MobileHCI attendees come from diverse backgrounds and may have various accessibility needs. Some attendees may be blind or have low vision, color vision deficiencies, or may not be native English speakers. Others may rely on lip-reading, have difficulty reading small text, or be sensitive to animations or flashing lights. To ensure that every attendee can fully access the information shared in your video, please follow these accessibility guidelines when creating your video content.

Closed Captioning

Closed captioning is mandatory for all video content at MobileHCI. Please submit a closed-captioning file in .srt or .sbv format along with your video. If using AI-based captioning tools, thoroughly review and correct any errors. Allow sufficient time for caption preparation.

You can use YouTube's free tools to generate captions, either from a transcript (recommended) or by correcting YouTube's automatic captions. YouTube will sync the captions with the audio. Download the .srt or .sbv file when done and delete your video. You can refer to the SIGCHI Video Guide for more details on video preparation and accessibility considerations.

Best Practices for Accessible Videos

In addition to providing closed captions, use the following tips for creating an accessible presentation. Remember that some people will not be able to see your visuals, so the presentation should be understandable from the script alone. If visuals are important you should verbally describe them.

Below are additional recommendations about each component of video content: script, visuals and audio.

• Script:
  • Describe all important information including images and figures, don't assume everyone can see the visuals
  • Avoid using slang and colloquialisms
  • Avoid pointing and saying "as you can see here…" without giving additional information verbally
  • Should your visuals require more detailed description, consider providing an audio-described version of the video or providing a link to a textual description
• Visuals:
  • Remember that viewers may have captions showing on the bottom part of the screen and avoid using that area for important information
  • Use a color scheme with good contrast
  • Avoid small text
  • Avoid animations and visual effects that could trigger an adverse reaction. For example, flashing lights can induce seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy. Warn viewers in advance to allow them to look away.
• Audio:
  • Provide a closed caption file (required) that captures the audio content of your presentation
  • Minimise loud or repetitive sounds that make induce negative reactions. If including sirens or similar, give a prior warning so viewers can mute their devices.