#18613
This report discusses the 'AHA' system for presenting HTML in audio for blind users and others who wish to access the WWW non-visually. AHA is a framework and set of suggestions for HTML presentation based on an initial experiment. Further experimentation and further revisions will be performed with the system.
James, Frankie. Stanford University (1998). Design>Web Design>Accessibility>Audio
#23610
Assistive Listening Systems: Crucial For Skilled Listeners With a Hearing Loss 
Technical communicators are skilled listeners. Whether interviewing subject matter experts or working on teams, good communication is essential. But if you have a hearing loss, assistive listening systems (ALSs) can help.
Vinegar, Judy A. STC Proceedings (2003). Articles>TC>Accessibility>Audio
#28489
Audacity Tutorial: How to Record and Edit Audio with Audacity
Audacity is a free cross platform multi track audio editing program from Sourceforge.net. It will let you record, edit, and mix an unlimited number of tracks. Audacity runs on Windows (98 through XP), Mac OS X, and Linux.
Guides and Tutorials (2006). Articles>Documentation>Software>Audio
#28897
Audio signals also help us interact with our environment. Some of these signals are designed: We wake to the buzz of the alarm clock, answer the ringing telephone, and race to the kitchen when the shrill beep of the smoke alarm warns us that dinner is burning on the stove. Other audio signals are not deliberately designed, but help us nonetheless. For instance, we may know the proper sound of the central air conditioning starting, the gentle hum of the PC fan, or the noise of the refrigerator. So, when these systems go awry, we notice it immediately--something doesn't sound right. Likewise, an excellent mechanic might be able to tell what is wrong with a car engine just by listening to it run.
Follett, Jonathan. UXmatters (2007). Design>User Centered Design>User Experience>Audio
#28007
Audio Recording of Workshops and Seminars
The AHDS made audio recordings of recent seminars with the aim of transcribing the recordings, and presented them to seminar chairs to facilitate their task of completing reports on each event. This case study looks at some of the issues that occurred as the AHDS recorded and transcribed the material from these seminars. While its findings are based on roundtable seminars, some of them may also be of use to those doing other types of audio recording - interviews, field notes etc.
AHDS (2006). Articles>Collaboration>Multimedia>Audio
#26975
Behringer Multitrack Audio Mixer
Introduces how to perform multimedia audio mixing and editing using a Behringer multitrack mixer.
Pratt, Andrew and Dave Long. Studio for New Media (2004). Articles>Documentation>Multimedia>Audio
#25969
Captions and Audio Descriptions for PC Multimedia
This article discusses the various types of captions, when to use captions, as well as the various types of audio descriptions.
Microsoft (2002). Design>Multimedia>Accessibility>Audio
#26378
Design can be more than meets the eyes. Denise Gonzales Crisp opens her ears to unfamiliar territory.
Crisp, Denise Gonzales. AIGA (2005). Design>Graphic Design>Multimedia>Audio
#18440
It is hard to make a hat that fits all heads. If one were made, most people would find it uncomfortable. This fact could be the realistic of the web sites design. Web developers face the same issue creating web pages for more general usage. For those deaf and hearing-impaired people, some special technologies should be applied to ease their web browsing and searching. This report will focus on such disabled characteristics.
#32001
Deafness and the User Experience
Because of limited awareness around Deafness and accessibility in the web community, it seems plausible to many of us that good captioning will fix it all. It won’t. Before we can enhance the user experience for all deaf people, we must understand that the needs of deaf, hard of hearing, and big-D Deaf users are often very different.
Herrod, Lisa. List Apart, A (2008). Articles>User Experience>Accessibility>Audio
#31759
Dealing Proactively with Audience Questions
What’s the best way to handle questions from the audience when presenting? This podcast examines key things you can do to deal proactively with audience questions.
Still, Brian. IEEE PCS (2008). Articles>Presentations>Audio>Podcasts
#10036
Designing (for) Ourselves and (for) Others
This presentation, by one of the best-known professors of technical communication in the U.S., traces how readers have been paid increasing attention, especially as they have become more active in text-making, rather than just text-reading. In particular, it talks about the rhetorical roles that readers assume in Web documents, and how those roles contribute to the success or failure of communication.
Coney, Mary B. EServer (2000). Presentations>Rhetoric>Streaming>Audio
#26420
Developing Voice Interfaces for Legacy Web Applications
Traditionally, web applications are accessed via a single mode interface; information is presented and captured with text. However, one can additionally use a voice browser to navigate the Internet. One can navigate or access 'hands free' Internet applications from anywhere; you are not restricted to the desktop or a portable computer. VoiceXML is a language for Internet telephony applications and is based on the XML language. VoiceXML can 'speech-enable' an existing web application to be used through a conversational interface, providing a more natural way of interaction between users and Internet applications.
