started Guides bit.ly/usingyourtech<https://bit.ly/usingyourtech>




From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu>> On Behalf Of Russell Solowoniuk
Sent: Wednesday, February 2, 2022 10:49 AM
To: Access Technology Higher Education Network (athen-list at u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list at u.washington.edu>) <athen-list at u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list at u.washington.edu>>
Subject: [Athen] Best practices for captioning videos?


CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the Colorado Community College System. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Please contact your college IT Help Desk if you have any questions.
Hi everyone,

We have been contacted by a professor who is redoing an online course. The prof is creating 15 minute talks with captions, and is wondering what technology is the best to use. Is it best to use Kaltura and have captions at the bottom of the screen, or a program like Descript where there is a full script beside the video that is highlighted as you go. Or, is there something better to use?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Best regards,

Russell

Russell Solowoniuk
AT Educational Assistant, Access and Disability Resources
MacEwan University
7-164K, 10700-104 Ave.
Edmonton, AB  T5J 4S2
E: solowoniukr at macewan.ca<mailto:solowoniukr at macewan.ca>
T:  780-497-5826
F:  780-497-4018
macewan.ca
[MacEwan Logo]
This communication is intended for the use of the recipient to whom it is addressed and may contain confidential, personal, and/or privileged information.  Please contact me immediately if you are not the intended recipient of this communication, and do not copy, distribute, or take action relying on it.  Any communication received in error, or subsequent reply, should be deleted or destroyed.
Please consider the environment before printing this email

We acknowledge that the land on which we gather in Treaty Six Territory is the traditional gathering place for many Indigenous people. We honour and respect the history, languages, ceremonies and culture of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit who call this territory home.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman12.u.washington.edu/pipermail/athen-list/attachments/20220204/0f4f7cbd/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 3516 bytes
Desc: image001.jpg
URL: <http://mailman12.u.washington.edu/pipermail/athen-list/attachments/20220204/0f4f7cbd/attachment.jpg>