Present: G. Allen, M. Belsky, G. Blievernicht, S. Blosser, J. Eulenberg, D. Fisher, M. Hestenes, M. Hudson, D. Kleinhardt (for R. Thomas), J. Renuk, R. Wittick
1. The meeting was called to order by Eulenberg at 1:33 p.m.
2. Minutes of ATC meetings of 11/25/98 and 12/09/98 were approved (Fisher; Hudson), with minor changes. They can now be posted to the ATC web site.
3. Closed captioning. Blosser opened a discussion of closed captioning by noting that Karen Rivard, who does real-time captioning here at MSU and at LCC, has expressed a willingness to do closed captioning as well, using MSU's equipment. Belsky added that Rivard would like to see at least some components upgraded, though it was not clear exactly which. Since, as Hestenes reminded the committee, Dr. Hunt wishes units to request funds earmarked for captioning, Blievernicht and Rivard will meet as soon as possible to identify those items which our committee might suggest are in need of additional funding. Wittick mentioned that we could perhaps make a stronger case for funding than in the past by explicitly identifying the demand for captioning and what videos have and have not been captioned. Belsky noted the current student in the College of Veterinary Medicine as instructive: when this student graduates, will the videotapes ever be used again? Instructional materials often go out of date, making re-use less likely. If a tape were to be used for IAH, however, there would be little doubt as to its re-use. Likewise, there are two tapes used by Academic Orientation Programs, plus one PR tape, that get used over and over and that really should be captioned. When asked by Hestenes exactly what Rivard does for classroom tapes, Belsky replied that she creates a typescript for the student to follow along with in class. In other words, Rivard does her work before, not during, class. Hudson suggested that ITV might be interested in using these typescripts, too.
Fisher noted that there are three general categories of videotapes: (a) tapes that MSU makes; (b) tapes from outside MSU that are used as one element of a class; and (c) tapes that form part of a class that is delivered entirely via TV. These three classes deserve different priorities for captioning. Belsky noted further that open captioning is better than closed, since open captioning does not require a time code and a decoder.
In response to Eulenberg's question concerning the possible use of digital video, Blievernicht replied that there isn't even a DVD standard yet, though one is being talked about for sometime early in the next century.
4. Blosser circulated copies of his email correspondence with Bradley Rein, of the AgrAbility Project. Although there are currently no funds available for new projects, there are nevertheless a number of ways to participate. For further information, visit the AgrAbility website at http://abe.www.ecn.purdue.edu/ABE/Extension/BNG/index(.html?). Blosser will follow up on these possibilities.
5. OPHS Creation Station. Blosser noted that, although OPHS's Disability Resource Center and Adaptive Technology Center has some PCs and one Macintosh, the latter is rather old (in cyber-years) and slow and therefore doesn't get a lot of use. He would like to see installed an upgraded graphics, web site, and resume creation center for students and employees with disabilities. Eulenberg noted that, since much of the newer software runs only on PowerMacs, an upgrade to a PowerMac would be appropriate.
6. Electronic Text Production. Hudson circulated a draft description of how he would like to see the electronic text production capabilities of the OPHS/DRC upgraded. Our current capacity, about 5 pages per minute, does not serve our needs, and a higher-volume scanner will be required. In response to a question from Hestenes, Hudson confirmed that this request would be supported by Marge Chmielewsky.
7. Blosser spoke with Mary Perrin, of the Computer Center, concerning notebook PCs for loan to students with special needs. Since these PCs would be equipped with special software, Perrin noted that her staff would likely be unable to instruct users in its use. Thus, it would probably be better to run this particular loan program through OPHS.
8. Eulenberg noted that the target due date for our APP&R document is 2/10, with a fallback date of 2/17.
9. Adjourned (Hestenes; Blosser) 2:52 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
George Allen, Recording Secretary
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Last updated 21 April 1999.