2024-11-22
Below:
Attendees
Chat
AI-Generated Content
Attendees
Rosemary Walling, Marie Drake Planetarium, Juneau, AK
Alan Gould, Lawrence Hall of Science, UC Berkeley, California USA
Shannon Schmoll, Abrams Planetarium, Michigan State University, East Lansing
Amie Gallagher, Raritan Valley Community College Planetarium, Branchburg, NJ
Sarah Vise @ Science Central in Fort Wayne, Indiana!
Mary Holt, The Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley CA
Mike Murray, Delta College Planetarium in Bay City, Michigan
Merriwether Houston, Science Museum Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK
Carole Holmberg, retired, Rock Hill, SC
April Whitt, Atlanta, Georgia
Amy Barraclough, Edelman Planetarium at Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
Jon U. Bell of the Hallstrom Planetarium, Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, Florida
Margarita Hawthorn, De Anza College Planetarium, Cupertino CA USA
Joe Witte, LA
Jeff Nee, Pasadena, CA
Todd Ullery, York County Astronomical Society, York Learning Center Planetarium, York, PA, USA
Dário Fonseca, Hemispherium @ Exploratório, Coimbra - Portugal
Jeff Nee : It's always good to have a backup recording!
Waylon Troyer, Love's Planetarium - Science Museum Oklahoma, Oklahoma City
Nicolas Lombardi, Love's Planetarium - Science Museum Oklahoma, OKC
Patricia Reiff, Rice University Physics & Astronomy and also President ePlanetarium
Colin Hutcheson, Thinktank, Birmingham Museums UK
Alby Luchko, Bianchi Planetarium @ Cal State, Northridge (Los Angeles, CA)
Bryan Mendez, University of California at Berkeley
Andy Flynt, The Planetarium, Spartanburg County Public Libraries, Spartanburg, SC
Connor Marti, Edelman Planetarium at Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
Benjamin Mendelsohn, Kvamme Planetarium, West Valley College, Saratoga, CA
Waylena McCully, Staerkel Planetarium, Parkland College, Champaign IL
Krista Testin, Mallory Kountze Planetarium at University of Nebraska Omaha
Cal Powell, retired, Alexandria, VA
Tim Barry, Pecos, NM, USA
Jordan Jubeck - Cernan Earth and Space Center - Triton College - River Grove IL
Sara Schultz, Minnesota State University Moorhead Planetarium
Dani LeBlanc, Museum of Science, Boston
Chat
To see a description and schedule of upcoming seminars, visit
https://www.ppadomes.org/events/online-seminars/pzs-schedule
Speaker’s email address: schmolls@msu.edu
10:06:31 From Rosemary Walling : Please sign in, using the chat, with your name and where you are from. Thank you
10:08:56 From Patricia Reiff : We provide srt files in English and Spanish for all of our shows. Our software can show on demand, and you can set placement and size. All our shows are available to watch in entirety on our YouTube channel eplanetarium, and those have closed caption options.
Audrey Cesene, Hudson River Museum in Yonkers Ny
10:12:57 From Joe Witte : .? Is there an iPone app that can act as a “Handheld” device?
From Jeff Nee : Replying to ".? Is there an iPone...
Android has "Live Transcribe," not sure about iPhones.
From Margarita Hawthorn De Anza : Replying to ".? Is there an iPone..."
Live transcribe is also available for iPhones, I have the app in mine
Jeff Nee : Reacted to "Live transcribe is a..." with 👍
10:19:00 From Mary Holt : Hard with astigmatism too, I never feel like I can fully focus with the glasses
Waylena McCully (she/her) : Reacted to "Hard with astigmatis..." with 👍
10:23:04 From Patricia Reiff : When we are in a noisy environment like an exhibit booth the visitors say the captions are very much appreciated. Also for English learners seeing the words helps them learn English.
10:27:27 From Jeff Nee : With regards to being "worth it" it's always worth it to consider more accessibility when building your shows from the start. Like most accessibility considerations, it doesn't JUST help those with disabilities. Adding more/better labeling, better pacing, etc., helps EVERYONE learn better.
Bryan Mendez : Reacted to "With regards to bein..." with 👍
Alby Luchko (she/her) : Reacted to "With regards to bein..." with 👍🏼
Merriwether Houston - SMO : Reacted to "With regards to bein..." with 👍🏿
10:30:49 From Colin Hutcheson : I know Skypoint are trialing the use of glasses for live captioning as they want to see how good they are for people with different accents.
