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Persona development : Martine

JayneSchurick edited this page Jul 28, 2021 · 17 revisions

Quote ideas

Most people don't realise that sign language is a completely different language. I can read text but it is hard as I am always translating from my native language. While she can hear some sounds, she does not hear enough to understand speech.

Description

Martine is 62 years old and is a mature student, taking online courses. She has been deaf since birth. She learned to lip read as a young child. The university where Martine studies provides sign language interpreters and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART); however, this captioning is not always present on video and other media content. When someone is speaking on screen, she can lip read, however a lot of the content has audio tracks over imagery, making it hard for her to follow without captions.

The university is now working to caption all content across their curriculum, however it is a lengthy process. As more and more content is captioned, Martine is finding it easier to complete her studies remotely.

Martine spends a lot of her free time watching streamed content on video streaming services. The improvement in captioning on these services in recent years has meant she is able to watch more programmes than she was before. She can have difficulty when captions aren't clearly color coded to show who is speaking. Auto-captioning can be useful for her bit it can also cause her problems if it's available but incorrect.

Martine prefers written content to have good structure and headings with minimal jargon.

Technologies or adaptations used

Barrier examples

Inaccurate captions : Problem: I love that my classes are recorded and available online but sometimes the captions don't convey the exact words that the instructor is saying, especially in some of my more technical classes. : Works well: When the captioner gets to know the material so they don't miss words or make mistakes.

Design of captions : Problem: When watching movies online, the captions often appear on top of the video. This obscures the video and makes the captions hard to read over a background that is constantly changing. : Works well: Captions appear at the bottom of the screen against a solid color background that offers good contrast between the captions and background.

Good camera position for speaker : Problem: Some classes record the instructor speaking. This is great because I am good at lip reading but the camera is often too far away. : Works well: The camera is positioned to focus in on the instructor's face.

No alternative for audio : Problem: When watching a news program online, there isn't an option for me to understand what the speaker is saying. : Works well: Provide audio alternatives such as sign language, captions or transcript. If there is a speaker in camera, focus in on the speaker.

Related resources

Related principles


Working materials

Personal details

  • Works out at a gym
  • Doesn't feel different/disabled when on the treadmill because she notices other people watching TV just like her
  • Loves the glamour of Hollywood and grew up watching TV with her parents who would simultaneously sign for her
  • Availability of captions for many shows has given her a sense of independence, doesn't have to rely on someone else to sign - reading speed?
  • Smart appliances with mobile apps that alert her through vibration, visual signals increase her independence - physical example
  • Maybe she lives with roommates who don't like the same shows that she does so she retreats to her room to watch TV on her computer or mobile device
  • Impact on learning
  • How auto-captioning has changed things but still not ideal

Online scenarios

  • Watches TV and movies
  • Video conferences with colleagues/friends/family
  • Reading long blocks of text

What myth or stereotype does this persona address?

  • Only people who are deaf benefit from captions and transcripts, vibrating alerts - covered in perspective videos, think this needs to stick to the individuals
  • Sign language is a different language and needs to be translated to the local written language
  • Not all people who are Deaf use sign language

Needs or barriers to be included

  • Captioning for videos
  • Glossary of technical terms (currently not included)
  • Heading structure (currently not included)
  • Plain language (currently not included)
  • Sign language
  • Transcripts for audio and video
  • Use linear, logical layout (currently not included)

Impact of barriers

  • Can't watch her favorite shows
  • More importantly, doesn't know about audio alerts
  • Can't participate in unsigned lectures
  • Long texts can be tiring
  • Complicated or unusual words may not translate to sign language that well
  • Would a young version of Martine have more difficulty with language - less time learning second language?