The Council on Access to Information for Print-Disabled Canadians

K. Multi-Media

Possible Purposes include:

Access for people with disabilities.

Improved access for people with low reading skills.

Multi-languages.

Present information quickly.

Multi-media production for computer users has become a popular method to package information in more appealing, engaging and for some people, interactive ways. Publications can be turned into mini-movies complete with sound, video, text and graphics making learning more effective, enjoyable and rewarding.

Popular methods used to distribute multi-media production include Compact Disc and the Internet.

Making Multi-Media Accessible

Thanks to a technical language known as SMIL or "Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language," additional or alternate content can be built into some multi-media productions. These may include alternate language audio tracks, text for open captioning and described video tracks.

SMIL and other similar technical languages can therefore make information in multi-media productions accessible to a greater number of people.

By offering a range of choices for content, users can utilize those that are the most appropriate or convenient. For example, SMIL can allow text display of multi-media not only for people with disabilities but also users who prefer a silent environment.

In cases where additional content tracks cannot be included or are not present (as with many older multi-media productions), a separate text equivalent should always accompany the multi-media production.

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