Concepts

1
Concepts Techniques for Accessible, Closed
Captioned Web-Based Video
David Klein K. Fritz Thompson

• 10th Annual Accessing Higher GroundAccessible
  Media, Web and Technology Conference
• Boulder, Colorado
• November 7, 2007
• http//disability.law.uiowa.edu/lhpdc/publications
  /kleinpubs.html

2
Embedding Videos into HTML

• Media Player and RealPlayer better external, not
  embedded
• QuickTime Flash generally better embedded
• Internet Explorer generally better with Flash
• Controversy in use of and tags

3
Conventional Embedding

• Object parameters
• File location
• Embed parameters
• File location

4
Embedding QuickTime

• 88ABDDC6B"
• width"260" height"316"
• codebase"http//www.apple.com/qtactivex/qtplugin
  .cab"
• value"http//www.yourdomain.com/video_smil.mov"
  /
• mov"
• width"260" height"316"
• pluginspage"http//www.apple.com/quicktime/down
  load/"

5
Embedding Flash Video Player

• 553540000"
• codebase"http//fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/sh
  ockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cabversion7,0,0,0"
• width"340" height"440" id"video"
• value" http//www.yourdomain.com/video.swf" /
• quality"high" width"340" height"440"
  name"video"
• type"application/x-shockwave-flash" base"."
• pluginspage"http//www.macromedia.com/go/getfla
  shplayer" /

6
Embedding Issues

• Not a standard
• Doesnt validate for XHTML
• tag not supported the same on all
  browsers
• Player versioning
• Downloading / upgrading versions a major pain
• Frequently a showstopper for many users
• Earlier required versions may show garbage (or
  blank space) instead of error message

7
Flash Embedding Alternatives

• Object Only method
• Validates for XHTML
• Tricks browsers into correctly displaying content
• Uses graceful failure rule
• When one OBJECT tag doesnt work, its ignored
• Moves to the next OBJECT tag

8
OBJECT Only Method

• 553540000" codebase"http//fpdownload.macromedia
  .com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cabversion
  7,0,0,0" width"340" height"440"
•        /   /   /   
• data"ahg2007.swf" width"340" height"440"
•       /      /      

9
Flash Embedding Alternatives

• Flash Object method (uses JavaScript) to
  determine versions and handle errors gracefully
• Avoid unacceptable use of or
  tags
• Uses alternative text as a default when all else
  fails
• http//blog.deconcept.com/flashobject/
• Works in Internet Explorer to avoid double click
  interaction

10
Contact

• Law, Health Policy Disability Center
• http//disability.law.uiowa.edu/
• LHPDC Bulletin Board (download Flash playback
  engine)
• http//disability2.law.uiowa.edu/dbtac

David Klein 280-1 Boyd Law Bldg. College of
Law University of Iowa Iowa City, IA
52242 319-335-6748 david-klein_at_uiowa.edu
K. Fritz Thompson 280-1 Boyd Law Bldg. College
of Law University of Iowa Iowa City, IA
52242 319-335-6748 kenneth-d-thompson_at_uiowa.edu