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General Guidelines for Inclusive Online Cultural Content

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Acknowledgements Canadian Network for Inclusive Cultural Exchange (CNICE) Creating Accessible Online Cultural Content Discussion Document Series CNICE Partners Adaptive Technology Resource Centre Banff New Media Institute Canadian Abilities Foundation Canadian Centre on Disability Studies Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf Canadian Hearing Society Canadian Learning Television Centre for Learning Technology Centre for Research in Disability Studies Digital Frog International marblemedia National Broadcast Reading Service Editors and Contributors: Michael Boyce, Sara Diamond, Deborah Fels, Elle Gadsby, Rob Harvie, Wendy Porch, Lake Porter, Jan Richards, Vera Roberts, Marc Rosen, Nancy Sicchia, Charles Silverman, Jutta Treviranus This project was made possible through the funding by the New Media Research Networks Fund of the Canadian Heritage Canadian Culture Online Programme. CNICE Inclusive Culture Content Discussion Documents Executive Summary: These discussion documents have been prepared as part of the Canadian Network for Inclusive Cultural Exchange (CNICE) project. The package includes a single “core” document followed by four “companion documents,” each devoted to closer examination of particular areas: 1. Online Enhanced Captioning 2. Online Video Description 3. Remote Real-time ASL Interpretation 4. Representations of Visual Geo-spatial Information. The core document, General Guidelines for Inclusive New Media Cultural Content, is organized into six main sections: Section 1.1 is the introduction to the core document and outlines its. This section also includes definition of terms used in the document as well as a brief discussion of disability culture. Section 1.2 is an overview of existing accessibility principles, of which, developers of cultural content should be aware. Section 1.3 lays out a number of challenges faced by developers of accessible online cultural content. These include a discussion about the right to artistic expression and accessibility, as well discussions of the aesthetics, entertainment value, perspective and interpretation of cultural works as related to accessibility. Section 1.4 introduces the concept of modality translations. Aspects of the translation of art are discussed such as emotion, perspectives, presentation, cultural differences and workflow. Sections 1.5 and 1.6details the possible modality transformations and begin the discussion of how translation of cultural content from one modality to another might be carried out. Section 1.7 is the conclusion of the core document. The four companion documents follow in the next four chapters. The first companion document, chapter 2, looks at online captioning and details captioning in flash as well as introduces the CapScribe tool for caption and video description that was developed as part of the CNICE project. Chapter 3 details Online video description. This discussion extends a discussion that is started in chapter 2 and provides guidance and principles for this modality translation. i CNICE Inclusive Culture Content Discussion Documents Chapter 4 studies in great detail the challenge of creating remote real-time ASL interpretations for cultural events. Along with comprehensive guidelines, the chapter provides first-hand viewpoints and an overview of relevant technologies. The final companion document, chapter 5, discusses the special case of representing visual geospatial information in alternative modalities. The authors discuss solutions that use SVG as well as VRML. The authors close with guidelines for creating inclusive navigation and way-finding content for the web. ii CNICE Inclusive Culture Content Discussion Documents 1 General Guidelines for Inclusive New Media Cultural Content .......................... 9 1.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 9 1.1.1 Scope......................................................................................................... 10 1.1.2 Terms Defined........................................................................................... 10 1.1.3 Discussion of Disability Culture............................................................... 12 1.2 EXISTING PRINCIPLES OF ONLINE ACCESSIBILITY.............................................. 12 1.2.1.1 General Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 13 1.2.1.2 Authoring Tools and User Agents Guidelines 14 1.2.1.3 Language or Format Specific Accessibility Guidelines 15 1.2.1.4 General Software Accessibility Guidelines 16 1.2.1.5 Operating System Specific Accessibility Guidelines 17 1.2.1.6 Education Focussed Accessibility Guidelines 17 1.2.2 XML and Interoperable Information ........................................................ 19 1.2.3 Accessibility Focussed Metadata and Information Architecture.............. 19 1.2.4 Inclusive Usability Evaluation Methods ................................................... 20 1.3 KEY BENEFITS OF ACCESSIBLE DESIGN FOR ONLINE CULTURAL CONTENT....... 21 1.3.1 Accessible Equivalents for Deliberately Challenging Interfaces ............. 23 1.3.2 The Role of Aesthetics............................................................................... 24 1.3.3 Entertainment and Engagement Values.................................................... 25 1.3.4 Perspective: A Cultural and Technical Consideration............................. 26 1.3.5 Interpretation ............................................................................................ 27 1.4 MOVING ARTWORK ACROSS MODALITIES......................................................... 28 1.4.1 Translating Emotion Across Modalities ................................................... 28 1.4.2 Provide Multiple Perspectives .................................................................. 29 1.4.3 Consider the Presentation Context ........................................................... 31 1.4.4 Considering Cultural Differences............................................................. 31 1.4.5 Integrate with Workflow ........................................................................... 32 1.5 INTRODUCTION TO ONLINE CONTENT MODALITIES ........................................... 32 1.5.1 Visual Modality......................................................................................... 33 1.5.2 Audio Modality.......................................................................................... 33 1.5.3 Haptic Modality ........................................................................................ 34 1.5.3.1 Haptic Devices 35 1.5.4 Language Modality ................................................................................... 36 1.6 MODALITY TRANSLATIONS................................................................................ 36 1.6.1 Twelve Possible Modality Translations.................................................... 37 1.6.2 Alternative Modality Equivalents of Visual Content ................................ 39 1.6.2.1 Visuals to Language 39 General Techniques for using Language to Describe Visuals.......................... 40 1.6.2.2 Visuals to Audio 41 Video Descriptions............................................................................................ 42 Music................................................................................................................. 43 Sound Effects.................................................................................................... 44 Automated auditory displays ............................................................................ 48 1.6.2.3 Visuals to Haptics 49 1.6.3 Alternative Modality Equivalents of Audio Content ................................. 51 iii CNICE Inclusive Culture Content Discussion Documents 1.6.3.1 Audio to Language 51 Transcription of dialogue (Captions)................................................................ 51 Description of Music......................................................................................... 52 Description of Sound Effects............................................................................ 55 1.6.3.2 Audio to Visuals 56 ASL Translation of Speech............................................................................... 56 Graphical Component of Enhanced Captions................................................... 56 Visual Displays of Music or Sound Effects...................................................... 56 1.6.3.3 Audio to Haptics 57 1.6.4 Accessible Collaborative Tools................................................................. 57 1.6.4.1 A-Chat: Accessible Online Chat Tool 57 Key Features ..................................................................................................... 57 Screenshots: ...................................................................................................... 58 Suggested Use of A-Chat:................................................................................. 59 1.6.4.2 A-Comm: Client-Side Chat/Whiteboard Tool 60 Key Features: .................................................................................................... 60 Screenshot:........................................................................................................ 60 Suggested Description Strategies:..................................................................... 61 Using Pre-Authored Drawing Objects:............................................................. 62 1.6.5 Ensuring Accessible Control....................................................................
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