Readers will have access to a total of 2,247 video clips.(image: Kobizmedia/Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Korea Bizwire) – The National Library of Korea launched an app that provides video books in Korean Sign Language (KSL), as well as subtitles and descriptive video clips for deaf and blind readers, according an announcement on January 15. The app is the first of its kind in the world.
Previously, deaf and blind readers using the National Library had to stream video books in KSL or borrow DVDs. This caused some inconveniences for readers who couldn’t control the speed of video clips. The library developed the app to take care of these types of issues. The app features an audio guide and a sign language guide in a simple and intuitive operating system.
Readers can download the app from the iTunes App Store or Google Play, and can use the app by signing up on the library’s website (http://nlid.nl.go.kr).
Readers will have access to a total of 2,247 video clips. Of the clips, 1,303 are video books in KSL, 662 are video clips with subtitles and 282 are descriptive video clips for blind readers. The National Library is planning to develop 500 video clips every year for the app.
The video books in KSL are recorded clips of various books such as children’s books, novels and liberal arts books read by signers. Clips with subtitles help the hearing-impaired, while descriptive video clips are clips such as documentaries, animations and discussions with audio files describing visuals in the clips.
By J.W. Choi (summerchoi@koreabizwire.com)
