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Mat W: A suggestion for improving the described media catalog

Hello,
I've got a suggestion how to make updating the described media catalog more efficient, and at same time how to make it easier for people working at pneuma solutions.
As paying customers, I think that we should be able to manually add movies and tv shows to the catalog. If we work together, both the users and the people behind the catalog, it will be easier for all of us. First, the few people that add shows will have it easier on them, if we add things as well. Second, adding shows from audio vault is a straight forward procedure and won't take more than a few minutes. So if we focus on freely available content such as audio vault, the catalog editors can get things that aren't available on the vault and everyone will be satisfied. What do you think about this idea?

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techietisha: Re: A suggestion for improving the described media catalog

that’s an interesting thought. However, would cause problems between Audio Vault and Newman solutions. For that matter, why not then consider BlindMice Movie Vault. Again, a good idea and resource. But, it may also cause a problem. I say this because both AudioVault and BlindMice are using volunteers. Once more, new and updated content isn’t being uploaded that fast. Trust me, its all a process.

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Mat W: Re: A suggestion for improving the described media catalog

Well, why would it cause a problem? What makes sero different from audio vault and blind mice is that sero has content not available in both. If we use blind mice and audiovault to obtain content, we tag it appropriately

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Abbie Taylor: Re: A suggestion for improving the described media catalog

This is a good idea. However, unless I'm missing something, Audio Vault doesn't provide descriptions of audio content like Sero does. So, if Pneuma Solutions or anyone added content from Audio Vault to Sero, they would have to find a description somewhere. But I haven't used Audio Vault in a while. Are they now providing descriptions?

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Mat W: Re: A suggestion for improving the described media catalog

The descriptions are neither made by sero nor audio vault. But coincidentally, whatever becomes available on audio vault soon becomes available in sero.
But why I'd want us as users to be able to upload missing content from audio vault is because I've noticed sloppy style of uploading lately. A few examples.
1: Still standing, tv show only has a few seasons, while on audiovault all of them are available.
2. The twilight zone (classic) is missing a season.
3. The tudors only has 1 set of descriptions, canadian, while there's also the US or UK description on audio vault.
4. A bunch of recent movies are missing.
5. Some older movies are missing too, for example Raw from 2016.
I'm not saying that the current model should be abandoned, I just say that we as users should be able to upload missing things and help the staff.

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Richard Wells: Re: A suggestion for improving the described media catalog

Matt: Here is where I personally believe it could get complicated. Audio Vault is a free-will donation model, where Sero is a subscription model. While Sero may have content that could be sourced back to Audio Vault, if this began to be done openly, I could see where Audio Vault could have valid complaints where their content is being used as a value-added source for a subscription based company.

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trulytechie: Re: A suggestion for improving the described media catalog

Their movies are descriptive and there is no fee for downloading the movies

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Thomas G: Re: A suggestion for improving the described media catalog

Interesting idea Matt this is really a content management issue and I think it is fair to say that the service has deteriorated over time in fairness there is more content available so it is probably harder to manage personally, I would be willing to pay more to get more consistent content management and access to more materials. When you consider that the cost of. The service hasn’t gone up. This is certainly a good thing for the community but when that is at the cost of reduced quality, then I think the issue of cost and resources needs to be looked at.

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Mat W: Re: A suggestion for improving the described media catalog

But why do we have to think just in terms of paying more? Instead of paying more, why don't more people actually offer to partly help populate the catalog with new shows? Instead of being needy and just offering to pay more, let's help them.

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trulytechie: Re: A suggestion for improving the described media catalog

I agree that’s can and would be our way of saying that we appreciate the service

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Richard Wells: Re: A suggestion for improving the described media catalog

trulytechie, You wrote: "Their movies are descriptive and there is no fee for downloading the movies.

While AudioVault does not have a structured fee policy, they do run on volunteer donations. If no one made free-will offerings, their service would cease. This is directly from their web site:

"Your support keeps us rolling!"
and
"Welcome to the Audiovault. This site contains the audio only portion of audio described film and TV shows."

deprive copyright holders or service providers of income. Rather it is a small Project designed to make it easier for blind people to find and access audio described content that is spread across multiple platforms and countries.
No video is hosted on this site. Nobody profits from this endeavour. It operates on donations from the small userbase purely in order to maintain the site.

Since Sero is a subscription model, unless there were a pernership between the two origanizations, I could see how conflict could arise.

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Shawn Bever (Pneuma Solutions Staff): Re: A suggestion for improving the described media catalog

Richard makes valid points about this idea and why there's no clear path to implementing Matt's idea.

Anyone who would like to make us aware of TV shows/seasons and movies that are missing from our database (but known to exist in described form) are welcome to send lists to support@pneumasolutions.com . I can't make any assurances that any specific titles will be added to Sero, but making us aware of the gaps in our catalog will improve the odds of those titles eventually ending up in Sero.

Shawn

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serena: Re: A suggestion for improving the described media catalog

Shawn: I think you need to go back and re-read this thread. The people here are asking if they can help add titles, yes, but they are doing so because it seems the movie and TV sections aren't being updated -- not because peoples' favorite shows aren't being added. What's the point in suggesting things to you, Shawn, if your company doesn't keep the automated system that updates the movies and such working right. (Pssst: Yes, I know it's automated -- even if you won't admit it, Shawn.) The point is that if users could help upload content, that would take some of the responsibility off Pnuma's hands, and, at the moment, it seems like a responsibility Pnuma isn't interested in carrying out anyway.
As far as Audio Vault, this is a service I'm not familiar with. How much duplication is there between it and Sero's library?

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Abbie Taylor: Re: A suggestion for improving the described media catalog

Serena, I think you're misunderstanding what Shaun is trying to say. There may be legal ramifications for a company like Serotek, that charges for it services, to use material from a free service like Audio Vault. Though it would be nice if Sero community members could help update the described audio catalog, it might not be legal to obtain material from a free service like Audio Vault, which would be unfortunate. I hope this is clear.

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trulytechie: Re: A suggestion for improving the described

Hi, it’s not that similar at all. I know this because I frequent the site often. In truth, there is only one difference. With Audio Vault visitors of the site can both download content and add content. There is no cost; however, the content that is being added to AV’s site is done by volunteers. By using them most people are able to build their own DVS movie collection. Don’t let me forget this very important fact. Though, AV and SERO are similar. It’s important to remember and understand is what isn’t available. It may not be available.

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trulytechie: Re: A suggestion for improving the described media catalog

You’re right Richard. However, isn’t there a way for the SERO community to help. And this is in spite the subscription costs.

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Richard Wells: Re: A suggestion for improving the described media catalog

If by helping, you mean using content from a site that depends on donations to provide content to an organization that is subscription based, that would not be helping. That would create friction between these service providers.

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