Group items tagged

"James Bruce started a topic 9 months ago I see American Sign Language in the list, could we get a few more sign languages added such as BSL - British Sign Language, International Sign Language, Auslan - Australian Sign Language etc? Thanks, James "

Comments: other requested sign languages: French Sign Language Irish Sign Language Israeli Sign Language Discussion on how to implement a truthful definition of sign languages as video language.

"Claude Almansi started a topic 3 months ago (2013-04-18) Feedback situation on this Help forum boards: Your suggestions to make Amara great ... Out of the so far 50 posts in this "Your suggestions to make Amara great" board, which is the only board where Amara staff can label posts to indicate the progress of suggestions, only 7 have received such feedback labels, of which 3 are wrong and one I can't check: A. Wrongly labeled "Implemented": 1 Add a feature that imports Youtube machine Auto Captions directly into Amara for editing. It still impossible to import YouTube autocaptions directly. B. Wrongly labeled "Planned": 2 Restore the Send a message link in users' profiles. The link has been restored 2 months ago, but the request to change the label made then in a comment has been ignored. Independent subtitle sets for each video. It's now been possible to again differently time subtitles for a video C. (Hopefully) correctly labeled "Planned": 3 Representing each volunteer's work. Give more info about the implications of team settings choices. Reliable history of revisions. D. ? "Planned": 1 Allow us to save & exit "approve"-tasks. (I don't know whether it's been implemented or not, because I don't do such tasks). So that's 3, perhaps 4 suggestions out of 50 that got a hopefully correct developers' feedback, out of 50, on the only board - out of the four boards of this forum - that enables such feedback: a tiny proportion. Situation on the other boards: Updates and News ... 5 announcements, most recent one - Localization of Amara Website updates put on hold - in January: no reply to question asked in comment, no update as to how long this localization will remain on hold. Amara Questions ... 70 questions. No reply from Amara Staff to the ca 18 questions asked after the end of February 2013 Help me, please! ... 76 topics. No reply from Amara Staff after the end of February 2013, except for an April 1st, 2013 comment in t

No reply. Since April 18, 2013, there have been replies to 2 forum topics from PCF Support: - Mami Kawade's "My subtitles are gone" http://support.amara.org/support/discussions/topics/24667 June 29, 2013 (3 PCF Support replies) - Zikoinak's "New editor: translating existing subtitles" - http://support.amara.org/support/discussions/topics/26493 - July 15, 2013 (one PCF Support reply)

"Claude Almansi started a topic 9 months ago (2012-11-10) Mystery meat navigation where links are hidden and only appear when you mouse over them may be esthetically tempting for designers, but it's a pain for users in general and it excludes users with motor and sight disabilities, as well as those using mobile devices. So please replace such hidden, mouse-over only links by their former directly visible version. Two examples (but there might be more): "Decline task" in videos added to teams who enforce workflowed tasks Actions bottom-right of messages in Amara messaging. Update Nov. 14: the screenshot in the How can I decline a task page in the Amara teams part of the Solutions section here still shows the directly visible version of the "Decline" button"

No Amara reply Comment: See your own How compatible is Amara with Dragon NaturallySpeaking? FAQ - http://support.universalsubtitles.org/solution/articles/49647-how-compatible-is-amara-with-dragon-naturallyspeaking-

"Rodrigo started a topic 4 months ago (2013-03-26) Dear, When I try to search for a video to subtitle, in the "with" filter, could be an option that I could choose the language that has not been choosen to be subtitled. For example: I translate to Brazilian Portuguese, so I want to filter the videos that are not subtitled in my language. I need it to show me the videos that are not subtitled in my language, to make it easier to me, to search directly the videos not subtitled in Brazilian Portuguese. Regards, Rodrigo."

No reply. In a way, this is what the suggestions of team Dashboards attempt to do from the opposite perspective, but Rodrigo is speaking of videos in general, not just teams' - and the Dashboard suggestions don't work.

"CC started a topic 8 months ago (2012-11-30) I currently download Youtube's Auto Captions from Youtube, and then upload them to Amara as a good starting point (both for the captions and the timing of the captions), and then start editing the subtitles that way. Is there a way you can auto-import those machine captions so we can skip a step? Thanks! "

Erroneously tagged "Implemented".

"tatjana jevdjic started a topic 4 months ago - 2013-04-04 I took to revise translation in enlish http://www.amara.org/en/videos/G6nGLoj4LJPJ/info/conserving-our-spectacular-vulnerable-coral-reefs-joshua-drew/ Amara added it to my tasks, but I could not enter in and edit. The message was something like "Sorry you are not allowed..". The problem is that Amara shouldn't permit me to take it in the first place. I would suggest that you make visible when you click on a name of translator all the files he is presently working on Amara, instead of searching members. Best Tatjana"

No reply. This topic is about a task in a TED team video.

