Caption+ Device Plugfest
For demonstration of a variety of approaches to Alternative language versions in theaters
Scheduled for Monday January 13, 2025 at Deluxe ITC in Burbank California
A joint project of DCDC, ISDCF and InterSociety
Update given the fires in LA:
We want to collectively offer our sympathy to any of you, your friends, families, neighbors, and/or colleagues affected by the fires in the LA area. If anyone feels like they need any help with anything, please don’t hesitate to reach out, as we all as a community will do whatever it takes to do what we can.
Secondly, we were made aware that ICTA was going virtual due to the events, but we still plan on holding the Plugfest this coming Monday 1/13 in person.
This is due to receiving feedback from numerous people involved in the event; we all agree due to the nature of most of the participating vendors coming from overseas, their possible inability to cancel at the last minute, and that the Deluxe ITC facility is in a reasonably safe location, we are fairly confident to continue as planned. That being said, it is highly advisable while traveling to please remain as safe as possible, both to and around LA. Please give yourself enough time, as traffic will likely be worse than usual for the area(s). Additionally, it might be a good idea to wear a mask while outdoors due to air quality concerns. It’s really, really bad out there, and we will have extra masks at the event as well, just in case.
A few of you have also reached out regarding the ISDCF meeting on Thurs at Universal. This is currently very loosely tentative, and we have other options in case that space is not available. Jerry and/or I will let you all know as soon as we are capable.
Please stay safe, we hope you have a very uneventful weekend, all see you all very soon.
Caption+ Device Plugfest
ISDCF is planning for an open meeting (”plugfest”) to demonstrate technical solutions that can show closed captions, audio options and/or sign language in theaters. This could provide alternative language versions in theaters. These may be applications that operate on smart phones, but can also be dedicated devices. The plan is to have a demonstration of each system as well as a discussion of how each system meets known requirements of the studios and exhibitors as well as the end consumers.
The target audience for the event will be studios and exhibitors so they can see how each system works, the range of functionality and how they meet the requirements. This will NOT be a discussion of costs, fees or business models.
Monday Jan 13, 2024 at Deluxe ITC facility starting as early as 8am (depending on the number of companies participating). We will provide a 15 minute movie segment with caption files in multiple languages, hearing impaired audio files, visually impaired audio files, multiple audio dubbing and a sign language video track.
We will schedule the day for each company to have their own individual time to provide a demonstration and hold a discussion in sequence. These sessions will take from 30-45 minutes and will be scheduled in advance. All participants will be encouraged to attend all presentations. Since this is the first time for this event, we reserve the right to shift things around as we discover event timing.
Each participating company will have the opportunity to provide any necessary devices and/or smart phone application to the attendees of the event. Each participating company will be asked to complete a short questionnaire to describe how their system meets the requirements in advance of the meeting.
Logistics
The plugfest will start at 8am on Monday January 13. It will be located at the Deluxe ITC Facility at the corner of Ontario Street and Thornton Ave in Burbank (near the Burbank Airport and next to the Hilton) (directions) We anticipate the first demonstration to begin at 9am, but all solution providers will need to be there by 8am to set-up and prepare for the day.
If you want to attend and/or participate please enter your details on this Google Form. We need your commitment by December 10 to participate and by January 9 to attend to observe. We need your email addresses so we can provide links to any necessary App downloads for the plugfest (We won’t have time to wait for observers to download during the event.) Please complete one entry for every person that intends to attend.
Registration is now closed. We are to-capacity.
We will ask each participating solution provider to fill out a form with the characteristics of their system so we can create a spreadsheet for comparison during the event. Each participant will be provided with a 10-15 minutes clip of a feature movie from Paramount by December 13. This will include: Main Picture / Main Sound, Caption files in multiple languages, Hearing impaired audio file, visually impaired audio files, dubbed language files and a sign language file. (We do not expect all systems will use all the content.) This content will be available no later than December 13. We expect participants that use a smartphone APP to provide download and installation instructions for all the attendees in advance of the meeting (by January 3).
