Google Video offers Closed Caption playback

[UPDATE 31 Dec 06: I've since learned that "Hearing Impaired" is not a preferred term. I should use "Deaf" or "Hard of Hearing". Thanks.]

Learnt via the Official Google Video Blog about this new feature:

By now, you may have noticed that we’ve just introduced a small but significant new feature that many of us have long awaited: playback of captions and subtitles! If you haven’t tried it yet, you can go to this page, select a captioned video, and while playing it you can click on the [CC] symbol to turn captions on and off.

What’s Closed Captioning? Try this page for an explanation.

The Closed Captioning feature in Google Video will be a boon to those who are Deaf or Hearing Impaired Hard of Hearing, especially when services like Google Video and other similar video-sharing platforms are gaining popularity. To appreciate why features like Closed Captioning are important to a person with hearing-impairment the Deaf, try this experiment:

0) IMPORTANT - First, set your computer volume to zero.

1) OK, let’s say you are hearing impaired hard of hearing or deaf. You are interested in learning about Fractals. You’ve found this video (30secs). Go ahead and play the video. Suppose there was a narrative in the video. You wouldn’t have known, would you? (Incidentally, that particular video doesn’t have any narrative or music. I’m using it for illustrative purposes only).

2) Next, view a similar video on Fractals, this time with Closed Captions (continue to keep your computer volume at zero). Did you get more out of this video that the first one? NOTE: Click on the “CC” button if you do not see the subtitles.

3) Finally, you can turn your computer volume control up to view the second video again. I think the Closed Caption is useful for people who can hear, don’t you think?

Ken Harrenstien (who authored that Google Video post) says their Closed Captioning feature is still far from perfected. I feel it’s a start, so it’s all good. Ken concludes his post:

And you, too, can help! Please do send us your comments, bug reports, or suggestions; whether or not you think they’re new, your collective feedback will be invaluable in helping us promote these capabilities and guide our decisions on which features need to be done next.

See what others are saying, via Technorati Tags: google video, closed captioning

Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH) regains IPC status

I was at a meeting with four people from SAVH last week. Their interim president Mr. Tan Guan Heng (who is Blind himself) mentioned to me that SAVH regained their Institute of Public Character (IPC) status, which would be reported in the press shortly after our meeting. They obtained the IPC status on Monday 25 Sept.

SAVH had its IPC status suspended by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) since January 2005. Now that it has its IPC status bacl, it is now trying to convince NCSS to re-support it financially. In anycase, anyone who wishes to make donations to SAVH can obtain tax-exemptions. Oh, I have to blog this too: The librarian colleague I mentioned in this post was mentioned by the SAVH reps at my meeting with them last week They remembered her name. I could tell that they were grateful that my colleague donated money to their library even when their IPC status was revoked.

Today, I emailed to NLB’s ASK! service for the references to the news report. My colleague Isaak happened to be duty and he provided reference, which I’ve reposted here.

News & Journal Articles (Full-text available via Factiva, which is accessible through the Multimedia services in NLB libraries):

Charity regains IPC status
www.todayonline.com/articles/144148.asp
TODAY (Singapore), 22 September 2006 - THE Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH) has regained its right to collect tax-exempt donations after being dogged by governance and financial woes more than a year ago.

SAVH says it has improved its financial and governance systems
www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/232673/1/.html
Channel NewsAsia, 22:34, 26 September 2006 - The Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH) says it has implemented better financial and governance systems. It adds that stability within the executive committee and staff has also returned.

No wrangle as rival charities share tasks
www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/232741/1/.html
Channel NewsAsia, 07:33, 27 September 2006 - SINGAPORE: Instead of crossing swords, two competing charities have joined forces to streamline and coordinate their services and programmes for the visually handicapped. The Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH) will transfer its sheltered workshop programme and case management of troubled clients to the Society of Moral Charities (SOMC) by the end of next month.
[Also via www.todayonline.com/articles/145078.asp

Charity for blind getting back on track
Straits Times, 27 September 2006 - Association now plans to reapply for NCSS funding. THE Singapore Association for the Visually Handicapped (SAVH) has crossed one major hurdle by regaining the right to collect tax-exempt donations, but another challenge lies ahead.

Charity for the blind regains IPC status
Straits Times, 22 September 2006 - It gets back right to collect tax-exempt donations with its improved governance. THE Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH) is beginning to get back on its feet.

Technorati Tag: SAVH, donations

Deaf-initely Boleh! Carnival - December 2006

The Singapore Association for the Deaf (SADeaf), with the NLB are co-organising an upcoming carnival in December 2006 called “Deaf-initely Boleh!”. Details at the Deaf-initely Boleh! website (deafboleh.com).

From the Deaf-initely Boleh! website:

Being deaf doesn’t mean less. A number of deaf persons in Singapore are leading a full life in school, at work, and in other social contexts. Yet many more continue to function at below their potential because of limitations, real, imposed, or otherwise.

Deaf-initely Boleh!, is conceived to transform the landscape for the deaf community, to help them integrate more effectively into society at all levels.