Epilepsy flash test for video?

[tonyvid]

We have recently created a desktop application for our employees to view streams of video progammes. This has raised the issue of photo-sensitive epileptics and we have been asked if the videos have been flash tested before released.

Now I now this is the practice in broadcast but I've never come across it in the corporate field until now. You could say our desktop application is broadcast as you drop onto a stream rather than start at the beginning each time so can't put a warning up on the head(even putting it 10secs before wouldn't help if you dropped onto the stream at the critical moment).

Do any of you video boys have experience in this field, recommendations about what we should do etc? I've found the HardingFPA website and their online checker but I'm not sure my type of programmes ever contain the issues that can cause fits.

[Simpo Two]

Do your videos have flashes in them? Are they shown anywhere else?

[AndrewEH1]

Perhaps have a warning on the 'play' screen before you click through and connect to the video stream?

Or a warning on top of the video?

[tonyvid]

Simpo Two said:

Do your videos have flashes in them? Are they shown anywhere else?

As a rule, no. We might cover an awards event but there is usually only one photographer there(I guess you might get a combination event of flashgun and some spinning stage lights). Most of the videos will only be used internally but I also make all our exhibition ones for shows like Farnborough.

AndrewEH1 said:

Perhaps have a warning on the 'play' screen before you click through and connect to the video stream?

Or a warning on top of the video?

We could add a continuous warning throughout, trying to aviod that as its ugly. To get to the stream is just a click on a desktop logo and that initialises the stream through magic or something!

I'm confused if it's something we should always have been doing and haven't, something that's just not really an issue in corporate circles, something we only apply internally..... In 25 years I'm not aware of any of my programmes causing a fit

[Simpo Two]

tonyvid said:

We could add a continuous warning throughout, trying to aviod that as its ugly. To get to the stream is just a click on a desktop logo and that initialises the stream through magic or something!

I'm confused if it's something we should always have been doing and haven't, something that's just not really an issue in corporate circles, something we only apply internally..... In 25 years I'm not aware of any of my programmes causing a fit

Indeed, modern back-covering hokum I think.

If your videos don't have flashes I'd tell the other party that they don't have flashes and therefore no 'flash test' is required.

If your videos do have some flashes then I'd say to the other party: 'No, but how many would you be interested in taking?'

Perhaps the asker was just being over-sensitive, like the bride who, after a multitude of relevant questions, asked if I was CRB checked. Frankly I felt rather insulted, and replied that I was not, and added that if I wanted to molest children then a wedding would be a rather foolish place to try it.

[tonyvid]

Amazing!

I'm trying to get to speak to the person that raised it and am now hitting a wall of "personal confidentiality" I think I'll put a lot of flashes up and see who gets taken away in an ambulance..

Joking aside, it is a question for stuff shown in a public place, just spoken to a friend who is the editor at a very major museum and they have never even thought about even though they had to do all the "diversity training" and legal captioning options for the deaf/vision impared etc.

[tonyvid]

I had a very informative and helpful email from one of the testing software companies, this worries me...

"This is a slightly grey area but recent changes to the ASA guidelines on advertising probably cover your application in that they have extended their broadcast guidelines to all other forms of video advertising and while there is still some discussion going on it’s considered that all video material in any form produced by a corporate body is in effect advertising - so a kind of Catch 22. Anyhow, as you are producing video and as there is a probability that some of your viewers may be photosensitive or have the dormant condition, it is safer to check to reduce any risks."

Oh dear!!! Any information come out from the IOV etc?

[Simpo Two]

If you are producing the videos yourself, try editing the flashes out. They are probably only in one frame, so if the camera's not moving you'll never miss it. Problem solved.

[tonyvid]

I really do think that is the answer for my type of programmes - I've seen the ITC guidelines and we can avoid the potential dodgy events.