New DVIDS tool achieves 508 compliance for military units

DVIDS Hub
Story by Lynn Kaczenski

Date: 10.22.2013
Posted: 10.22.2013 14:55
News ID: 115552
DVIDS Video 508 Compliance

ATLANTA – DVIDS announced today the launch of a new tool that will allow U.S. Military Public Affairs and government organizations the ability to meet Section 508 compliance for published video submissions.

Section 508 compliance is part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. In 1998, the act was amended to require the federal government to make their electronic and information technology (EIT) accessible to individuals with disabilities. This new function by DVIDS provides complete video 508 compliance.

“We have built the closed caption editing application as an enhancement for organizations that wish to comply with Section 508 requirements for online video. This application is the next step in the evolution of our closed captioning system for video and compliments our existing automated video transcription solution,” said Brian Morton, director of technical operations. “Video producers can edit automated transcripts to add a greater level of accuracy and detail, or make a completely new caption from scratch for the best possible accuracy out of the gate.”

According to DVIDS protocol, material uploaded to DVIDS will be published approximately two hours after submission. Following the submission process, the video is automatically placed in a queue for captioning. Once published, any member of the unit or government organization can edit, update, add or remove closed captioning. It should be noted that closed captioning will be discarded if it does not meet our accuracy standards of 75 percent or greater. For instructions on how to get started and review frequently asked questions, click here.

Completing the closed captioning process also creates easier search capabilities for submitted content by adding searchable keywords. The DVIDS team is currently working to make closed captioned videos from DVIDS compatible for iOS7 users and the closed captioned files downloadable to the media for broadcast.

About DVIDS:
Since 2004, DVIDS has provided world media with reliable access to all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and coalition partners serving overseas, helping fulfill the military’s obligation to provide maximum disclosure of information with minimum delay.

Through a network of portable Ku-band satellite transmitters located with deployed units, and a distribution hub in Atlanta, DVIDS makes available real-time broadcast-quality video, still images and print products, as well as immediate interview opportunities with service members, commanders and subject matter experts.

For questions, comments or suggestions, contact DVIDS 24 hours a day at: toll free 877-DVIDS-24/7, commercial 678-421-6612, or DSN 312-367-1792/1761.