[games_access] secondlife...from eelke

d. michelle hinn hinn at uiuc.edu
Sat Jan 13 15:43:56 EST 2007


Good point -- and It is something that's often so tied in with a 
console or a game and often has no other purpose than to support a 
game that it would be unwise for us not to more actively as a SIG 
support those efforts.

Michelle

>Whoops, I need to make clear that I also think efforts in controller
>design is very important and applicable to digital games. I don't want
>people thinking that I'm only interested in software, which I'm not.
>
>-Reid
>
>On 1/12/07, d. michelle hinn <hinn at uiuc.edu> wrote:
>>  I agree -- we are only one small group founded on focusing on digital
>>  games rather than platforms -- that's not to say that some of our
>>  members aren't doing great things with controllers and platforms and
>>  hosts and such. But as I said yesterday...we have to pick our
>>  battles. Second Life's been out there for a long while (in digital
>>  life) now and I can see us supporting efforts for the accessibility
>>  of SL, it's really the games that are created within that and any
>>  platform that we as a group can do the most good. We are a part of
>>  the IGDA, which means that we are a group focused on digital games --
>>  we develop and help developers create meaningful, fun, GAMING
>>  experiences. There's so much to tackle just with that and so many
>>  people already doing web accessibility, etc that we should leave that
>>  to those experts, just as we would not be involved in the
>>  accessibility of Microsoft Excel.
>>
>>  If SL were comparable to World of Warcraft, which is a game but *can*
>>  also be many other things (social environments, etc) then we'd have
>>  more of a SIG concern. But SL is all those other things and *can* be
>>  a gaming environment but in itself is not that.
>>
>>  I just wanted to throw out some "well lets think about this before we
>>  go too far down SL lane."
>>
>>  My *personal* (note: this does not represent the SIG or the IGDA or
>>  anyone other than me) take on SL is that I'd rather not deal with it
>>  ever again. It was a world of hurt trying to teach with it in Fall
>>  2005 with crashing servers, constantly needing to pay more REAL money
>>  to allow the students to do what we'd set out for them to do, etc.
>>  Yes, Fall 2005 was a year and some change ago. But it would take a
>>  lot to convince me to teach game design using that environment again.
>>  I now teach with Flash and my students have been able to make some
>>  wonderful beginnings at one switch and audio games -- nothing to post
>>  as yet but we definitely got more into the meat of game design than
>>  we'd ever gotten using SL and we were able to focus on creating games
>>  in Flash that were accessible without getting into whether or not
>>  Flash itself was accessible.
>>
>>  Michelle (who loves a good discussion!) :)
>>
>>  >As a SIG I think we concentrate on making digital games more
>>  >accessible. If it deals with Flash or the web, we only focus on the
>>  >game itself, not the platform. I've seen flash games that can allow
>>  >the user to configure their controls (I think), that's one of our
>>  >recommendations. They can also include vision modes and captioning
>>  >options. I believe it wouldn't be wise for us to tackle web
>>  >accessibility issues while we are part of the IGDA and should only
>>  >focus on the games themselves as much as possible. It seems clear cut
>>  >to me, but I tend see only in black and white sometimes. :)
>>  >
>>  >-Reid
>>  >
>>  >On 1/12/07, hinn at uiuc.edu <hinn at uiuc.edu> wrote:
>>  >>  Forwarded from Eelke (see below)...ah it's a class action suit
>>  >>WITHIN SL not in real life. Lol. Well, that's what happens when you
>>  >>have someone with dyslexia (me) leading the group. I miss a few
>>  >>words here and there like "virtual" lawsuit. :D
>>  >>
>>  >>  Still, it's fun to discuss as if it were in real life. Hehe.
>>  >>
>>  >>  Yeah, those are good points, Eelke, about the enourmity of the
>>  >>task. And it's not our task alone to do -- the schools and
>>  >>libraries have to have to put some work in, as they are charged
>  > >>with creating accessible materials...and they *might* create
>>  >>something accessible, only to have people unable to get to it
>>  >>because SL is not accessible to some or because however they coded
>>  >>it was not in line with how the viewer gets coded and, therefore,
>>  >>does not work with the accessible viewer.