"Claude Almansi started a topic 5 months ago (2013-03-15) It would be nice if there were a search tool for subtitlers' profiles, on the model of the one for videos in the Watch page or in teams' video page, but with different criteria. I.e. something like: Search box: "Search subtitlers" 1st filtering criterion: "who have made subtitles from (droplist of languages)" 2nd filtering criterion: "into (droplist of languages)" 3rd filtering criterion: "covering more than (droplist with > and some duration values) minutes of video." This way, people who need subtitles for a given video could view various members' profiles fitting the chosen criteria, check some of their work, then contact them - also for paid subtitling. I take it our subtitling activity produces the data corresponding to these criteria, somewhere in the Amara server? In the unlikely case of privacy issues with this proposal, having one's profile included in such a search tool could be made opt-in."

No reply.

"Mauricio Navarro Miranda started a topic 3 months ago (2013-04-28) Hi everyone! We wish to request new languages to be available in amara. We're localizing some Mozilla's videos into indigenous languages. Here you can see the list of indigenous languages we're requesting: http://www.mozilla-mexico.org/firefox-en-lenguas-indigenas/ And, the list: ctu yua nci ncj tsz oto tar hus toj tzh tzo hch yaq zam cak qvi Thanks!"

No reply so far. About Mauricio Navarro Miranda, see http://blog.mozilla.org/l10n/2012/06/01/awesome-l10n-contributor-mauricio-navarro-miranda/ .

"Zikoinak started a topic 13 days ago (2013-07-15) Hello Amara developers, Thank you for you great work. I do often translate subtitles in Amara. I find it difficult to do in the new editor. The upper part of the screen is fully occupied by the video and the keyboard instructions. I suggest that you enable hiding this upper part, so that the two columns of the text are more visible."

Reply from PCF support

"Eyal Herzberg started a topic 25 days ago (2013-07-05) It would be easy and elegant if, as part of the process of translating a video from another owner, the user will be able to send an automated message to the owner explaining about amara.org and suggesting that they link their channel with this useful service. "

"56 Suggestions for features in Amara, changes in the documentation, suggestions for new articles and much more [Suggestions can be tagged:] Recent Popular Planned In Progress Deferred Implemented Not Taken"

A) Out of presently 56 users' suggestions, only 7 have been tagged by Amara Staff, of which 3 erroneously and one perhaps erroneously: 1 Add a feature that imports Youtube machine Auto Captions directly into Amara for editing http://support.amara.org/support/discussions/topics/9560 : "Implemented" erroneous. 2 Restore the Send a message link in users' profiles http://support.amara.org/support/discussions/topics/10250 : "Planned" erroneous (should be "Implemented") 3 Representing each volunteer's work http://support.amara.org/support/discussions/topics/8513 "Planned" (correct, but some news would be welcome) 4 Give more info about the implications of team settings choices http://support.amara.org/support/discussions/topics/9095 "Planned" (correct, but some news would be welcome) 5 Independent subtitle sets for each video http://support.amara.org/support/discussions/topics/8897 - "Planned" erroneous: this has been implemented. 6 Reliable history of revisions http://support.amara.org/support/discussions/topics/8896 - "Planned" (correct, but some news would be welcome) 7 Allow us to save & exit "approve"-tasks http://support.amara.org/support/discussions/topics/8857 "Planned" (perhaps erroneous: it seems to have been implemented) -> Amara staff should review the topics of this board and tag them correctly. B) Due to the overall lack of official response on the support forum, some users have started using this board not for suggestions, but presumably in the hope that it would get more attention than the other ones from Amara staff. See: - Edit doesn't works anymore http://support.amara.org/support/discussions/topics/25695 by Veroneblack - Why did you remove so many subtitles ? + BETA new editor http://support.amara.org/support/discussions/topics/24682 by Veroneblack Such topics should be replied to by Amara staff, then moved to the proper bard.

