Audio-Video Design Tools
[Author: Text & Illustration: Bill Fischer]
Overview
When designing an informational and/or story based video or animation, accessibility needs to be built in from the start for it to meet universal design requirements.
the I -See-U Storyboard Template
To facilitate integrating universal design during the planning and early design phases, I developed the I-See-U storyboard template. It contains text boxes for defining Integrated captions and audio descriptions that can be coordinated, shot by shot, with the visual assets.
Instructions For Using Google Slides Version
Login to your Google account from your web browser. You will need to create an account if you don't already have one. Google accounts are free.
Use this link to the Google Slides storyboard Template (external link) to access the Template.
Once the Google Slides template is open in your browser
Choose File > Download Microsoft Powerpoint.
Upload the Powerpoint file to your Google Drive. It will transform back into a Google Slides file.
Add narration/dialogue, audio description, timing, and sound design notes as needed.
Instructions For Using Abobe Animate Version
Use this link to the Adobe Animate Template (external link) to download the Template.
Once the Adobe Animate file is downloaded
Rename your copy.
Place it in your project folder on your computer's hard drive.
Open the copied slideshow, draw your storyboard images right in the Adobe animate file.
Add narration/dialogue, audio description, timing, and sound design notes as needed.
Notes
From the imaging software you are using to create the drawings: export at full HD size: 1920x1080. This will optimize their use in the slide show and ready them for an animatic should you choose to make one.
This template can also be used to create wireframes for interactive media and games.
A Screen Capture of the I-See-U Storyboard Template
Media Players
Not all media players offer a full compliment of accessibility support for video or podcasts.
Here is an overview excerpt from the W3C Web accessibility Initiative: Media Players (external link). Much more detailed information is available there, including individual player capabilities and how to embed the the players into web pages.
"Accessible media players provide a user interface that works without a mouse, through speech interface, when the page is zoomed larger, and with screen readers. For example, media players need to:
Provide keyboard support (in Understanding WCAG: Keyboard Accessible)
Make the keyboard focus indicator visible (in Understanding WCAG: Focus Visible)
Provide clear labels (in Understanding WCAG: Labels or Instructions, Info and Relationships)
Have sufficient contrast between colors for text, controls, and backgrounds (in Understanding WCAG: Contrast (Minimum), Contrast (Enhanced), Non-text Contrast)
Some media players provide additional accessibility functionality to users such as:
Changing the speed of the video
Setting how captions are displayed (e.g., text style, text size, colors, and position of the captions)
Reading the captions with a screen reader and braille device
Interactive transcripts"
Youtube and Other Video Editors
Overview
YouTube is the number one platform delivering video, with Netflix running second. There are too many features to list here and they are continuously being updated. This YouTube help page outlines all of the features available in the Youtube player, including accessibility (external link).
Automated Captioning in YouTube and Other Video Editors
YouTube will auto-generate captions for uploaded videos. If your dialogue or narration is crisp and well-annunciated, YouTube's automated captions can achieve near the 99% required accuracy.
To improve accuracy, YouTube has a built-in tool for captioning that allows editing for the creator and user controls for the viewer (such as Font size, and color) as required by ADA regulations.
The Youtube captions can be downloaded and imported into other video editors such as Adobe Preniwer and Techsmith Camtasia.
Tutorial: Editing Captions in Youtube and Other Online Video Editors (Youtube Video)
This YouTube Captioning Video Tutorial (external link) by Filmora MVP. Published on July 2, 2021, will walk you through the process of using YouTube's and Facebook's tools for setting up and editing automated captioning (as well as several other online video editors). Editing automatic captions is important to achieve a high degree of accuracy.
Tutorial: Convert SBV Formatted Captions to SRT (Youtube Video)
Tutorial: Download SBV Formatted Captions form Youtube(Youtube Video)
Note: Most video editors will only import an SRT file.