>>  >>
>>  >>  And then there's the matter of...where do we draw the line? A game
>>  >>can be played out using a web browser and, say, flash -- does that
>>  >>mean we are in the business of providing web accessibility and/or
>>  >>flash accessibility guidelines? It's not that we should not support
>>  >>and contribute to the discussion but we cannot lose focus on what
>>  >>we are about -- game accessibility. We can contribute to the
>>  >>middleground between a "game" and a "platform" because, yes, that's
>>  >>important. If no one can get TO a game because the very platform is
>>  >>preventing that, well, that impacts game accessibility. But if we
>>  >>go too far, why not focus on the accessibility of the physical
>>  >>entrance to the library or school or home?
>>  >  >
>>  >>  Yes...I'm throwing this way, way out there...but I'm trying to
>>  >>provoke a dialogue on where boundaries may lie and what we can do
>>  >>best as a SIG without spreading ourselves too thin and, thus,
>>  >>decreasing our effectiveness.
>>  >>
>>  >>  Michelle
>>  >>
>>  >>  ______________
>>  >>  >Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2007 14:22:57 -0800
>>  >>  >From: "Eelke Folmer" <eelke.folmer at gmail.com>
>>  >>  >Subject: Re: games_access Digest, Vol 31, Issue 11
>>  >>  >To: games_access at igda.org
>>  >>  >
>>  >>  >Hi,
>>  >>  >
>>  >>  >Interesting discussion. Just for the record a class action inside
>>  >>  >Second life has no real life legal foundations. Its just a virtual
>>  >>  >equivalent of a lawsuit probably only used to get attention. So no
>>  >>  >real life law suit is being filed against Linden labs. I think this
>>  >>  >misunderstanding pissed off a lot of people, especially since its
>>  >>  >commonplace now to sue anyone here in the US over trivial stuf.
>>  >>  >
>>  >>  >My 2 cents: making SL open source is good but it is still an enourmous
>>  >>  >amount of work to create your own accessible viewer and its uncertain
>>  >>  >if such a viewer which would require meta information and taxonomy
>>  >>  >trees of all the objects inside SL in order to be usefull, is
>>  >>  >supported by the underlying object representation in SL.
>>  >>  >
>>  >>  >Cheers Eelke
>>  >>  >
>>  >>  >On 1/12/07, games_access-request at igda.org
>>  >><games_access-request at igda.org> wrote:
>>  >>  >> Send games_access mailing list submissions to
>>  >>  >>         games_access at igda.org
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>>  >>  >>         http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>  >>  >> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>>  >>  >>         games_access-request at igda.org
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> You can reach the person managing the list at
>>  >>  >>         games_access-owner at igda.org
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>>  >>  >> than "Re: Contents of games_access digest..."
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> Today's Topics:
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >>    1. Re: Fwd: interesting discussion about making SecondLife
>>  >>  >>       accessible to the blind (d. michelle hinn)
>>  >>  >>    2. Re: Open Captions - Beta site (d. michelle hinn)
>>  >>  >>    3. Re: Open Captions - Beta site (Reid Kimball)
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> 
>>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> Message: 1
>>  >>  >> Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2007 23:44:12 -0600
>>  >>  >> From: "d. michelle hinn" <hinn at uiuc.edu>
>>  >>  >> Subject: Re: [games_access] Fwd: interesting discussion about making
>>  >>  >>         SecondLife accessible to the blind
>>  >>  >> To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List <games_access at igda.org>
>>  >>  >> Message-ID: <p06230991c1cccfa63251@[192.168.1.100]>
>>  >>  >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> Yeah, I agree -- the main issue at hand is when these games created
>>  >>  >> by SL members are used in classrooms...there is no reasonable
>  > >>  >> accommodation for this. What can substitute for a virtual world? An
>>  >>  >> old school text book? And SL really courts the educational gaming
>>  >>  >> market....much more so than the commercial gaming market.
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> It just brings up an interesting point of debate for sure -- we had
>>  >>  >> to talk laws at some point, after all. :) We'll be talking about it
>>  >>  >> at GDC during our Serious Games Summit Panel.
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> Michelle
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> >Hi all,
>>  >>  >> >
>>  >>  >> >I'm just chiming in on the overall debate of whether or 
>>not a law suit
>>  >>  >> >is appropriate. In the case of a game or even a simulation world run
>>  >>  >> >by a company I think of it as a private country or golf club. They
>>  >>  >> >have certain rules for membership (download this, pay us a monthly
>>  >>  >> >fee, whatever). Some will be more exclusive by requiring its members
>>  >>  >> >to use certain controllers, like the guitar for Guitar Hero. You buy
>>  >>  >> >that game and use that controller, you automatically become a member
>>  >>  >> >of a unique club.
