Streaming audio with synchronized transcripts utilizing SMIL

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe developmental work with SMIL (Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language) to synchronize transcript captions with streaming audio. Design/methodology/approach – This paper provides an evaluation of the hardware/software required to digitally record oral histories and the methods developed at WSU to customize the presentation of streaming audio and text. Findings – Though providing users with streaming media content is not excessively expensive, the multifaceted work-flow of organizing an oral history project, utilizing digital recording equipment, preparing transcripts, and synchronizing those transcripts with their corresponding audio files, is a complex, labor-intensive undertaking. Practical implications – This is an extremely common-sense discussion of the time and work involved in planning digital projects that involve streaming media with captions. Originality/value – As many libraries enhance digital collections with streaming media, this article provides one approach not otherwise found in library literature.