Last updated Thu Feb 10 2022
This is an overview of work being done by the Synchronized Media for Publications Community Group.
The Synchronized Media for Publications Community Group was formed to recommend the best way to synchronize media with document formats being developed by the Publishing Working Group, in order to make publications accessible to people with different types of reading requirements.
The Publishing Working Group is now primarily focused on spec maintenance; however, the work here continues to be to explore and develop synchronization techniques compatible with publishing formats on the web, including Audiobooks, EPUB, and standalone HTML.
The following are the currently available documents created in this CG. They represent two different strategies to synchronize media: 1. With WebVTT and 2. With SMIL.
This experimental approach defines a usage of WebVTT to synchronize HTML elements with audio. This would be good for combining single straightforward media references, e.g. one audio file for one HTML document. This also is suited to a web browser environment, when combined with a small amount of Javascript. No specialized player is needed.
This approach defines a usage of SMIL plus extensions. This would be good for combining multiple non-destructive media references, e.g. portions of many audio files for one HTML document. This is completely declarative with no associated scripting. This also is suited to a "player" type of environment, where a SyncMedia-aware user agent is rendering the content. Implementation is more involved than the example above with WebVTT.
These documents were developed by this community group but are not considered current or necessarily complete.