>>  >>  >> >
>>  >>  >> >Now, should companies that provide interactive experiences 
>>for fun or
>>  >>  >> >even profit, as in the case of Second Life be required by 
>>law to make
>>  >>  >> >them accessible to all? Technically, I don't think those 
>>groups should
>>  >>  >> >be required by law. However, I think it's foolish of them and
>>  >  > >> >incredibly disheartening if they decide to not to be as 
>>inclusive as
>>  >>  >> >possible. It doesn't make sense financially to shut out 
>>many millions
>>  >>  >> >of potential customers but I also think that the choice should be up
>>  >>  >> >to them to decide, not a law. If a company makes an MMO 
>>that requires
>>  >>  >> >someone to play without any disabilities, that's their choice, no
>>  >>  >> >matter how terrible that may be.
>>  >>  >> >
>>  >>  >> >When it comes to education, a lot of people don't have the luxury to
>>  >>  >> >choose which "club" they join, unless they have the finances for a
>>  >>  >> >private school. Usually, they must go to school at the one 
>>place that
>>  >>  >> >is available to them in their town. In that case, when 
>>games are being
>>  >>  >> >used in a class room, I believe there should be laws and 
>>requirements
>>  >>  >> >that interactive educational experiences be accessible to 
>>all students
>>  >>  >> >using it.
>>  >>  >> >
>>  >>  >> >-Reid
>>  >>  >> >
>>  >>  >> >On 1/11/07, d. michelle hinn <hinn at uiuc.edu> wrote:
>>  >>  >> >>  That's great, Thomas. I wish that someone from Linden had also
>>  >>  >> >>  contacted us to get involved so I'll take your email as 
>>an invitation
>>  >>  >> >>  even though you are not with Linden.
>>  >>  >> >>
>>  >>  >> >>  Part of the reason for this list is that it is a forum for free
>>  >>  >> >>  discussion about issues pertaining to accessibility and 
>>to note when
>>  >>  >> >>  discrepancies exist -- such as whether SL is a "game" 
>>(and therefore
>>  >>  >> >>  immediately involves us) or a larger project that, in large part,
>>  >>  >> >>  falls outside the scope of our SIG. With regard to 
>>active members, we
>>  >>  >> >>  are small and we have to choose our battles. Please do not take
>>  >>  >> >>  offense at this -- I mean no offense at all. But with so much
>>  >>  >> >>  territory to cover in the gaming world, it is difficult 
>>to justify
>>  >>  >> >>  having the entire SIG be completely involved in a SL 
>>project that is
>>  >>  >> >>  not purely a game world when we are already spread so 
>>thin with so
>>  >>  >> >>  many commitments that broadly span the industry. SL is 
>>closer to our
>>  >>  >> >>  mission than the web accessibility issues -- there are 
>>so many much
>>  >>  >> >>  more experienced groups already doing this. But only the gaming
>>  >>  >> >>  portion of it is related to our mission -- so that 
>>which in SL is not
>>  >>  >> >>  a game goes beyond our SIG scope.
>>  >>  >> >>
>>  >>  >> >>  Simulated worlds are not automatically games and SL, a simulated
>>  >>  >> >>  world, has said that they are not a game but, rather, provide
>>  >>  >> >>  facilitation for people who choose to create games. But they also
>>  >>  >> >>  provide facilitation for people who choose to create 
>>businesses and
>  > >>  >> >>  anything else people can imagine in that world.
>>  >>  >> >>
>>  >>  >> >>  The issue at hand is that there is a lawsuit on the table now and
>>  >>  >> >>  it's not from us. So those of us discussing it were 
>>discussing the
>>  >>  >> >>  lawsuit based on our experiences with SL personally and
>>  >>  >> >  > professionally. I see no reason why discussion here 
>>should ever be
>>  >>  >> >>  censured -- with the exception of someone just coming 
>>in to heckle
>>  >>  >> >>  us. The more disturbing thing in my mind is not Linden 
>>Lab's response
>>  >>  >> >>  but the responses that the reporter of the original 
>>article received.