Participating Companies:
Confirmed:
BFGT – Built for Good Technology, Ltd.
Dolby
Earcatch
Evixar/Hello!Movie
Greta and Starks
Hana-MIT
MAV
MovieReading
MIT
Qube Cinema
Invited, but not confirmed:
APP Company
Theater Ears
Instructions for participants:
Prior to arrival on Monday January 13 each participant is expected to download and install the needed Apps on their smartphone. Below are the instructions provided by participating companies.
BFGT - Built for Good Technology
Instructions for participants to prepare for the day will be provided here.
Dolby
Dolby will be using the traditional closed caption devices. No preparation is needed by participants.
Earcatch
The QR code on the right is the start to get the app on the SmartPhone. Go to https://earcatch.eu/plugfest/ for installation instructions.
Evixar / Hello!Movie
Instructions for participants is available at the following Google Doc or the Linked PDF Document. The QR code on the right is the start to get the app on your SmartPhone.
Hana-MIT
Instructions for Hana-MIT Assistive System is available at the Linked PDF file.
30 sample smartphones, 15 pairs of AR glasses, and a handful of earphones will be provided for the Plugfest. Downloading movie files to personal devices in advance is not required.
MLOAD (MAV)
Instructions for participants is available at the Linked PDF file.. The QR code on the right is the start to get the app on the SmartPhone.
Instructional video:
MovieReading
The QR code on the right is the start to get the app on the SmartPhone. Instructions for participants is available at the Linked PDF File
MIT
Instructions for participants to prepare for the day will be provided here.
MovieBuff - Qube Cinema
The QR code on the right is the start to get the app on the SmartPhone. Instructions for participants is available at the Linked PDF Document
System Requirements:
Overview
This outlines the necessary features, functionality, and requirements for a mobile application that aims to enhance the movie-going experience for individuals. This may be for alternate languages, hearing or visual impairments. It may take the form of alternate audio tracks or visual presentation on screens/glasses presented to the audience member.
Key Functionalities
Captioning:
Real-time display of captions synchronized with the movie audio.
Customization options for text size, color, background contrast, and font for better readability.
Audio Description:
Access to pre-recorded audio narration describing on-screen visuals, actions, and character expressions.
Synchronization with the movie soundtrack to avoid overlapping dialogue.
Option to adjust audio narration volume.
Movie Selection and Booking
Users should be able to browse available movies and showtimes.
Seamless integration with ticketing platforms for intuitive and accessible booking.
Additional Features:
Support for ingesting and processing Accessibility DCPs as the source content.
Ability to download files before arriving at the cinema for offline playback.
Compatibility with screen readers, voice control, and other assistive technologies.
Support for sign languages (e.g., ASL, LIBRAS).
Dynamic active noise cancellation to reduce conflicting audio cues.
Multi-language support for subtitles and audio descriptions
Design Considerations
Simple and intuitive interface with clear labeling and easy navigation.
Adherence to WCAG guidelines for color contrast, font size, and keyboard navigation.
User feedback mechanism for reporting issues, requesting features, and providing feedback.
Non-Functional Requirements
Format: Support for ingesting and processing Digital Cinema Packages (DCPs) as input, extracting necessary data for delivery and synchronized playback (requires DKDM support).
Performance: Ability to download necessary files within a specified time frame (e.g., 5 minutes) and ensure fast response times.
Scalability: Capable of handling a large user base with peak usage during weekends and popular movie releases.
Compatibility: Ensure compatibility with a wide range of mobile devices and operating systems.
Security: All content assets must be encrypted at rest, and video/audio output should be watermarked. Implement robust security measures like DRM, watermarking, device binding, and secure playback environments.
Content Protection: Implement robust content protection measures, such as encryption, digital rights management (DRM), watermarking, and secure playback environments, to prevent unauthorized access and piracy.