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Multimedia

Multimedia includes Web content such as video, audio, and animations. Complete the Multimedia Checklist to ensure your multimedia application has incorporated the following standards. Please note: Streaming video requires special permission before set up. Contact the Web Template Coordinator for more information. If you are making your multimedia available via a podcast, please see our podcast standards.

General

For all multimedia applications:

  • Store multimedia files in a separate directory such as a "media" directory.

  • If a plug-in is required, test on a machine without the plug-in loaded to ensure the user is prompted to load the plug-in and that the application works correctly after the plug-in is installed.

  • Check all links within the application.

  • Ensure sound is working correctly.

For Quicktime VR:

  • Ensure everything scrolls correctly.

  • Ensure all hotspots work correctly.

For Flash:

  • Ensure the application has been created using Flash 6 or later.

  • Flash applications should live on an HTML page that has a link to an accessible version.

  • If an application is exited before it is finished, ensure it goes to an appropriate page.

  • When a user requests a page with Flash embedded, the page must first detect if the user has Flash. If they do not, they should be prompted to download the plug-in.

508

The following items are required by Section 508 for all multimedia as appropriate.

  • All audio tracks must have a text equivalent.

  • An audio description of all video tracks that is synchronized with any video or time-based multimedia presentation must be provided. If this is not possible, provide a full-text script with a description of all important visual cues as well as dialogue.

  • When a Web page requires that an applet, plug-in, or other application be present on the client system to interpret page content, the page must provide a link to a plug-in or applet.

    Specifically:

    • A link must be provided to an accessible page where the plug-in can be downloaded.

    • All Java applets, scripts and plug-ins (including Flash, Shockwave, PowerPoint, Acrobat PDF, Quicktime, RealPlayer, and Windows Media Player) and the content within them should be accessible to assistive technologies, unless an alternative means of accessing equivalent content is provided.