>>  >>  >> >>  One comment involved, essentially, saying that the 
>>blind need to find
>>  >>  >> >>  a real life and stop worrying about "second life." I take offense
>>  >>  >> >>  when I see man's inhumanity to man. It's not the first (or, I'm
>>  >>  >> >>  afraid, the last) time we've seen this -- Reid Kimball 
>>has many, many
>>  >>  >> >>  examples of fantastic (as in "hard to believe" not as in "great")
>>  >>  >> >>  responses to the hearing impaired community's activism for closed
>>  >>  >> >>  captioning in games. It disturbs me but many things in 
>>this world do.
>>  >>  >> >>
>>  >>  >> >>  I was recently on NPR as part of a piece on Games for 
>>the Blind and
>>  >>  >> >>  have seen reaction to that, such as "disability is just 
>>a construct
>>  >>  >> >>  and games are not inaccessible." If we were to take this
>>  >>  >> >>  academically, sure, ok, disability *could* be a 
>>construct if we used
>>  >>  >> >>  disturbing terms like "normal" (whatever the h*ll that 
>>means). But to
>>  >  > >> >>  suggest that games are accessible to all? No way. Nor is
>>  >second life.
>>  >>  >> >>  Yes, there are people who can play some games using more
>>  >>  >> >>  extraordinary measures than a gamer without a disability that
>>  >>  >> >>  prevents them from playing a game "out of the box." 
>>There are others
>>  >>  >> >>  who don't need particularly fancy set ups to play some 
>>games. There
>>  >>  >> >>  are others who cannot play at all -- either because the prices of
>>  >>  >> >>  assistive technologies to play such games is 
>>prohibitive or they've
>>  >>  >> >>  assumed (as the designer has) that games are not for them.
>>  >>  >> >>
>>  >>  >> >>  So this points, again, to our larger purpose of 
>>increasing awareness
>>  >>  >> >>  for many, many issues. By all means, I encourage anyone 
>>who wishes to
>>  >>  >> >>  form/join in a committee to help create an accessible 
>>SL client to
>>  >>  >> >>  have full backing from the SIG as best as we can do. 
>>But SL is not
>>  >>  >> >>  the only issue out there -- it's just the first that a 
>>lawsuit has
>>  >>  >> >>  been pressed against and, as Richard pointed out, it's 
>>not "a game."
>>  >>  >> >>  So while as a SIG on a whole we cannot drop the myriad of high
>>  >>  >> >>  profile activism that we are doing as advocates within 
>>the industry
>>  >>  >> >>  to bring about awareness about disability issues, I see 
>>no reason why
>>  >>  >> >>  you, Thomas, cannot use this forum as a way to recruit interested
>>  >>  >> >>  members in the committee you suggest.
>>  >>  >> >>
>>  >>  >> >>  So after my long winded reply...yes, a committee would 
>>be great and I
>>  >>  >> >>  support that. I encourage you spearhead this committee 
>>and use this
>>  >>  >> >>  list as a way to organize and announce meetings. I will help
>>  >>  >> >>  facilitate that as much as possible. At the same time, many of us
>>  >>  >> >>  will not be able to participate due to other time commitments and
>>  >>  >> >>  personal and professional research interests -- but 
>>some will be able
>>  >>  >> >>  to so and it's worth asking people to join in your effort.
>>  >>  >> >>
>>  >>  >> >>  Michelle
>>  >>  >> >>  IGDA Game Accessibility SIG Chair
>>  >>  >> >>
>>  >>  >> >>  >Fact one: SL has a disability group that come together 
>>to discuss
>>  >>  >> >>the issues.
>>  >>  >> >>  >
>>  >>  >> >>  >Fact two: The lab have contracted someone to be there disability
>>  >>  >> >>  >coordinator and I am trying to work with him.
>>  >>  >> >>  >
>>  >>  >> >>  >Fact Three: The University of Texas at Dallas have purchase an
>  > >>  >> >>  >island for me to work on the Accessibility issues of 
>this type of
>>  >>  >> >>  >environment.  I am still waiting on the island to be 
>>deliver by the
>>  >>  >> >>  >lab.
>>  >>  >> >>  >
>>  >>  >> >>  >This group needs to come together and help me to make 
>>sl better for
>>  >>  >> >>  >all of us and stop pointing out what could happen.
>>  >>  >> >>  >
>>  >>  >> >>  >I know many people with disabilities in sl and some do 
>>have trouble
>>  >>  >> >>  >and some do just fine, but now since the lab have made sl open
>>  >>  >> >>  >source application then we can make a accessible client for all.
>>  >>  >> >>  >
>>  >>  >> >>  >I suggest that we form a committee to look at this problem
>>  >>in detail?