10:30:54 From Patricia Reiff : Our MEDIASHOW software if there are multiple srt files, you can choose your language on the fly. http://eplanetarium.com/support_subtitles.php
10:31:29 From Sara Schultz : I know Sally at the Bell museum has something they do for live shows
From Sara Schultz : But it requires a live transcriber
10:31:35 From Jeff Nee : Nowhere better to do live transcription research than the LHS, right?
Mary Holt : Reacted to "Nowhere better to do..." with 💯
10:31:38 From Amie Gallagher phone : I noticed Live Transcribe had trouble with a British narrator.
From Colin Hutcheson : Replying to "I noticed Live Trans..."
I have no hope then being Scottish!
Sara Schultz : Reacted to "I have no hope then ..." with 😂
Amie Gallagher phone : Reacted to I have no hope then ... with "😂"
Margarita Hawthorn De Anza : Replying to "I noticed Live Trans..."
The app has multiple language options - there are 15 options for English (UK, US, Canada, etc)
10:32:25 From Tina Ratterman : Can all systems use SRT files now?
Carole Holmberg : Tina Ratterman, our KM MediaGlobe 3 cannot use SRT files.
Colin Hutcheson : Replying to "Can all systems use ..."
Digistar 6 and below can't directly, but applications have been provided to allow us to convert into a usable form. D7 can now take SFT directly
From Jeff Nee : Replying to "Can all systems use ..."
Sky-Skan can.
Amie Gallagher phone : Reacted to Sky-Skan can. with "👍"
Dário Fonseca : Replying to "Can all systems use ..."
Sky explorer / Dome manager can (our system is from 2013)
10:32:45 From Alby Luchko (she/her) : We're working to fund our planetarium but CSUN has a National Center on Deafness and a Dept of Deaf Studies. I'm definitely going to look into what kind of funding and research we can incorporate into our funding proposal!
Sara Schultz : Reacted to "We're working to fun..." with ❤️
10:32:54 From Waylena McCully (she/her) : AI has been helpful in generating SRT files for me
Sara Schultz : Reacted to "AI has been helpful ..." with ❤️
10:33:31 From Theresa Summer, ASP : Captions also help neurodivergent peoples well
Merriwether Houston - SMO : Reacted to "Captions also help n..." with 👍🏿
Sara Schultz : Reacted to "Captions also help n..." with ❤️
Audrey Cesene : Reacted to "Captions also help n..." with ❤️
Mary Holt : Reacted to "Captions also help n..." with ❤️
Bryan Mendez : Replying to "Captions also help n..."
Yes! I've noticed that my ND kiddos always use captions when watching TV.
Theresa Summer, ASP : Reacted to "Yes! I've noticed th..." with 👍
Jeff Nee : Reacted to "Yes! I've noticed th..." with 👍
Alby Luchko (she/her) : Replying to "Captions also help n..."
I always use captions now on my phone and on my TV. We have no hearing or English issues in my house - just issues understanding what people are saying! 🙂
10:33:54 From Patricia Reiff : Won’t those special translator pens also do that?
10:36:06 From Sara Schultz : Bell uses the CART system with a live person transcribing
10:36:09 From Tina Ratterman : I was recently asked for a show with open-captions and a version without. They would have one show with and one show without captions on a daily basis. Would this be good for distributors to offer when SRT file capabilities are not possible?
From Shannon Schmoll (she/her) : That is essentially what Adler did was a website
10:37:31 From Colin Hutcheson : I'll second the plea for distributors to offer sft files by default. I know many do
Sara Schultz : Reacted to "I'll second the plea..." with ❤️
Amie Gallagher phone : Reacted to I'll second the plea... with "❤️"
Tina Ratterman : Reacted to "I'll second the pl..." with 👍
Tina Ratterman : Replying to "I'll second the pl..."
Reef just made SRT for Legend of the Enchanted Reef. We're working on Little Major Tom SRT files now. We're trying to make this standard.
Colin Hutcheson : Reacted to "Reef just made SRT f..." with 👍
Waylena McCully (she/her) : Reacted to "I'll second the plea..." with ❤️
10:38:47 From Alby Luchko (she/her) : Is it recommended to have a live ASL interpreter in the room (and how do you make them visible for the audience) or having them displayed on the dome somewhere?
