[infotech] Good news for visually impaired audio broadcasters
- From: "Brian Hartgen" <Brian.Hartgen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bcab@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 07:54:48 +0100
Hi
The mainstream software package, Station Playlist Studio, is used by radio
stations around the world to assist broadcasters in preparing and transmitting
programmes. Now, visually impaired people have a greater chance of accessing
this software as a result of some free JAWS scripts available to support the
application.
Version 1 of the JAWS for Windows scripts for Station Playlist Studio have been
released.
Station Playllist Studio is a simple to use on-air broadcast automation playout
software package for the studio and/or DJ. It plays all your media files with
manual or intelligent automatic crossfading. It can play jingles, commercials,
news and songs. Live streams, live inputs from your soundcard, satellite feeds
and so on. It includes an Internet stream encoder, voice track/song ramp
overlapping, microphone button with music fade, many automation and Live Assist
features such as cart slots for instant jingles, and much more.
Sttation Playlist Studio is an extremely accessible application. Almost all of
the functions can be activated using the keyboard. However, as with many
applications, it is useful to have keystrokes to read important parts of the
screen succinctly. Particularly in a broadcasting situation where gaining an
awareness of what is happening quickly is imperative, these powerful scripts
provide productivity enhancements so you can concentrate more on what is
happening in your programme rather than using the JAWS screen review mode to
locate the information you need. The scripts also provide some tools to give
screen-reading access to functions which sighted people working in broadcasting
take for granted. The monitoring of song introductions and endings is a
fantastic example.
The Station Playlist Studio scripts contain:
* Direct interaction with station Playlist Studio. Rather than gathering
information from the screen by using the JAWS Cursor or similar methods, data
is retrieved direct from the application. This is ideal if you do not have the
window maximised or if other applications are open as you will gain accurate
reporting of events;
* Logical keystrokes for accessing all special functions. When appropriate,
keystrokes are used with which you should already be familiar, such as JAWS
Key+T to read the title;
* Intelligent handling of time segments, reporting on-screen data in
minutes/seconds format;
* The ability to hear relevant track information without having to enter its
properties, such as the artist/title name, length and full path. This
information can also be placed in the JAWS Virtual Viewer;
* The ability to notify you when an introduction is about to end. You can
enter your preferred number of seconds for the warning;
* A countdown timer shown on a Braille display when introductions are being
played;
* Notification of the ending of a music track. You can enter your preferred
number of seconds for the warning;
* Configurable special options using either keystrokes or through the Adjust
JAWS Options Dialog Box. Help text to describe each function in the Adjust
JAWS Options Dialog Box is provided;
* Lists providing the JAWS and application keystrokes;
* Concise messages using the correct contextual voice relative to the
information being requested;
* Braille support;
* An easy method of installation with no special setup requirements;
* Support for multiple versions of JAWS, not just the latest.
The creation of the scripts is a voluntary project, with the scripts being
written by Brian Hartgen and concepts devised in the most part by Jonathan
Mosen who is extremely familiar with using Station Playlist Studio in
broadcasting situations. They both present weekly music programmes on the
Internet radio station entitled The Legend.
More information about the scripts, together with on-line documentation, and of
course the scripts themselves, can be downloaded from
www.hartgen.org
Brian Hartgen
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brian.hartgen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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terry.clasper@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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