[Webkit-unassigned] [Bug 266724] New: AX: Feature request: Support WebVTT-based synthesized audio description in video

[bugzilla-daemon at webkit.org]

https://bugs.webkit.org/show_bug.cgi?id=266724

            Bug ID: 266724
           Summary: AX: Feature request: Support WebVTT-based synthesized
                    audio description in video
           Product: WebKit
           Version: Safari 17
          Hardware: All
                OS: All
            Status: NEW
          Severity: Normal
          Priority: P2
         Component: Accessibility
          Assignee: webkit-unassigned at lists.webkit.org
          Reporter: aroselli at gmail.com
                CC: andresg_22 at apple.com,
                    webkit-bug-importer at group.apple.com

WHATWG HTML specifies `kind="descriptions"` for `<track>` so authors can provide a script for audio descriptions for associated videos:
https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/media.html#attr-track-kind-keyword-descriptions

WHATWG HTML also provides parsing rules (including for making them extended audio descriptions):
https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/media.html#playing-the-media-resource

The current WCAG advisory technique guides authors to use `<track>` with `kind="descriptions"` to provide a source for the browser to provide synthesized audio description:
https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG22/Techniques/html/H96

A caveat is that the latest update from WebVTT CG Report suggests WHATWG HTML may have jumped the gun:
> The majority of the current version of this specification is dedicated to describing how to use WebVTT files for captioning or subtitling. There is minimal information about chapters and time-aligned metadata and nothing about video descriptions at this stage.
https://w3c.github.io/webvtt/#introduction

In other words, I would love to see this supported but if WHATWG HTML is punting to WebVTT and WebVTT has not fully specified it, then perhaps WebKitcan either:
1. take the lead and implement this, helping cement behaviors; or
2. push for clarity in WHATWG HTML using its outsized position of influence.

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