My first video blog entry! It’s about the problem of internet video clips that don’t have subtitles.

May 24, 2006 5:09 pm

** UPDATE 12/15/07 **

CNET is the first to announce they will be captioning their video clips!  They deserve the kudos for taking the initiative!

** END UPDATE **

In this video, I talk about a problem that I’ve noticed over at the websites of professional media companies such as CNN, CNET, Microsoft, or Sony Pictures.

While they provide many video clips, they also don’t provide the option to view them with subtitles.  This is a major drawback for Deaf people like myself.  I strongly feel that this should be an option provided by professional companies.

I wanted to be a role model so I’ve taken the liberty of providing subtitles for my video clip too. The clip is signed in the American Sign Language so the subtitles will help any hearing people to understand what I said.  I’ll make sure that all my vlog entries have subtitles so that I can reach the widest audience possible.

This is the kind of change I would like to see:

 

                 Currently                                  What I would like to see:

Now on to the video that I created!  View it below:

**UPDATE 7/20/06***
This looks promising!
AOL Announces Closed Captions for Online Video

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 Deaf, DeafRead, Video, Web/Tech
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  • hi i think that the service of stage6 is the best it has nice quality www.stage6.com good luck.
  • shan
    Hi, I've been reading some of your posts. I'm very amazed with your video and your effort of making your points out. I truely agree with you. I'm too struggling with DVDs with closed captioning that doesn't work on computers or TV! And this DVD is supposed for rehabilitation training! I'm spending my own extra time trying to extract the CC and put it to subtitles. That's how I found your blog thanks. I'm working on it.. i'm on the very last step.. saved to substation alpha, wasn't able to do encoding on Virtual Sub. Probably may need your help. Email me if you're free to help. Again, I like your video and keep it up the work :-)
  • Suggest from East Coast
    Check this out..
    http://www.adobe.com/products/dreamweaver/

    Look at Customer Success Stories video clip.

    Marcomedia Dreamweaver do provide the option to view them with subtitles. You're right about timing where professional media companies probably not put extra effort to add subtitles before distribution to online viewers. Maybe you can contact Adobe to see if they will be willing to support your concern.
  • This was a great video. You were very eloquent and explained your points well - I really enjoyed watching it! I have made some videos in ASL (including one with subtitles) that are loosely assembled into a vlog, but I should update it more often than I really do!

    Anyway, I just wanted to say that was a great video. Thanks for making it, and thanks for the instructions on subtitling - I will be making use of that!
  • Hello,

    Today I found both of your clips about subtitles. I agree with Jared that we should have full insight in Internet as hearing people therefore we should subtitle our clips too. I am working at the Swedish Educational Broadcasting Co and always subtitle my TV-programs. I think it helps us to be more Sign Language Users in Sweden. People will be more aware about us and our culture.

    I have produced a Swedish Sign Language in Internet www.ur.se/teckensprak and there I used famous people from politic, sport, culture and business world in Sweden. If you live here you will know them for sure. It really fascinates Swedish People and they like learning Sign Language. That way to start is good to plant seed. If they really want to learn they will go to Sign Language Course in live some where.

    Thank you for sharing your experience!

    http://www.youtube.com/user/jdconrad

    Keep in tough and hope it will be something good in the future!

    To Jared, thank you for the photos from Catalina Island! I have been there one summer 1975 and everything is looking the same from the time! :-)

    Best Swedish regards,

    Gunilla Wagstrom Lundqvist
    TV-producer
    The Swedish Educational Broadcasting Co
    S-113 95 Stockholm
  • Mike,

    you can always drag the web browser to the bottom of your screen to hide the subtitles and see how much ASL you still remember! :-)
  • Mike
    It is amazing that after 5 years of almost 0 ASL, I can still understand you. Must be from working together for so long :-) Do more video blogs without captioning so I don't get rusty!
  • The price that I paid to include the subtitles: $0.00 !

    View my entry about how I did the subtitles:
    http://jarednevans.typepad.com/blog/2006/05/how_to_quickly_.html

    Of course, there are many expensive software packages that you can buy that will do the same job but I wanted to drive the point home that it doesn't have to cost anything to add the subtitles except for the few extra minutes it takes to type the words out and timecode them.
  • also don't forget to mention the pricing of video devices.

    BTW, isn't this in your work lab?
  • barbara goldman
    I think this is great idea... go for it!
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