Fintan Ramblings

Please note this was in my draft folder and I forgot all about it

In the web news last few days are headlines such as:

BBC relaunches its iPlayer service

BBC iPlayer set to remove Beta tag on Christmas Day

Is iPlayer heading for a Christmas nightmare

On Christmas day the BBC iPlayer officially leaves Beta, and also marks the start of the consumer marketing.

Taking a few quotes below from the guardian newspaper :

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/dec/13/bbc.digitalmedia

‘The BBC has relaunched the iPlayer on-demand programming service today as a more user-friendly offering available to Mac users for the first time.’ Eric Huggers, the BBC group controller of future media and technology, also revealed today that the corporation is adding social media tools and better integration of features on the new look bbc.co.uk website, which will relaunch by the end of this week. The overhaul of the five-month-old iPlayer means it is now accessible for users on Macs and Linux-powered computers as well as PCs and will offer both streaming and downloading of content.’

Ah Now see that famous word is ‘accessible…’

My question is: Accessible to whom? Its not accessible to the deaf and it has now been 9 weeks without subtitles.

‘From Christmas Day, the BBC’s revamped iPlayer will be promoted in a marketing campaign. Speaking at the Future Media conference in London, Huggers said the BBC had been working hard to make the next generation of the iPlayer the best possible product for a catch-up TV service. “We’re actively pursuing relationships with more suppliers to make sure the iPlayer becomes available on more services as well as Virgin Media, so that users have direct access to content on a TV through the iPlayer,” he added.’

Why Christmas day? Do you think we would be too busy doing other things after a big Christmas meal? Will we have time to watch TV?

Although I am not a virgin media user, as we can’t get cable round our area, last time I visited in-laws house they have catch up TV how ever subtitles do not work.

I’d be very hard pressed to buy virgin media as they do not offer any new or value for money compared to the BBC.

But still it’s not accessible…

Its been over 15 weeks now and still subtitles don’t work and what I find amazing of all the technology in this world adding subtitles is the hardest thing anyone has to do!

This was filmed without their knowledge and they were having a discussion
I know its not real sign language, but its interesting and not surprising that hearing people use their hand to explain.Has anybody seen people who on the phone and their hands are flying about and they don’t realise they were doing it lol

This study has been done before, with walkmans remember them?

And another study with MP3 players done in America, why did RNID conduct a study in UK?

Brian Lamb, Acting Chief Executive of RNID, said: “MP3 player manufacturers have a responsibility to make their customers aware of the dangers by printing clear warnings on packaging and linking volume controls to decibel levels.

Why target mp3 players?

Not everyone uses that format from a technology view,this was also said about ipods
In ear mobile phones damage hearing too.
Warnings are there on booklets, but RNID wants it to be bigger and clearer!!
Sound like a nanny state very similar to smoking having health warnings on cigarette packets.
Spending money on research like others have already done is wasting money.
Its just another case of “RNID letting people know we are here and donate more money”
So come on RNID do what your supposed to do and represent REAL needs for Deaf people to which clearly you don’t.

An article in The Register today explains that Vodafone is now buying secondhand Nokia 9210’s on eBay to sell to D/deaf customers using the service provided in association with the RNID.

Below taken from Register
Vodafone UK is hunting eBay for obsolete handsets that support its Textphone service for the deaf.
British telephone companies are required to provide services for deaf customers, who generally use a keyboard to type text messages. Text- and instant messaging have mitigated the need to an extent, but seeing every key typed is a better communication experience, according to the RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf people).
Vodafone’s service uses software provided by the RNID running on Nokia’s Communicator 9210. The problem is that Nokia doesn’t make the 9210 any more. And while rival networks use two-device solutions, Vodafone is forced to source Communicators from anywhere they can, including eBay, until it comes up with something better.
A Vodafone spokeswoman told us: “We buy Communicators secondhand from a variety of sources, including eBay, and clean them up for our customers.”

Why is a mobile phone operator forced to scrounge second hand phones to support a service that was once a flagship.
Why do us deaf people have to use second hand goods?
Why couldn’t global operator with over 200 million customers to ask a manufacturer to design a handset fit for 2007 specifically for the Typetalk service.
The Nokia 9210 would have remained in production had Vodafone offered the service to the deaf community around the world and ordered a sufficient number of handsets to make this viable or cheaper …

Been trying out BBC Iplayer last few days .
I can understand why people cant see the point of it when most programmes are repeated.
But I like the idea that you can watch programmes at a time that’s convenient for me so I thought I try it out.

