Here’s the latest on closed captioning from the FCC via an article in Government Video. Looks to me like it makes sense to put closed captioning on everything rather than sort through the variations in the rules.
From Government Video newsletter January 17, 2012…
The U.S. government has issued regulations governing closed captioning requirements for video delivered using Internet protocol (IP), including to smartphones, tablets, personal computers and television set-top boxes.
On Jan. 13, 2012, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued the “Report and Order”—Closed Captioning of Internet Protocol-Delivered Video Programming: Implementation of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010—that “adopts rules governing the closed captioning requirements for the owners, providers, and distributors of video programming delivered using” IP.
The document “also adopts rules governing the closed captioning capabilities of certain apparatus on which consumers view video programming.”
In the document the FCC says, “closed captioning is the visual display of the audio portion of video programming, which provides access to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.”
Read more…
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One of the big problems with early educational technology in K-12, especially with video, was complexity. In the analog world teachers needed to know how to:
- Hook up and use VCR’s and DVD players to TV’s or Projectors
- Master different remote controls
- Locate programming they needed from the library or other sources and,
- Use the technology seamlessly in class and hope it worked or watch the day’s lesson become secondary to the technology.
The focus always seemed to be on the technology and how teachers were slow to change or didn’t recognize how valuable the new technology was. There’s a
discussion string in LinkedIn that asks the question, “Is Technology in the Classroom Gathering Dust?”. The responses seem to indicate that districts have spend millions on technology and made two significant mistakes:
- Spent money based on the technology not the end result.
- Failed to properly train teachers on not only how to use the technology but more importantly how to make it an integral part of their day to day teaching.
As technology continues it’s march to digital, videotape is no longer produced but still in use in many areas. DVD’s are the replacement but their days are numbered. Many schools are already in the next wave of technology and have replaced their televisions with HD flat panels and projectors. The next step, which is well underway in may districts, is eliminating the closed circuit television system and moving video to the network (IPTV).
IPTV is the technology that should make it easier for teachers to seamless use technology in their lesson plans and make learning the story rather than the technology.
Teachers have other applications on their computers but TV and video are the last hold outs from the analog world. IPTV centralizes everything on the teacher’s classroom computer. This reduces the technology away from hardware and puts it on software. This should help level the playing field for technology and make it easier for teachers to use it in the classroom. It does not mean that all technology is good but rather than have multiple pieces of hardware to worry with the teacher’s focus can be on learning how to use the various software applications on their computer. IPTV now becomes the
Killer App for K-12 because:
- It’s configurable, controllable and scalable from a single school campus to a multi-campus environment. As network speeds continue to increase it becomes much easier for IT to manage video on a network basis.
- IPTV is easier because for most applications the teacher only needs a classroom computer connected to a big flat screen or a projector. As time marches on the need for IT to provide beginner and remedial computer training should diminish because new teachers coming in are very much computer literate because they have grown up using technology. I know some districts will provide document cameras, smart boards and other technology because they can but the reality is the teacher can do just about everything from their computer.
- Districts looking to save money can consolidate many video functions into IT.
- RF systems or closed circuit cable systems can be abandoned in old schools and no longer need to be built in new schools by converting Cable TV to IPTV. This also provides much more control over channel access.
- It can go mobile. As more and more schools allow students to use tablets and smart phones video usage will increase because it’s a great way to engage students on their timetable.
- Video on Demand is the way all video will be accessed with the possible exception of live video content.
- Teachers will be able to Flip the Classroom.
For more information on IPTV please download our epaper on converting cable TV to IPTV.
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