Automated Podcasting
Hi,
I'd like some advice on a particular aspect of my site. I love debating accessibility issues and think that this one's a 'guddun.'
Take this post in my journal:
http://fadtastic.net/2006/07/07/redesign/
I've implemented a new feature (2nd col from left near bottom) where one can subscribe to an automated podcast of my articles (or just listen to the article they are viewing.) I wish to know your opinion:
Would this actually be useful to people with access issues? (I'm thinking people with partial/no sight would benefit here - there's no need to visit my website - all sucked down by itunes or similar automatically)
Can you see any disadvantages?
Anything else really?
Cheers for your time.
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Sorry to bump this - any thoughts on this issue? In thought it would create some discussion.
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I'd be interested in hearing any pros and cons for this. The British Museum have recently added what seem to be automated audio descriptions to their Compass site - http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/compass/index.html
Last edited by eatyourgreens on 19 Jul 2006 12:24 pm; edited 1 time in total
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I once read on a blind person's blog that the iPod is an inaccessible device for blind users. There's no Braille on the controls but more importantly, no voicing of the interface. Blind users would never know where they were amongst the menus when trying to use it.
If the content of the discussion isn't available as a transcript (which would be useful to everyone) then an audio presentation will obviously be inaccessible to deaf users. I think you'd have to provide a transcript as well as the audio to maximise its accessibility?
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| Cerbera wrote: |
| I once read on a blind person's blog that the iPod is an inaccessible device for blind users. There's no Braille on the controls but more importantly, no voicing of the interface. Blind users would never know where they were amongst the menus when trying to use it. |
Thanks for the advice. I do believe iPods have voice controls/announcements now. It won't do it by default though.
| Cerbera wrote: |
| If the content of the discussion isn't available as a transcript (which would be useful to everyone) then an audio presentation will obviously be inaccessible to deaf users. I think you'd have to provide a transcript as well as the audio to maximise its accessibility? |
Can you define a transcript? I'm a little confused.
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| Cerbera wrote: |
| If the content of the discussion isn't available as a transcript (which would be useful to everyone) then an audio presentation will obviously be inaccessible to deaf users. I think you'd have to provide a transcript as well as the audio to maximise its accessibility? |
If it's a podcast of a journal entry (like a blog), then the journal entry is the transcription. See Pix's site for another example.
Jack Pickard The Pickards Information Services| Blog | Twit
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| JackP wrote: | ||
If it's a podcast of a journal entry (like a blog), then the journal entry is the transcription. See Pix's site for another example. |
That uses the same service - Talkr.
I have set it up so the user can either listen to the article they are on by clicking a link or subscribing to the podcast. I think that gives enough choice for now.
Can anyone think of pros and cons of these features then?
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I found an example on the BM site too:
http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/compass/ixbin/hixclient.exe?_IXDB_=compass&_IXFIRST_=1&_IXMAXHITS_=1&_IXSPFX_=graphical/gt/lin/&$+with+all_unique_id_index+is+$=ENC14284&_IXtour=ENC14284&submit-button=summary
It's the 'say it' link at the bottom of the page.
I'd be interested to know if other museums should add this sort of feature.
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Oh, I understand now. I'm not sure whether a spoken version of the article would be all that much use accessibility-wise. I'd have thought users who required audio output would use a screen reader of some sort?
It looks like it might be useful to busy iPod users, though. If Apple do have an accessible version, then that would include busy iPod users who are disabled as well.
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