"Veroneblack 2013-07-09 (ongoing discussion) Half of the time when I submit my subtitles the loading still thinking during hours. I can download the subtitles but I can't send it back to the same video. Editing is not working anymore This is happening to me and few other people since your big upgrate, everything was fine before. Here is an example : http://www.amara.org/fr/videos/MctiWJgOXCyL/info/kid-cudi-going-to-the-ceremony-produced-by-wzrd/#video Plus : 'Rollback' seems to be down as well" Following comments: me: rollback didn't work for me either. Verone: http://www.amara.org/fr/videos/Xd7tj3biEGM1/info/skylar-grey-feat-angel-haze-shit-man-dont-look-down/ not even editable from scratch me: able to edit Verone's subs from the subtitle page and to make them incomplete again, so that he could edit them from the main page. Incoherence of this graying out subs marked complete in the main page droplist, while they can still be edited from the subtitle pages. 2013-07-14 Verone: asked me to edit and save the French subs of http://www.amara.org/fr/videos/ASpv6drn0LEm/info/king-los-love-you-down-becoming-king/ 2013-07-15 It worked for me, from the subtitle page

Presently in the Your suggestions to make Amara great board. Amara staff should reply to this topic, then move it to another board: Help me, please, or I have a question.

"Jules Rincon started a topic 9 months ago (2012-10-23) A special thanks for all the wonderful Amara community volunteer captioners, translators, subtitlers, promoters and sharers who joined us in the live broadcast. We'd love to get more feedback about the new Amara platform mockups we shared on the October 23rd, 2012 Townhall. The video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXj9Qcneo_s&feature=plcp With Communication Access Realtime Transcription (CART) provided by Jason Bradley from bradleyreporting.com (Thank you so much Jason and Michael!) The slides with the mockups of the new Amara look are here: goo.gl/gPdZe IMPORTANT INFO Before adding more ideas: This forum is an "idea" forum. Every separate post can be voted up or down (and discussed), we can also track the progress of the ideas, to see which ones will be implemented and see how they are progressing. We suggest: Post one idea per topic. Add really descriptive titles. Vote ideas up instead of duplicating, feel free to expand through replies."

So far it is not possible to track the progress of the ideas submitted by users in this board, due to lack of - and lackadaisical - tagging of posts by Amara staff. However, this could be corrected if developers start reviewing the submitted suggestions, and this could help them in applying UXD to further changes they make to the software.

"Iván Castellanos started a topic 5 months ago (2013-03-14) In order to make more efficient the translation I added a couple of new functionalities to Amara subtitler interface; feel free to use the same code (furthermore I encourage you guys to do so) - You can press Ctrl+Enter (anywhere) to play/pause the video. - You can click on a pre-created subtitle and quickly go there in the video, use in conjunction with the previous functionality for better efficiency. The code: https://gist.github.com/AltIvan/5163352 (public domain) You can add this functionality before (if ever) Amanda.org does, just use TamperMonkey, Greasemonkey or any other browser add-on that allows you to inject scripts."

Probably made obsolete by the new editor, but in the new editor, the equivalent video navigation shortcuts don't work on a Mac. No staff reply.

"Veroneblack started a topic a month ago (2013-06-29) Firstly, since your last update we lost so many susbtitles. http://www.amara.org/fr/videos/z4f1iVSassHe/info/michael-jackson-smooth-criminal-michael-jacksons-vision/ http://www.amara.org/fr/videos/5JBdZuQlcVBj/info/kendrick-lamar-ft-rza-ronald-regan-era/#video ... Hundreds of them. ___________________ Secondly, I tried your new beta, here is what I think : Subtitling will be a lot slower because we can't adjust subtitles on the timeline (holding left click). Today I spend around 10min to moderate a 5min video (To check if every subtitles can be read easily), with your beta it will be around 1h We lost the 'Re-play last 4s' button as well, 're-play last subtitles' will be a big waste of time to undertstand where we are every time we click on it. And a last thing : 'Tabulation' was so much easier to do play/pause than 'shift+space'. Specialy when you're doing it 100 times per videos. (and so much more convenient to use with 're play last 4s' button 'shift+tab')"

I refered Veroneblack to "My subtitles are gone" for the deleted subs, and added his remarks about time codes etc in the new editor, in the https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ApuzSw0MoY82dDlPYnB3cUlwQlNJV2VVWS1XSy1DSWc#gid=0 spreadsheet linked to in Let's try the new subtitle editor and report about it http://support.amara.org/support/discussions/topics/23464 . Amara staff should reply about the new editor, then move the topic to another board (Amara questions?)

