G81: Providing a synchronized video of the sign language interpreter that can be displayed in a different viewport or overlaid on the image by the player

The objective of this technique is to allow users who cannot hear or read text rapidly to be able to access synchronized media material without affecting the presentation of the material for all viewers.

For those who communicate primarily in sign language it is sometimes less preferable and sometimes not possible for them to read and understand text at the rate it is presented in captions. For these latter individuals it is important to provide sign language presentation of the audio information.

This technique accomplishes this by providing the sign language interpretation as a separate video stream that is synchronized with the original video stream. Depending on the player, this secondary video stream can be overlaid on top of the original video or displayed in a separate window. It may also be possible to enlarge the sign language interpreter separately from the original video to make it easier to read the hand, body and facial movements of the signer.

NOTE: Since sign language is not usually a signed version of the printed language, the author has to decide which sign language to include. Usually the sign language of the primary audience would be used. If intended for multiple audiences, multiple languages may be used. See advisory technique for multiple sign languages.

Resources are for information purposes only, no endorsement implied.

• Guidelines for the Production of Signing Books

  • "Sign Language presentation" gives a broad overview of issues to consider when filming sign language interpreters. Includes discussion of signing both written and spoken originals.

  • Techniques for filming are discussed in chapter 12, “Filming the Signer(s)".

  • Useful information about how to display the sign language interpreter in relation to the original synchronized media content is provided in Chapter 13, "Editing".

    Note: These techniques may need to be adapted for Web-based presentation.

• G54: Including a sign language interpreter in the video stream
• SM13: Providing sign language interpretation through synchronized video streams in SMIL 1.0
• SM14: Providing sign language interpretation through synchronized video streams in SMIL 2.0

Procedure

1. Enable the display of the sign-language window in the player.

2. Have someone watch the program who can hear and is familiar with the sign language being used.

3. Check to see if there is a sign language interpreter on screen or in a separate window.

4. Check to see that dialogue and important sounds are being conveyed by the interpreter and are synchronized with the audio.

Expected Results

• #3 and #4 are true

If this is a sufficient technique for a success criterion, failing this test procedure does not necessarily mean that the success criterion has not been satisfied in some other way, only that this technique has not been successfully implemented and can not be used to claim conformance.