From Margarita Hawthorn De Anza : Reacted to "Is it recommended to..." with 👍🏼
10:38:57 From Waylena McCully (she/her) : I've been using SubtitleEdit to generate my SRT files
Sara Schultz : Reacted to "I've been using Subt..." with ❤️
Waylena McCully (she/her) : Replying to "I've been using Subt..."
open source
Jeff Nee : Replying to "I've been using Subt..."
Me too. It's easy and free.
Colin Hutcheson : Replying to "I've been using Subt..."
I use it too, and found it fairly intuitive to use
Jeff Nee : Replying to "I've been using Subt..."
I've also found it particularly accurate with astronomy topics. Unsure why.
Jeff Nee : Replying to "I've been using Subt..."
Still have to check it, of course!
Waylena McCully (she/her) : Replying to "I've been using Subt..."
The OpenAI-based generation has been so much better than other generators.
Waylena McCully (she/her) : Replying to "I've been using Subt..."
Better with astronomy and other science stuff
Waylena McCully (she/her) : Replying to "I've been using Subt..."
I do have to hand-edit to insert name of speaker for multiple voices
Waylena McCully (she/her) : Replying to "I've been using Subt..."
SubtitleEdit can generate burned in video
Waylena McCully (she/her) : Replying to "I've been using Subt..."
Usually, I recommend Blender for everything but for caption work, I am 100% SubtitleEdit now.
Waylena McCully (she/her) : Replying to "I've been using Subt..."
I recently found that SubtitleEdit does the alpha channel video as well. Easier than trying to get SRT stuff into the newer Blender version.
Sara Schultz : Reacted to "I recently found tha..." with 👍🏻
Jeff Nee : Replying to "I've been using Subt..."
I'm VERY persnickety about how text shows up in my dome. So just a notice for fellow perfectionists that solutions exist for you. For example, adding a "glow" gradient as an outline so that the text is easily visible, highlighting text, dynamic coloring, etc.
Waylena McCully (she/her) : Reacted to "I'm VERY persnickety..." with ❤️
10:40:15 From Patricia Reiff : Some of those auto generated captions are crazy funny
Bryan Mendez : Reacted to "Some of those auto g..." with 🤣
10:41:33 From Dário Fonseca : our is in synch
10:44:02 From Alan Gould : Good luck getting standardization in this industry...:^)
Mike Murray : Reacted to "Good luck getting st..." with 😂
10:44:12 From Alby Luchko (she/her) : just make sure the standardization is being informed/driven by the DHH community and NOT the suppliers who might be "guessing".
Audrey Cesene : Reacted to "just make sure the s..." with ‼️
Shannon Schmoll (she/her) : Reacted to "just make sure the s..." with 👏
Mike Murray : Reacted to "just make sure the s..." with 👍
10:44:50 From Jeff Nee : I've taken an SRT into Blender and created an alpha channeled video synced with just the text. Then I can manipulate it wherever and however I want.
Sara Schultz : Reacted to "I've taken an SRT in..." with ❤️
10:45:00 From Patricia Reiff : It’s trickier helping a vision impaired person in a dome!
Theresa Summer, ASP : Patricia, I have astronomy toolkits for blind and low vision folks. Apply here: https://forms.gle/4GibzgbwXE2czwMQ6
Waylena McCully (she/her) : Reacted to "Patricia, I have ast..." with ❤️
Colin Hutcheson : Replying to "It’s trickier helpin..."
Audio Universe is an example of a show created for vision impaired, and the creators are working on a project to create a toolkit for people to create sonification of more data
10:46:47 From Tina Ratterman : Audio description and closed-captions are required for IMAX and Giant Screen Theaters. The Smithsonian and others are required to have these.
10:47:15 From Patricia Reiff : If anyone would like to try the MediaShow player we have a 30 day free trial. Works on fisheye or mirror single-projector systems. And I’d be happy to do a live training http://eplanetarium.com/software_mediashow.php
Waylena McCully (she/her) : Reacted to "If anyone would like..." with ❤️
10:47:41 From JT Towne : Some of your requirements sound as if they may be state or local-set, Benjamin.
10:48:28 From Theresa Summer, ASP : I am looking for literature about planetarium efforts to be more inclusive, if anyone has some to share
Mike Murray : Replying to "I am looking for lit..."
Same here!
JT Towne : Replying to "I am looking for lit..."
I would recommend you contact Noreen Grice at You Can do Astronomy. I'm actually surprised she's not on this Zoom. She has tons of lit./resources/experience on the matter.
Mike Murray : Reacted to "I would recommend yo..." with 👍
Mike Murray : Replying to "I am looking for lit..."
