Digital Library: February 2009 Archives

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February 20, 2009

Helping Blind and Low-Vision Users Enjoy Digital Images, Audio description workshop

Last week I attended a webinar on Audio Description, thanks to the Alliance Library System using OPAL Online Auditorium. The Audio Description Workshop, 'Helping Blind and Low-Vision Users Enjoy Digital Images', is a great introduction to this technique that is gaining more attention. Libraries, museums and film production companies in the United Kingdom seem to have incorporated these audio files into their workflows and production schedules much sooner than any other country.

Tom Peters (who is the librarian currently running the workshop) defines audio description. "[Audio description] is a narrative technique that makes visual images more accessible to blind and low-vision people by producing audible written descriptions of non-verbal visual information, such as digital photographs, television programs, motion pictures, and live events." (Also alot of great information on the Audio Description International website.

An interesting aspect of the description process is the use of language and bias. Mr. Peters focused on surface description of images. In other words, writers should not assume or read into the image (particularly with fine art). As tempting as it would be to research each image to the Nth degree, audio description for images is intended to be sixty second or less descriptions of the scenario (ex., small boy standing next to oak tree). There are some tagging options that some people use as a way to further complement audio description, within the alt attribute or a a long desc tag for longer descriptions.

Mr. Peters highlighted some of the main options in audio description during the workshop. A human voice recording was contrasted with the computer-generated one. There have been discussions as to the advantages of the synthetic voice, particularly when this technology is advancing to stages of converting text to speech on the fly.

Mr. Peters examples and experience with audio description has been mainly using his own voice in the recordings (link to the Illinois Alive library here). The difficulty is coming up with these descriptions is not usually what is not said, but what is. Use of vivid language is needed to attempt to translate an image into word, though it seems to be quite easy to slip into biased language almost unknowingly. During the workshop, Mr. Peters stressed that while it is important to play the role of an 'active seer', one shouldn't have to describe every detail of the image. Focus on the essential aspects, and even sketch out a brief list of the basic elements of the image before committing to writing an audio description. This was quite helpful as each of us walked through writing an audio description during the workshop. It reminded me of an early drawing course I took in college, breaking a composition down to the shapes and discarding color completely during the drafting phase.

February 03, 2009

Convergence of Knowledge and Culture: Calgary's Design for the Future

OCLC Programs and Research Distinguished Seminar Series presentation:

Convergence of Knowledge and Culture: Calgary's Design for the Future

Tom Hickerson
Vice Provost, Libraries and Cultural Resources, and University Librarian, University of Calgary

Thursday, 12 February 2009

9:30-11:00 a.m.
Presentation and Discussion

OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc.
Kilgour Building—Auditorium
6565 Kilgour Place
Dublin, OH 43017-3395
This presentation is free and open to the public and also available through remote access. The presentation will also be made available online after the event.

After more than 20 years in universities, Tom Hickerson (Vice Provost and University Librarian) arrived at the University of Calgary in 2006 ready to implement his vision of what a research library should be. Bringing together libraries, archives, museums, and the university press for the benefit of scholars, Hickerson is building a 21st century research facility in the heart of campus. The Taylor Family Digital Library (TFDL) will house a "collection of the future" integrating access to traditional print, museum, and archival materials with digital and three-dimensional objects, media formats and onsite broadcasting and telecommunications. Technology will be the vital foundation of the building, providing users with the tools to synthesize information in all formats and create new knowledge. An organic facility that produces unexpected learning outcomes, the TFDL will feature collaboration across campus and beyond, a converged organization, and new and traditional content that will meet the research, pedagogical and social needs of current and future generations of scholars.

Come hear about Tom's strategic plans and learn how the TFDL will embody a new campus prototype for learning, teaching and conducting research.

Prior to joining the University of Calgary on August 1, 2006, Tom Hickerson had an extensive career Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where he was the Associate University Librarian for Information Technologies and Special Collections, and the Director of Digital Library and Information Technologies. During his time at Cornell, he directed an innovative manuscripts and archives program for several years and then expanded that role to include the rare books departments, bringing a new division together in a newly built special collections library. He also had general responsibility for digital library development and library systems management, which included the initiation of a successful electronic publishing program.

At the University of Calgary, Tom is Vice Provost of Libraries and Cultural Resources, and University Librarian. Libraries and Cultural Resources (LCR) brings together the University Library, Archives and Special Collections, The Nickle Arts Museum, and the University of Calgary Press. LCR develops, preserves and provides access to large collections of print, digital and three-dimensional objects, and archival materials. This unique organizational structure provides a key strategic advantage to researchers and makes information—regardless of format—readily available.

University of Calgary Taylor Family Digital Library
http://tfdl.ucalgary.ca/

You are welcome to attend this presentation in person or remotely via WebEx. Registering in advance allows us to plan sufficient refreshments and to alert you if for any reason the lecture needs to be rescheduled. Advance registration is encouraged, but not required.

Please RSVP by e-mailing disbrowk@oclc.org or calling OCLC Research at (614) 764-6073 indicating your name, affiliation, and telephone number.

A recording of this presentation will be made available online here. Additional information about the Distinguished Seminar Series can also be found there.

A printable version of this announcement is available at: link.

The audio and slides of this meeting will be broadcast live online. If you are unable to attend the event in person, you may attend online via WebEx. To ensure sufficient access is available to the online presentation, please e-mail disbrowk@oclc.org or call OCLC Research at (614) 764-6073 to indicate you will attend online. Be sure to indicate your name, affiliation, and e-mail address.

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