I am not going to detail here how its a bit of a palaver to get it going (search on Google and you will see) but in all it took 15min to set up.
Found a good set up guide here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayerbeta/install_part_1.shtml (us Linux users cant understand why almost 10 step install the damn thing)

For some reason the video doesn’t show up, if I took a screen shot but here is one that I found showing programme (with subtitles) called Two pints of lager and a packet of crisp to give an example of what it would look like

In order to watch programmes with subtitles that’s the size you get in the screenshot

I understand that resolution is lower, so full-screen viewing is less than satisfactory, also in full screen mode it does not show subtitles so how very frustrating is this in order to watch this I have to sit close to my monitor.

(Click on thumbnails to enlarge)

At a glance its does not show which programmes carry subtitles

When selecting briefings it does not contain subtitles (no surprise there)

No option to show just subtitles listings and the only way to find out is by selecting each programme to find out if it contains subtitles

Interestingly if you see picture below

There is a drop down section to which gives you an option to watch it with subtitles and BSL (British sign language)
It’s a pity that How to be the perfect housewife contain BSL (who watches that shit?)

While watching it I though the interpreter is small but selecting full screen is better, how ever quality is not that good.

I understand it’s at beta stage so I am watching how it develops with interest and I think that the subtitles should be bigger and any programmes that contain BSL should be a higher resolution so watch out if you don’t have unlimited download package from your ISP other wise you will fall foul of broadband fair Use Policy
It’s a bit of a shame that it is built on Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player – especially as it comes complete with all the security errors, warning messages that seem to plague Microsoft programs

I think I will only use BBC iplayer to watch one programme called See Hear as from October because it’s being moved from Saturday 12pm slot to weekdays!
They say to increases viewing figures but they are competing with loose women on ITV.
Bad enough showing it on Saturday but even worst mid week when I am at work also getting it cut from 45 min to 30 min and yes you get repeats only one repeat at 2 am in the morning compared to programmes like Eastenders showing at 8pm repeated at 10 pm plus you get another chance to watch it on Sunday afternoon

Only half hour Deaf program per week shown at 2 ridiculous times and that’s what the only reason I will be using the iplayer for.

There seem to be an increase on VOD (Video on Demand) in the UK
such as
ITV
4oD
Five
Blueyonder TV
Sky Anytime
BT Vision
Freeview
Top Up TV
Tiscali TV
Virgin Media

I have tried out 4oD on father in laws PC (Does not work on Linux) none of the programmes I downloaded contain subtitles.
Also he is subscribed to virgin media and we sat down to watch Dr Who just to test it out and guess what.. No subtitles!

I doubt other VOD will contain subtitles and wouldn’t it be great to find out the information before hand rather than download and test it out?
Should I bother emailing to ask when or will any of the programmes contain subtitles
Will I get some sort of brush off like Optimum Releasing standard email we are looking into it tripe!

I have emailed sky and I got a response (Optimum Releasing please take note) within impressive 40 minutes

Thank you for contacting the accessible customer service team via email on the 3rd July 2007.
At present subtitles are not available on Sky Anytime via the PC however this is something we are currently working on and will hopefully have a release date in due course.
Gayle Olszok
Customer Advisor
Sky Accessible Customer Service

But wait the BBC iplayer release date on 27th July it will contain subtitles… and should I be excited grateful? Yes I am … but hang on websites such as this and this one says

“Despite the long time in development, the ambitious BBC iPlayer initiative will be missing several features. At launch there will be some support for the visually impaired and some sign language for the hard-of-hearing. Subtitles and audio description will be rolled out in the coming months.”

Now why does that not surprise me?

So how long much longer do we have to wait?
Will it be a few selected programmes that contain subtitles like we suffered in the 1980’s on TV?

Thanks everyone, I finally got a reply from Optimum Releasing.
So here is the email I got from them below

Hi Fintan,
Unfortunately we are not providing this service yet but we are looking into it for future releases.
Apologies.
Regards

Optimum Releasing
22 Newman Street
London
W1T 1PH

www.optimumdvdstore.com
www.optimumreleasing.com

Pan’s Labyrinth DVD: 12th March.
The Host DVD: 5th March

As you can see I am really pissed off with this!

What future releases how long will we have to wait?
Don’t they want our custom?  How hard it to put subtitles on a frickin DVD?
How long are we going to wait for the likes of BBC or Film4 show the film as they always subtitle the film?

