TTML

Timed Text Markup Language (TTML), also known as W3C's TTML or ISO/IEC 2052, is an XML-based markup language used for representing timed text media. This includes subtitles, captions, and other forms of textual metadata that are synchronized with audio or video content. TTML was developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and is designed to be a standardized, platform-agnostic solution for delivering and displaying timed text across various digital media platforms.

At its essence, TTML enables precise control over the appearance and timing of text as it appears on-screen during video playback. It allows for specifying the start and end times for each piece of text, ensuring that captions or subtitles are perfectly synchronized with the audio. Moreover, TTML provides a rich set of features for styling text, including font selection, color, size, positioning, and more. This not only enhances readability but also allows for a high degree of customization to suit different content types, user preferences, and accessibility needs.

TTML's versatility makes it suitable for a wide range of applications, from television broadcasting to online video streaming. It’s particularly valuable for ensuring accessibility for the hearing impaired, as well as for providing language translations in multilingual contexts. Additionally, because TTML is an open standard and highly interoperable, it can be easily integrated into various playback systems and devices, making it a preferred choice for content providers and developers who seek to create inclusive and universally accessible multimedia experiences.

LINKS

• Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timed_Text_Markup_Language

• W3C: https://www.w3.org/AudioVideo/TT/docs/TTML-Profiles.html

• BBC: http://bbc.github.io/ttml-in-subtitle-flows-csun-presentation/