Also there is the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee of IPS. Dani LeBlanc and Shaaron Leverment are co-chairs.
Mary Holt : Reacted to "Also there is the Eq..." with 👍
Mike Murray : Replying to "I am looking for lit..."
edi@ips-planetarium.org
Dani LeBlanc (she/her) : @Theresa Summer, ASP - it's not the best formatting but we've compiled some resources here:
https://www.ips-planetarium.org/page/placcessibility
10:49:13 From Colin Hutcheson : I had a live interpreter in a school show yesterday. Lit with a red light, and feedback from them both was positive.
10:49:21 From Patricia Reiff : We have had live ASL interpreters BUT then all the folks pay close attention to them. With the captions they can read and still see the show with peripheral vision.
10:50:04 From Benjamin Mendelsohn : We are exploring a technology by signglasses.com
10:51:20 From Shannon Schmoll (she/her) : They want to work with planetariums specifically too. The fee structure is tough for most planetariums
10:51:25 From Patricia Reiff : Another problem with glasses is keeping them charged, sanitizing between shows, etc…
Benjamin Mendelsohn : Reacted to "Another problem with..." with 👍
10:52:18 From Jeff Nee : great point, Amy! Orange lights?
10:52:56 From Colin Hutcheson : Winchester have explored this and found purple is generally best for most things, not sure whether they do it for BSL interpreters
Alby Luchko (she/her) : Replying to "Winchester have expl..."
purple light? So that it doesn't interrupt night vision and is not as distracting?
Colin Hutcheson : Replying to "Winchester have expl..."
Alby Luchko (she/her) : Replying to "Winchester have expl..."
I'm relatively new to PPA, which locations did you say? Winchester and Arma?
April Whitt : Replying to "Winchester have expl..."
Armagh
Alby Luchko (she/her) : Replying to "Winchester have expl..."
thank you!
Dani LeBlanc (she/her) : Replying to "Winchester have expl..."
I can't turn on mic right now, but yes our IPS EDI group is working on this!
Mary Holt : Reacted to "I can't turn on mic ..." with 🎉
10:52:59 From Alby Luchko (she/her) : I know we explain at the start of the show about night vision and how red light will not disrupt night vision - so we give context to the red light.
Theresa Summer, ASP : Reacted to "I know we explain at..." with 👍
10:54:58 From Rosemary Walling : If you came in late, please sign in, using the chat, with your name and where you are from. Thank you
From Sara Schultz : Thanks for calling us late comers out, @Rosemary Walling 😄
10:55:34 From Patricia Reiff : https://eplanetarium.com/accessible.php
10:55:37 From Shannon Schmoll (she/her) : Umbrella...that's an idea!
10:58:02 From Shannon Schmoll (she/her) : https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/media/documents/resources/BigAstronomyBLVManual2023.pdf
10:58:25 From Shannon Schmoll (she/her) : Part of Big Astronomy's supplemental funding was the creation of tactile versions of our hands on activities
10:58:40 From Jeff Nee : Thanks for the discussion everyone!
10:58:44 From Jordan - Cernan Earth and Space : Definitely check state laws for ASL interpretation. I've started learning ASL and I recently found out that if I sign during a show without an interpreter's license I can get into trouble.
10:58:45 From Audrey Cesene : this was very informative, thank you for doing this!
10:58:46 From Mike Murray : Many thanks!!
10:58:52 From Mary Holt : Thank you Shannon!
10:58:55 From Alby Luchko (she/her) : Reacted to "I can't turn on mic ..." with 👍🏼
10:58:56 From Colin Hutcheson : Thank you for all this, really useful and good reminders for us all to be more inclusive
10:58:56 From April Whitt : Thanks, everyone. Thanks, Shannon!
10:58:58 From Margarita Hawthorn De Anza : Thank you for the info!
10:58:58 From Tina Ratterman : Thank you!
10:59:00 From Eric Briggs : Thanks all!
10:59:30 From Dani LeBlanc (she/her) : Thank you Shannon, and everyone!
10:59:31 From Amie Gallagher phone : Thank you everyone!
10:59:42 From Alby Luchko (she/her) : Thank you so much! These are great ideas for us as we relaunch our planetarium in an academic setting!
11:00:09 From Sarah Vise : Thanks y'all :)
AI-Generated Summary
AI-generated content may be inaccurate or misleading. Always check for accuracy.
