How can you optimize video content for cognitive disabilities?

Don't go after lofty words. Be simple and clear . People generally like what is easier to understand than what is complex to understand. Keep it simple .

Tips for optimizing video content for cognitive disabilities: Use clear and simple language Incorporate visuals like subtitles or graphics Allow for pauses or breaks in pacing Make the video engaging with humor, relatable scenarios, or familiar settings Prioritize clarity, accessibility, and engagement for all viewers.

To make videos for everyone to understand easily, use clear pictures, simple words, subtitles, and avoid quick changes or flashy things.

When making video content it’s important to remember your audience in all aspects. Using clear and concise language can help you reach your target audience and make sure they understand the content. One thing that I like to keep in mind is that you should view the video script like a conversation you’re having with your audience.

Without disrespecting an older audience - couch your presentation as though you were speaking to a 10-year old child. Use appropriate words and simple explanations. And follow the old rules: summarise what you're going to say / say it (as you would to a child) / summarize what you just said.

One thing to also make sure you do is read back the captions to make sure they actually reflect what’s being said as software (and humans) can get things wrong at times!

Some could be hard in hearing and in work settings ,so audio is not suitable . So having captions and descriptions makes a big difference. I can even watch a movie without switching on the audio ,just from the captions

If your material will be viewed online - provide some direct time links to whatever you think is important to the audience, plus a transcript and links to anything relevant. Again, keep the language simple.

Good captions are not just the right thing to do but also a marketing best practice. People are constantly scrolling through social media with the sound off. Being able to capture their attention without sound is essential. Be sure to caption important non-verbal sounds as well, like laughter or sound effects that provide context to what's going on. For example: if someone looks off-screen because they hear a door slam, it's important to provide that context.

It’s important to always review your captions for typos. Having a lot of errors in your captions can make it harder to read and understand them. It also limits your credibility.

I write my own narration scripts and record my voice-over audio recordings. After reviewing the raw audio, editing it, as necessary before being merged with the video.

I'm a fast reader - books don't last long; so maybe my word comprehension is better than most. I tend to play Youtube videos at 1.5x 'normal' speed and skip through boring bits at 2x speed. However I need to play some technical stuff over and over so I can get my head around implications. Variable speed and good indexing is essential - as is elimination of the fumbles and Errr... that we're all prone to. There is software that can take all the too-lengthy pauses out of your audio and video, and produce revised transcripts. New AI services can even generate a suitable voice in another language if you need it!

Pay attention to viewer analytics. The new Stream on SharePoint provides a viewer trend graph which consistently shows internal comms viewership dropping off around the two minute mark. Use this data to help clients keep messages short and concise.

Consider offering a variety of formats, as people use different media forms to learn and understand concepts. Use video to share simple and bright visuals, offering subtitles and a slower/faster playback speed for those who need it. Podcasts are great for anyone who prefers to listen to information while completing tasks. Make sure that accessibility is at the forefront of your content strategy and review results to see how you can improve your output to the relevant audience.

Overall, optimizing video content for cognitive disabilities requires careful consideration of the audience's needs and preferences. By prioritizing clarity, accessibility, and engagement, you can create a video that is both informative and enjoyable for all viewers.

Talk to the duck. I mentioned before that its useful to imagine you're explaining particle physics to a ten-year old (be careful if you practice that - there was a story about a teen who built a working nuclear reactor at home...) If you're doing any research with an AI assistant it can help to take the concept one stage further and imagine you're asking for help or information from a duck (or any other non-human of your choice) who doesn't even understand the concept of 'lunch' as you do. Explain your request very precisely and with examples as though you need to make very sure that you and your nonhuman-mentor are on the same page. Don't say 'Science Magazine'-add in what areas it covers with some relevant names like "New Scientist".