Embedded Files
Multimedia Alternatives
Multimedia is a great way to communicate with our users, whether through audio, video, or a combination of the two. When multimedia is used, it must have proper alternatives paired with it to provide an equivalent experience for users with diverse abilities. The following exercises demonstrate how these alternatives can be implemented both poorly and effectively.
When you are finished, be sure to assess your learning by taking the Multimedia Quiz.
Exercise #29: Closed Captions
For this exercise, you will be exploring the world of audio captioning. Watch this video without sound, using only the captions to understand the content. Can you understand the information fully?
This exercise shows the importance of creating more than one way to access multimedia content. You want to make sure there is an equitable option for everyone. For users who are deaf or hard of hearing, we provide captions or transcripts. For users who are blind or have difficulty seeing, we provide audio descriptions or descriptive transcripts.
Exercise #30: An Equivalent Audio Experience
For this exercise, review each of the following videos with both the sound and the captions turned on. While you watch the video, see if you can identify missing text, missing sounds, or other information that someone using only captions might miss.
Exercise #31: Audio Descriptions
For this exercise, watch the following videos which feature audio descriptions and think about everything you can see on the screen versus what is provided by the narrator through the audio descriptions. Did they get everything? Did they miss something? Would you be able to create a mental image based on what you hear?
Exercise #32: Audio-Only Experiences
For this exercise, think of the last podcast or audiobook you listened to. Now, open up that podcast or audiobook and see if there is a transcript or captions available for it?
Based on your findings, is this audiobook or podcast accessible to only people who can hear it or are there options for reading along at your own pace or in a synchronized format while it plays?
Page updated
Report abuse