>>  >>  >> >>  >
>>  >>  >> >>  >
>>  >>  >> >>  >----------------------------------------------------------------
>>  >>  >> >>  >Thank You,
>>  >>  >> >>  >Tom Roome
>>  >>  >> >>  >ATEC Teacher Assistant
>>  >>  >> >>  >The University of Texas at Dallas
>>  >>  >> >>  >E-mail: thomas.roome at student.utdallas.edu
>>  >>  >> >>  >
>>  >>  >> >>  >
>>  >>  >> >>  >
>>  >>  >> >>  >________________________________
>>  >>  >> >>  >
>>  >>  >> >>  >From: games_access-bounces at igda.org on behalf of d. 
>>michelle hinn
>>  >>  >> >>  >Sent: Thu 1/11/2007 5:39 PM
>>  >>  >> >  > >To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
>>  >>  >> >>  >Subject: Re: [games_access] Fwd: interesting 
>>discussion about making
>>  >>  >> >>  >SecondLife accessible to the blind
>>  >>  >> >>  >
>>  >>  >> >>  >
>>  >>  >> >>  >
>>  >>  >> >>  >Yes, this is true -- and actually since it's a "place 
>>of business"
>>  >>  >> >>  >for some that even Reuters international news service is
>>  >>following it
>>  >>  >> >>  >puts them into even more danger according to several 
>>US laws. SL is
>>  >>  >> >>  >not a game but an online world that allows users to create
>>  >>games...or
>>  >>  >> >>  >businesses...or classes...
>>  >>  >> >>  >
>>  >>  >> >>  >And since users *can* (and I'm not saying will) make 
>>real money off
>>  >  > >> >>  >of their ventures...it places it into interesting 
>>legal territory.
>>  >>  >> >>  >Although...with SL really pushing their product at gaming
>>  >>  >> >>  >conferences, it makes them into a (sorry for the geekiness of
>>  >>  >> >>  >this...) a shape-shifter of sorts, allowing them to 
>>align themselves
>>  >>  >> >>  >as whatever form (business and concept-wise) is 
>>valuable to them at
>>  >>  >> >>  >whatever point in time.
>>  >>  >> >>  >
>>  >>  >> >>  >The game versus simulation should tie up the courts a 
>>bit -- and SL
>>  >>  >> >>  >needs to clarify whatever position they intend to 
>>defend themselves
>>  >>  >> >>  >with. Whatever angle they go with...that will be on 
>>the legal books
>>  >>  >> >>  >for some time in the US (unless/until overturned).
>>  >>  >> >>  >
>>  >>  >> >>  >Michelle
>>  >>  >> >>  >
>>  >>  >> >>  >>Thanks for this! I've already posted my 2eurocents. Maybe we do
>>  >>  >> >>need to keep
>>  >>  >> >>  >>in mind that many consider Second Life to be "a
>>  >>simulation instead of a
>>  >>  >> >>  >>game" (to quote Margaret Robertson of Edge Magazine).
>>  >>While this may seem
>>  >>  >> >>  >>like a futile detail at the moment (games vs. simulation
>>  >>  >> >>discussion), it can
>>  >>  >> >>  >>make all the difference in the world - legally.
>>  >>  >> >>  >>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>Greets,
>>  >>  >> >>  >>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>Richard
>>  >>  >> >>  >>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>----- Original Message -----
>>  >>  >> >>  >>From: "d. michelle hinn" <hinn at uiuc.edu>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>To: <games_access at igda.org>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 1:09 AM
>>  >>  >> >>  >>Subject: [games_access] Fwd: interesting discussion 
>>about making
>>  >>  >> >>SecondLife
>>  >>  >> >>  >>accessible to the blind
>>  >>  >> >>  >>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>   Forwarding this for Eelke...interesting timing, as
>>  >>I'm about to guest
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>   blog about accessibility of MMOGs on Terra Nova.
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>   Hey the American Blind Federation sued AOL...this was
>>  >>bound to happen
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>   to online games eventually, especially since they are
>>  >>being used in
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>   classrooms.
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>
>  > >>  >> >>  >>>   Michelle
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>ate: Wed, 10 Jan 2007 14:28:11 -0800
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>From: "Eelke Folmer" <eelke.folmer at gmail.com>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>To: "d. michelle hinn" <hinn at uiuc.edu>,
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>           "Richard Tol van" <r.van.tol at bartimeus.nl>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>Subject: Fwd: interesting discussion about making SecondLife
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>accessible to the blind
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>Hey I sent this one yesterday to the games access list
>>  >>but it wasn't
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>featured in today's
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>mail.
