TED and plans for subtitles
Since blogging about the lack of subtitles on the TED website, I've contacted TED to ask them about subtitling provision This is the reply I got:
Thanks so much for your note and suggestion. We agree that there's great value in providing written transcripts, as well as sub-titles for our talks -- serviing both non-English speakers and those with hearing impediments.We want you to know we *do* plan to provide transcripts for each TED talk, within the next few months. Sub-titles and the possibility of translation will follow soon after.
In the meantime, I've forwarded your note on to our media team, and they will be in touch as we get closer to implementation.
We hope you continue enjoying TED.com! Please do let us know if you have any other comments, questions or suggestions!
This is a start, although I really wish websites would provide access immediately, not a mere afterthought. Bit like providing the sound a few months later.
Otherwise, if you want subtitles somewhere, don't just sit back and do nothing about it. Blog. Complain. Generate discussion. Make contacts. That's the only way this is going to get addressed.
See also:
Firefox extension to work with third party subtitling sites?
Evelyn Glennie at TED, and solving subtitling notification online
Deaf people & Firefox Extensions
Online subtitling & getting Geeks to notice the need for diversity
A Gamer asks for subtitles
BBC & accessible online content
IBM addresses multimedia access for blind. Deaf access where?
Vlogging grows, where's the subtitles?