"Claude Almansi started a topic 10 minutes ago (2013-07-30) Proposals for the elimination of theses paradoxes and issues The paradoxes and issues described above could be eliminated by an approach to deletions directly based on copyright law and Amara's Terms of Service: A) Proposal for the deletion of subtitles: The only persons allowed to delete - or entitled to request the deletion of - a set of subtitles must be its author and the right holder on the video. As per Amara's Terms of Service, section 5: the author of the subtitles cannot delete them if the deletion would also delete or mess up the work of other people (co-subtitlers, people who have translated the subtitle set). Team admins / owners can only prevent subtitlers from deleting subtitles they made for the team's videos, but only if this is explicitly specified in the team's description. B) Proposal for the deletion of Amara video pages The only persons allowed to delete - or entitled to request the deletion of - an Amara video page must be the person who created it and the right holder on the video that streams in it. As per Amara's Terms of Service, section 5: the creator of the page cannot delete it if other people have already started to create subtitles for the video that streams in it, unless s/he is also the right holder on the video. Could Amara developers create software rules that would allow users to delete their subtitles and the video pages they've created, with the restrictions explained in these two proposals? A 3. (the restriction in favor of team owners/admins) might be a bit of a headache, technically. But it should be feasible by adding something to the /settings/permissions/ page of teams AND by making these permissions settings automatically viewable by all."

"Buzbee at Amara started a topic a day ago (2013-08-06) I can think of a few things that would improve search for captioners. I'd like the videos to be sorted into types. There are certain types of videos I prefer to caption. Probably it's the same for everyone. You have to listen to it several times before the work is done, so it might as well be something you like, right? There are certain videos I couldn't get through, by the same token. And sometimes 200 of those seem to be uploaded all at once. (From the same place.) Doesn't matter which so I will leave that vague. Aside from being able to search categories I would also like to be able to search: Videos which need English captions (can substitute language of choice there; right now can only search for videos which HAVE a given language - or which have no languages - but the latter often has incomplete captions and I prefer not to step on any toes) Videos which have been uploaded - that day, that week, that hour, etc. Videos from favorited channels (captioner can pick 'favorite channels') Videos from favorited topics (this can include a musical artist, key word for title, etc.) Videos by length - this can make a difference if the captioner is tired or hasn't much time that day. Or may be looking for a long project by the same token. Anyone have other ideas for improving search? Making it more efficient? Please specify if the idea is for benefit of Captioners or Viewers. (Both are important, I just think it's important to keep the two searches separate, since there are different needs.)"

"Buzbee at Amara started a topic a day ago (2013-08-06) I would love it if I were able to create a sort of 'watch list' or favorites list. A 'Save til later' list, if you will. Slogging through page after page in the "Watch" list, to try to find ones with 0 languages including no incomplete captions - seems the best way to find ones that someone put here, but which haven't had any work done on them yet. The downside of that, is, there are also many many pages to slog through...As I browse to see which one I will caption next, I run across several "maybes." It would be great to be able to bookmark those "maybe" videos, to come back to later on. For one thing I might be in different moods different times - wanting to caption music one day, a lecture the next, something silly the day after that...etc. But (being able to make a favorites/saved list on my account page would) also simply save time and would make sure I can find the videos again easily. It is too unwieldy to type a list elsewhere, and my computer bookmarks are a mess already, without adding more literal (computer) bookmarks. A saved list or favorites list, right here on this site, would be great. (This could of course be very handy for viewers also - not only for captioners.) I should add, this would not imply that the person has "dibs" on that video - that is a separate issue. If anything it would decrease competition since each person would have several videos handy that they can work on. Thoughts?"

"András Fuchs started a topic 6 months ago (2013-02-20) My team of translators often finds itself in a situation when the original transcript is out of sync, missing, misspelled or shows something other than what the speaker said. Sometimes we fix the English subtitle as well, but then the other subtitles in different languages which are already started (or finished) might have problems. It would be great to combine the subtitle versioning feature (planned to implement) with subtitle rating and/or approval. Amara should limit the translators in a way, that nobody could start a language specific subtitle until the original transcript is 100% finished and approved by let's say at least 3 independent users (or even native speakers). I think this step would increase the quality of the subtitles greatly."

Dean's rely: "... We've thought some about the idea of requiring a translation to be complete, before allowing translations to be based from it. However, in certain cases it is better to allow translation directly from the dialogue in a video. For example, during the Arab spring, we had a number of politically sensitive videos which were done in spoken Arabic - for the translators, speed was the most important thing, so needing to wait for an Arabic transcript, before they could translate into English, would have been a major disadvantage. We are working towards a simplified system for peer review that will first appear on teams and later become available for every video. ..." Mine: mentioned problem with autocaptions in the - now deleted - Coursera team.

"Claude Almansi started a topic 7 months ago (2013-01-01) After the New release Amara 1.2.1, the Send a message link disappeared from users' profiles: it only remains present in teams' member lists. The possibility to message users who are not members of any team can be essential, for instance if their subtitles get deleted by a change in other subs for the same video (see A roll back destroys Spanish subs and messes up most other subs for PSY's Gangnam Style video and the other instances linked in that post)."

Still erroneously tagged "Planned" although I pointed out a month later that the messaging link had been restored.