Quick recap
The meeting focused on the importance of accessibility in planetariums, with a study on captioning options and the challenges of live captioning in shows. The team also discussed the use of ASL interpreters, the potential for partnerships and funding opportunities, and the need for more standardized approaches to accessibility. Lastly, the conversation ended with a discussion on the challenges of maintaining an older planetarium and plans for a full renovation.
Next steps
• Planetarium operators to explore implementing captions on the dome as the preferred accessibility option for deaf and hard of hearing visitors.
• Planetarium show producers to include SRT files and sign language interpretation videos as standard parts of show packages.
• Planetarium staff to consider using amber text instead of white for better visibility when implementing captions.
• Planetarium operators to explore live captioning options for interactive and live shows.
• Planetarium industry to push for standardization of captioning methods across systems and software.
• Planetarium staff to consider offering both captions and ASL interpretation to accommodate different language preferences.
• Planetarium operators to investigate funding options, such as IMLS grants, for implementing accessibility features.
Summary
Seminar and Big Astronomy Project
The meeting began with introductions and a discussion about the recording of the session. Alan was made a co-host to facilitate the recording process. Rosemary announced that the next seminar would be on January 31st, featuring Mika Akanappura and Alex Bach. Shannon Small, from Abrams Planetarium, was introduced as the President-elect of IPS. She shared her work on the big astronomy project and her recent publication in the IPS Planetary Planetarium. The conversation ended with Shannon preparing to discuss her material.
Captioning Options in Planetariums Study
Shannon presented a study on captioning options in planetariums, conducted as part of the Big Astronomy project. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness and usability of different captioning technologies in a dome environment. The research team interviewed participants from the deaf and hard of hearing community, practitioners, and conducted focus groups. The study tested three captioning methods: a handheld device, Epson glasses, and captions on the dome. The results showed that the dome captions were the most preferred method, but the Epson glasses could be improved for better reliability and comfort. The study also highlighted the importance of accessibility in planetariums and recommended best practices for captioning, such as using amber text, indicating voice changes, and pacing the show for better visual experience. The study concluded that captioning is worth it for making spaces inclusive and beneficial for a wider audience.
Live Captioning Challenges and Solutions
Shannon discussed the challenges and future plans for live captioning in shows, noting that it requires more research and funding. She also mentioned the need for standardization to make accessibility options easier for everyone. Mary asked about plans for live captioning, to which Shannon responded that she doesn't have any plans currently due to lack of funding. Bryan emphasized the importance of incorporating accessibility into the design of shows and products. Alan suggested the use of voice recognition technology displayed on the dome for live captioning. Shannon shared her experience with Google Live Transcribe and the potential of a student's idea to improve this. The group also discussed the use of handheld devices with apps like Google Translate or Otter for live captioning, and the potential of offering SRT files by default for distributors.
SRT File Creation and Accessibility
Audrey inquired about the process of creating Srt files and the compatibility of existing software with these files. Shannon shared her experience with using YouTube and Media Space for caption generation, but noted the need for editing for accuracy. Rosemary asked about the possibility of converting Srt files into a series of snippets for display on the screen. Jeff confirmed that Blender can handle this task. The team also discussed the need for standardization in the industry for accessibility, with Shannon emphasizing the importance of pushing for this standardization. Benjamin raised a question about the legal requirements for supporting people with disabilities in theaters, and JT suggested looking into federal law for more information. The team also discussed the need for more comprehensive support for visually impaired individuals in planetariums.
ASL Interpreters and Lighting Considerations
In the meeting, the team discussed the use of ASL interpreters in planetarium shows. They considered the pros and cons of using live interpreters versus pre-recorded videos, and the lighting requirements for both options. The team also discussed the use of different colored lights, with purple being suggested as a more inclusive alternative to red. They also touched on the use of closed captioning and the potential for augmented reality devices. The conversation ended with a discussion about the control over captioning in different systems and the mention of resources and the EDI Committee of the IPS.
Accessibility in Planetariums and Funding
In the meeting, Rosemary and Alan led a discussion on accessibility in planetariums, with Shannon sharing her experiences and insights. The conversation highlighted the importance of accommodating diverse needs, including those of deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Shannon emphasized the need for more standardized approaches to accessibility, and the group discussed the potential for partnerships and funding opportunities. The conversation ended with a discussion on the challenges of maintaining an older planetarium, with plans to create a new business plan and seek funding for a full renovation.
AI-generated content may be inaccurate or misleading. Always check for accuracy.