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>cheers Eelke
>>  >>  >> >>  >  >>>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>From: Eelke Folmer <eelke.folmer at gmail.com>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>Date: Jan 9, 2007 3:46 PM
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>Subject: interesting discussion about making SecondLife
>>  >>accessible
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>to the blind
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>To: games_access at igda.org
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>
>>  >>  >> >>
>>  >>>>>>http://www.it-analysis.com/blogs/Abrahams_Accessibility/2006/11/second_life_class_action.html?mode=full&hilite=13287#CM13287
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>People seem to have some radical opinions about the
>>  >>subject matter
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>(especially with regard to the class action suit):
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>"Don't get me wrong; I'm all for supporting the rights of the
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>disabled, but this is beyond insane. What's next?
>>  >>Should they sue the
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>Anderson Window Company for not making windows that
>>  >>verbally describe
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>what's going on outside. I mean, really, those windows
>>  >>only work for
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>people who can see, right? That's discrimination, right"
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>Interesting is the response from Joshua Linden (founder
>>  >>linden labs)
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>about how Lindenlabs is trying to do their best to 
>>follow the W3C
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>guidelines but rather decided to make the Second 
>>life viewer open
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>source so people can write their own viewers which
>>  >>support alternative
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>input and output mechanisms such as screen readers.
>>  >>However I believe
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>this will only work if accessibility features are
>>  >>supported on the
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>server side. E.g. how do you classify & describe an object in
>>  >  > >> >  > >>>>Secondlife? (e.g. its the same problem with adding
>>  >meta information to
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>images on the word wide web see http://www.espgame.org/)
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>~ Eelke
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>--
>>  >>  >> >>
>>  >>>>>>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>Eelke Folmer                            Assistant Professor
>>  >>  >> >>  >>   >>Department of Computer Science & Engineering/171
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>University of Nevada               Reno, Nevada 89557
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>Game Quality         usability|accessibility.eelke.com
>>  >>  >> >>
>>  >>>>>>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>--
>>  >>  >> >>
>>  >>>>>>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>Eelke Folmer                            Assistant Professor
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>Department of Computer Science & Engineering/171
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>University of Nevada               Reno, Nevada 89557
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>>Game Quality         usability|accessibility.eelke.com
>>  >>  >> >>
>>  >>>>>>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>   _______________________________________________
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>   games_access mailing list
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>   games_access at igda.org
>>  >>  >> >>  >>>   http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>  >>  >> >>  >>
>>  >>  >> >>  >>_______________________________________________
>>  >>  >> >>  >>games_access mailing list
>>  >>  >> >>  >>games_access at igda.org
>>  >>  >> >>  >>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>  > >>  >> >>  >_______________________________________________
>>  >>  >> >>  >games_access mailing list
>>  >>  >> >>  >games_access at igda.org
>>  >>  >> >>  >http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>  >>  >> >>  >
>>  >>  >> >>  >
>>  >>  >> >>  >
>>  >>  >> >>  >_______________________________________________
>>  >>  >> >>  >games_access mailing list
>>  >>  >> >>  >games_access at igda.org
>>  >>  >> >>  >http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>  >>  >> >>  _______________________________________________
>>  >>  >> >>  games_access mailing list
>>  >>  >> >>  games_access at igda.org
>>  >>  >> >>  http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>  >>  >> >>
>>  >>  >> >_______________________________________________
>>  >>  >> >games_access mailing list
>>  >>  >> >games_access at igda.org
>>  >>  >> >http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> ------------------------------
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> Message: 2
>>  >>  >> Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2007 23:50:03 -0600
>>  >>  >> From: "d. michelle hinn" <hinn at uiuc.edu>
>>  >>  >> Subject: Re: [games_access] Open Captions - Beta site
>>  >>  >> To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List <games_access at igda.org>
>>  >>  >> Message-ID: <p06230992c1ccd180a166@[192.168.1.100]>
>>  >>  >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> Hi Amit!
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> So great to hear from you again -- what's the latest on the chapter
>>  >>  >> you are working on? Can you remind us where the forums are? I'm
>>  >>  >> afraid we've all been buried by the holidays, GDC prep, etc!