As you may have read in here and here about Shane Meadows films not being subtitled on DVD
This helpful forum Shane Meadows Forum pointed me to the right place on company that has the license and rights to put his films onto DVD.

Optimum Releasing
The website boast of film releases and also to buy online but no information on if any films carry subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

First email I sent was 1st of May asking if there is any likelihood of subtitling the film called This is England I also set the emails to return receipt so I know they have read it
Also I sent another on Fri, 22 Jun 2007 and it was read 15 minutes later but no acknowledgment or an answer so what is the matter with these people?

I get emails sent to me who read my blog asking if I have any answer if the films will carry subtitles.

So now I have put names address of the company for all of you to see so bombard them with calls fax or email and please let me know if you get any answer from them

Address

Optimum Releasing
22 Newman Street
London
W1T 1PH

T: 020 7637 5403
F: 020 7637 5408
email: info@optimumreleasing.com

Alison Meese
alison@optimumreleasing.com

All images taken from official website This Is England

Teletext

When I was growing up in the 70’s the only TV Programme we could watch was non-talkie movies.. such as Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and early Laurel and Hardy films.
I couldn’t watch cartoons such as Tom and Jerry, Scooby Doo, Captain Pugwash and Magic Roundabout.

The 80’s came and Teletext or Ceefax came along and subtitles were available when you press 888.

Ceefax was actually invented in 1974 see below taken from Wikipedia :
Ceefax (phonetic for “See Facts”) is the BBC’s Teletext information service.
The system was announced in October 1972 and following test transmissions in 1973-1974 the Ceefax system went live on the 23 September 1974 with thirty pages. Developed by BBC engineers who were working on ways of providing televisual subtitles for the deaf, it was the first teletext system in the world.

Now, to get a box would cost up to £400 in the 70’s.
Check out this link http://finllfixit.co.uk/01/12/2006/why-i-watch-less-tv/ on how I came across Ceefax.

It went live in 1974 but one of the early problems was its expense. Decoders cost more than £300 while Teletext-enabled TV sets would set consumers back £700.

Ceefax was the Google of its day. You type 101 and it brings up the headline news and also brings up a news flash: (could not use newsflash when watching a programme using subtitles)

Anyone remember the no need to shout weekly news for the Deaf?

Very un PC

We were all excited that programmes would show subtitles and it was intended for deaf people.
The problem was that only certain programmes showed subtitles and you had to look on Ceefax or newspaper TV listings to find out if the programme you wanted to watch will carry subtitles. Also it was not on 24 /7.

Subtitles were not always on 888. At first they were on 170 (BBC1), 270 (BBC2) and 199 (ITV). Can you imagine how confusing that was but thankfully all channels subtitles are on 888

Nowadays 98 % of BBC programmes carry subtitles but the analogue TV’s are being switched off so all programmes will be shown in digital format.
So you either have free Freeview, Sky or Cable in order to watch digital programmes but what about Ceefax?

Subtitles
BBC subtitles provide a transcript of the TV soundtrack, helping deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers to follow programmes. They have been available since the early 1980s.
No other UK broadcaster matches the proportion of programmes subtitled by the BBC. It is committed to subtitling 100% of BBC TV programmes from April 2008.
95% of BBC One and BBC Two is already subtitled, and 80% of BBC Three, BBC Four, CBBC, CBeebies and BBC News 24.
On analogue TV you need Teletext to see subtitles. Press Text on your remote control and type 888. Subtitles appear straight away or whenever a subtitled programme begins.
If you have digital TV, select Subtitles from the set-up menu and follow the instructions for your set-top box or set. Subtitles will appear whenever you switch on.
Now as you see BBC committed to subtitling 100 % of BBC TV programmes 34 years after it first started!
But once British broadcasting becomes fully digital and the analogue signal is switched off, Ceefax will be succeeded by its already flourishing little brother digital text - accessed by the now familiar red button.

Digital text is always slow and pressing the red button during a programme or shortly after it has finished to watch more of it (like a extended programme) carry’s no subtitles so its no use to us.
So yes you might say we have the Internet so why bother with interactive text but to think that they are spending money on it you would have thought of ways of including subtitles for us?

All images taken from this site http://teletext.mb21.co.uk/ with permission

Thought id do a vlog using my mobile camera seeing that everyone doing it theses days.

But I got shy so my son volunteered