Extended Audio Description (Prerecorded)
Summary:
WCAG 1.2.7, "Extended Audio Description (Prerecorded)," addresses the need for more detailed audio descriptions in prerecorded video content, especially beneficial for blind or visually impaired users. This AAA-level criterion ensures that videos convey all visual information through audio.
What:
This guideline requires providing extended audio descriptions for prerecorded video content, allowing enough time to describe more complex or detailed visual information that might not be covered in standard audio descriptions due to time constraints.
Why:
Extended audio descriptions ensure that users who cannot see the screen receive a comprehensive understanding of the video content, including detailed visual elements and actions that occur during natural pauses in the audio.
Examples and Scenarios:
- Complex Educational Videos: Describing detailed diagrams or visual data that require more time than standard audio descriptions provide.
- Artistic Films: Offering extended descriptions for intricate visual scenes where visuals are central to understanding.
- Documentaries: Providing detailed descriptions of visual elements like landscapes, historical footage, or visual phenomena.
How to Comply:
- Websites: Create versions of videos with extended audio descriptions that fill in natural pauses in dialogue with additional descriptive content.
- Mobile Apps: Include options for extended audio descriptions within the app’s video player.
- Software Applications: Ensure that video content within the application has the option for extended audio descriptions, covering all significant visual information.
Exceptions:
- Minimal Visual Content: For videos where visuals are not the primary source of information or are adequately described within the existing dialogue.
- Resource and Technical Constraints: As an AAA requirement, it acknowledges the potential resource and technical limitations in providing extended descriptions for all video content.