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> This Open Captions sounds interesting -- Reid? I'd be interested in
>>  >>  >> your take on this. Actually...I have miles of dissertation video I
>>  >>  >> should YouTube...I'll try it out!
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> Michelle
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> >My friend and colleague from NYU John Schimmel
>>  >>(schimmel at nyu.edu) has just
>>  >>  >> >released his new project-  http://www.opencaptions.com/. 
>>His mission -
>>  >>  >> >collaborative captioning of video on the web! This is one 
>>of the best
>>  >>  >> >projects I've seen in a while. In his own words:
>>  >>  >> >
>>  >>  >> >######
>>  >>  >> >
>>  >>  >> >So I've been working on a project called Open Captions since
>>  >>Oct. (I program
>>  >>  >> >really slow), and it's a web site that allows you to add
>>  >>captions/subtitles
>>  >>  >> >to videos that already exist on the Internet - "Let the 
>>masses caption
>>  >>  >> >videos for their friends and relatives because we don't want
>>  >>the Internet to
>>  >>  >> >forget anyone" type of website.
>>  >>  >> >It currently works with any Google video, YouTube video or Quicktime
>>  >>  >> >URL.   I have a good working version online now, excluding Internet
>>  >>  >> >Explorer users,  you can see it here,
>>  >>http://www.opencaptions.com/ video .
>>  >  > >> >
>>  >>  >> >I would like to get some people using it, teachers, video bloggers,
>>  >>  >> >diplomats, etc. As well as deaf people and those who are
>>  >>multilingual. If
>>  >>  >> >you have any friends who might be interested please pass the
>>  >>website on to
>>  >>  >> >them.  And feel free to give it a try yourself.
>>  >>  >> >
>>  >>  >> >Some quickies about the site,
>>  >>  >> >* A forum and blog are going up shortly.
>>  >>  >> >* Caption translation / mechanical turk  like feature is 
>>in the works to
>>  >>  >> >turn existing transcriptions into subtitles.
>>  >>  >> >* Yeah, the interface needs a makeover. Ideas?
>>  >>  >> >* IE browser is a pain in the arse.
>>  >>  >> >* Captioning is tedious and takes about 3 times longer 
>>than the video
>>  >>  >> >itself. Don't try to caption a Noam Chomsky video, you'll get hurt.
>>  >>  >> >
>>  >>  >> >Stay warm.
>>  >>  >> >
>>  >>  >> >Thanks!
>>  >>  >> >John
>>  >>  >> >
>>  >>  >> >######
>>  >>  >> >
>>  >>  >> >_______________________________________________
>>  >>  >> >games_access mailing list
>>  >>  >> >games_access at igda.org
>>  >>  >> >http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> ------------------------------
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> Message: 3
>>  >>  >> Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2007 21:59:54 -0800
>>  >>  >> From: "Reid Kimball" <reid at rbkdesign.com>
>  > >>  >> Subject: Re: [games_access] Open Captions - Beta site
>>  >>  >> To: "IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List"
>>  >>  >>         <games_access at igda.org>
>>  >>  >> Message-ID:
>>  >>  >>         <a6673b8d0701112159i5c516d45of422ecd306abbfc8 at mail.gmail.com>
>>  >>  >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> I give OpenCaptions an enthusiastic thumbs up. It's really great to
>>  >>  >> see someone taking action in this area. I've been really 
>>worried about
>>  >>  >> networks like ABC and NBC putting their popular shows online, but not
>>  >>  >> providing captions. I expect that viewing TV programming on the
>>  >>  >> internet will explode in the years to come. When that happens, the
>>  >>  >> battle to get those programs closed captioned will happen all over
>>  >>  >> again. TV had been around for decades before closed captioning was
>>  >>  >> first introduced and mandated by law in the 70's.
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> I gave John suggestions to make the site community focused. If that
>>  >>  >> happens, I can see thousands of videos being closed captioned by a
>>  >>  >> community of people.
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> -Reid
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> On 1/11/07, d. michelle hinn <hinn at uiuc.edu> wrote:
>>  >>  >> > Hi Amit!
>>  >>  >> >
>>  >>  >> > So great to hear from you again -- what's the latest on the chapter
>>  >>  >> > you are working on? Can you remind us where the forums are? I'm
>>  >>  >> > afraid we've all been buried by the holidays, GDC prep, etc!
>>  >>  >> >
>>  >>  >> > This Open Captions sounds interesting -- Reid? I'd be interested in
>>  >>  >> > your take on this. Actually...I have miles of dissertation video I
>>  >>  >> > should YouTube...I'll try it out!
