I was talking to Kevin Carey from the RNIB on Saturday about this subject and he is of the opinion that audio descriptions SHOULD start automatically, as otherwise non-sighted users may never find the button to turn it on. He also likened it to turning on a TV set and then needing to press an extra button to get sound.
I can see the points he makes as being valid and am still having a lot of internal debates about this point. I am someone who only has speakers on if listening to music and don't like it when I get interrupted by a voice on a site, but maybe this is an area where the youth of the web as a medium needs these thoughts to be readdressed. -----Original Message----- One note about video and audio - don't have the audio/video begin automatically: 1) It's annoying for those who already have audio happening (through an iPod or similar player) 2) If someone has their speakers on, there will be sudden audio - and it might not be something they want the world to hear (or their audio might be turned up and they don't realize it). 3) Those who can't hear may not have any cue that there is content being explained if there is no visual cue to that fact. Thus, a "start video" or "Hear explanation" prompt will show that there is content to be heard/seen and they can make accommodations. ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