Quiané, Jorge and Jorge Manjarrez. ACM Crossroads (2003). Design>Web Design>User Interface>Audio
#23303
Does Background Music Impact Computer Task Performance?
The effects of music on performance on a computer-mediated problem-solving task were examined. Participants completed the task in anonymous dyads as they were exposed to either Classical music, Punk music, or No Music. Results indicate that those in the Classical music condition performed better on the problem solving-task than those in the Punk music or No Music conditions. However, those listening to the Classical music offered more off-task comments during the task than those listening to No Music. Implications for website designers are discussed.
Phillips, Christine. Usability News (2004). Articles>Usability>Human Computer Interaction>Audio
#31441
Employees Tune In to Web Radio
The recent buzz regarding corporate web logs (blogs) may have deflected attention from another effective, low-cost medium: corporate web radio. The following article offers a few tips and “lessons learned” for the corporate professional who would like to start web radio within his or her firm—or for the PR agency, another value-added service for your clients.
Loper, Larry. Communication World Bulletin (2005). Articles>Business Communication>Audio>Podcasting
#30064
Examples of Companies Integrating Podcasts into their Mix of Technical Communication Deliverables?
Podcasts aren't very good at delivering step-by-step technical information. Concepts are where podcasts excel.
Johnson, Tom H. I'd Rather Be Writing (2007). Articles>Multimedia>Audio>Podcasting
#26380
When you think about sound in regard to the internet, what comes to mind? Dutch design firm LUST explores the sound of the internet with this original project.
AIGA (2005). Design>Web Design>Multimedia>Audio
#31033
The post-production process known as 'Foley' refers to the art of recording 'live' sync sound effects to picture. It is akin to looping the dialogue, but instead of recording the actors performing their lines while watching themselves on screen--skilled craftspeople known as 'Foley artists' will walk, run, and act out any sync sound effects to match what the actor is seen (or implied) doing in the picture.
Ginsburg, Fred. Equipment Emporium (2006). Articles>Multimedia>Editing>Audio
#18532
For a presenter, a high-quality microphone, combined with the right sound system, will give your voice a rich sound that can be heard throughout a room. Here are some things to consider if you want to add a microphone to the company conference room or your presentation traveling kit. The basics A microphone is essentially an energy converter that takes in sound waves and converts them into electrical energy. Two main types of microphones are available: condenser and dynamic. A condenser mic uses a power supply to provide a charge that works with a thin diaphragm inside the unit to create a signal. A dynamic mic creates a signal when the sound pressure moves a coil or ribbon across a magnet. Because they usually produce a richer sound, condenser mics are the more popular of the two; however, they require batteries or a power supply and are more expensive and more fragile than dynamic models. Dynamic mics are usually considered less accurate in sound quality, but they are generally more rugged and can withstand varying temperatures, humidity levels and a lot of abuse. These qualities make dynamic mics ideal for use outdoors or on the road.
Hill, Julie. Presentations (2002). Articles>Presentations>Multimedia>Audio
#21072
Google Voice Search allows you to make a telephone call to Google with a search query and get the results on a web page. The purpose of this article is to briefly describe the user experience and investigate the usability implications of this tool.
Rhodes, John S. WebWord (2003). Articles>Web Design>User Interface>Audio
#23010
Most developers don't think about individuals who are deaf when they think of Web accessibility. For too many developers, Web accessibility consists of adhering to a few guidelines that ensure accessibility to screen readers for the blind. On one level, this is understandable. People who are blind will have the most trouble, since the Web is a visual medium...or is it?
WebAIM (2001). Design>Web Design>Accessibility>Audio
#26377
Understanding the dynamic qualities of typography through analogies with sound and music.
Armstrong, Frank. AIGA (2005). Design>Typography>Visual Rhetoric>Audio
#31639
Interviewing Tips for Podcasters
Some advice from one podcaster to others on how to do interviews.
DMN Communications (2008). Articles>Interviewing>Audio>Podcasting
#30068
Killer Interviewing Tactics: Get The Most from Your Guests
Covers the basics of good interviewing technique: making sure the show is not about you but about your guest; listening to the answers you get; sticking to a script; and, above all, preparation, preparation, preparation.
Murphy, Gayl. Podcast Academy (2006). Articles>Interviewing>Audio>Podcasting
#29198
This is a list of limitations of the types of automated audio translation offered by such services as Talkr.com. Since we do not see a list in their help center, we thought we would compile our own list and offer it as a wiki page for any customers to keep a list of limitations.
KeyContent.org (2007). Articles>Language>Translation>Audio