>>  >>  >> >
>>  >>  >> > Michelle
>>  >>  >> >
>>  >>  >> > >My friend and colleague from NYU John Schimmel
>>  >>(schimmel at nyu.edu) has just
>>  >>  >> > >released his new project-  http://www.opencaptions.com/. 
>>His mission -
>>  >>  >> > >collaborative captioning of video on the web! This is 
>>one of the best
>>  >>  >> > >projects I've seen in a while. In his own words:
>>  >>  >> > >
>>  >>  >> > >######
>>  >>  >> > >
>>  >>  >> > >So I've been working on a project called Open Captions since
>>  >>Oct. (I program
>>  >>  >> > >really slow), and it's a web site that allows you to add
>>  >>captions/subtitles
>>  >>  >> > >to videos that already exist on the Internet - "Let the 
>>masses caption
>>  >>  >> > >videos for their friends and relatives because we don't want
>>  >>the Internet to
>>  >>  >> > >forget anyone" type of website.
>>  >>  >> > >It currently works with any Google video, YouTube video 
>>or Quicktime
>>  >>  >> > >URL.   I have a good working version online now, 
>>excluding Internet
>>  >>  >> > >Explorer users,  you can see it here,
>>  >>http://www.opencaptions.com/ video .
>>  >>  >> > >
>>  >>  >> > >I would like to get some people using it, teachers, 
>>video bloggers,
>>  >>  >> > >diplomats, etc. As well as deaf people and those who are
>>  >>multilingual. If
>>  >>  >> > >you have any friends who might be interested please pass the
>>  >>website on to
>>  >>  >> > >them.  And feel free to give it a try yourself.
>>  >>  >> > >
>>  >>  >> > >Some quickies about the site,
>>  >>  >> > >* A forum and blog are going up shortly.
>>  >  > >> > >* Caption translation / mechanical turk  like feature is in
>>  >the works to
>>  >>  >> > >turn existing transcriptions into subtitles.
>>  >>  >> > >* Yeah, the interface needs a makeover. Ideas?
>>  >>  >> > >* IE browser is a pain in the arse.
>>  >>  >> > >* Captioning is tedious and takes about 3 times longer 
>>than the video
>>  >>  >> > >itself. Don't try to caption a Noam Chomsky video, 
>>you'll get hurt.
>>  >>  >> > >
>>  >>  >> > >Stay warm.
>>  >>  >> > >
>>  >>  >> > >Thanks!
>>  >>  >> > >John
>>  >>  >> > >
>>  >>  >> > >######
>>  >>  >> > >
>>  >>  >> > >_______________________________________________
>>  >>  >> > >games_access mailing list
>>  >>  >> > >games_access at igda.org
>>  >>  >> > >http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>  >>  >> > _______________________________________________
>>  >>  >> > games_access mailing list
>>  >>  >> > games_access at igda.org
>>  >>  >> > http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>  > >>  >> >
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> ------------------------------
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> _______________________________________________
>>  >>  >> games_access mailing list
>>  >>  >> games_access at igda.org
>>  >>  >> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >> End of games_access Digest, Vol 31, Issue 11
>>  >>  >> ********************************************
>>  >>  >>
>>  >>  >
>>  >>  >
>>  >>  >--
>>  >> 
>>>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>  >>  >Eelke Folmer                            Assistant Professor
>>  >>  >Department of Computer Science & Engineering/171
>>  >>  >University of Nevada               Reno, Nevada 89557
>>  >>  >Game Quality         usability|accessibility.eelke.com
>>  >> 
>>>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>  >>  .......................................
>>  >>  these are mediocre times and people are
>>  >>  losing hope. it's hard for many people
>>  >>  to believe that there are extraordinary
>>  >>  things inside themselves, as well as
>>  >>  others. i hope you can keep an open
>>  >>  mind.
>>  >>   -- "unbreakable"
>>  >>  .......................................
>>  >>  _______________________________________________
>>  >>  games_access mailing list
>>  >>  games_access at igda.org
>>  >>  http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>  >>
>>  >_______________________________________________
>>  >games_access mailing list
>>  >games_access at igda.org
>>  >http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>  _______________________________________________
>>  games_access mailing list
>>  games_access at igda.org
>>  http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>
>_______________________________________________
>games_access mailing list
>games_access at igda.org
>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access



More information about the games_access mailing list