Cynthia et. al. -- DVD's have been a real pain for us at the Gallaudet
University Library.  We have yet to find a computer that displays DVD
captions. Of course we all use very similar equipment, so that's no
surprise.  I understand that some computers have the appropriate
decoding chips, and if someone out there knows of a model or brand that
consistently displays captions I'd be interested in learning about that.

We've found that many inexpensive DVD players won't display captions.
The only brand we've found that will consistently display them is
Phillips Magnavox.

Most of our students are deaf, so they rely on captions.  We lend DVDs,
and often get complaints that the captions won't display on the
students' equipment.  We check each DVD on our own equipment, so at
least students can watch them here in the building if they won't display
at home.

FYI the National Captioning Institute has a pretty good FAQ page that
answers basic questions about DVD captions, among other things. It's at
http://www.ncicap.org/FAQ1.asp.

Sarah Hamrick
Gallaudet University Library

Cynthia Van Ness wrote:

> Hi, all,
>
> I've been a quiet lurker with no questions until now.  A patron in my
> library requested some DVDs, which we determined were closed-captioned as
> he wanted.  Then he asked if his laptop will display the captions the
> same
> as if he played the disks on a regular DVD/television combination.
>
> I know that all TVs sold in the US of a certain size have caption
> decoders
> built in, but I have yet to try out the DVD player in my brand new laptop
> and don't own any other kind of DVD player, so I had no personal
> experience
> to draw on.  Can anyone clue me in?
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> Cynthia Van Ness
>
> (Postscript to Dr. Coombs: Yes, I'm Paul's daughter)
> ____________________________________________________________
> Cynthia Van Ness, MLS
> Humanities & Social Sciences
> Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
> 1 Lafayette Square
> Buffalo, NY 14203-1887
> (716) 858-7108
> [log in to unmask]
>
> ---------------------------
> Check out EASI New Synchronous Clinics:
> http://easi.cc/clinic.htm
> EASI Home Page http://www.rit.edu/~easi
> Online courses  and Clinics http://easi.cc/workshop.htm
> Check the EASI Library Web http://www.rit.edu/~easi/lib.htm
>
>>>> Error in line 8 of AXSLIB-L.MAILTPL: unknown formatting command <<<
>>>
> -> . . . . . . . . . <-
>

--
Sarah E. Hamrick
Director of Information Services
Gallaudet University Library
800 Florida Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 651-5214 V/T
(202) 651-5213 FAX
[log in to unmask]

---------------------------
Check out EASI New Synchronous Clinics:
http://easi.cc/clinic.htm
EASI Home Page http://www.rit.edu/~easi
Online courses  and Clinics http://easi.cc/workshop.htm
Check the EASI Library Web http://www.rit.edu/~easi/lib.htm

>>> Error in line 8 of AXSLIB-L.MAILTPL: unknown formatting command <<<
 -> . . . . . . . . . <-