Locked Overlay Toggle as a Fix to Zooming Media Player
considering
A
Anne Davis
Hi Echo,
Just adding a new Canny to continue the discussion commenced in https://echo360.canny.io/echo360-feature-requests/p/new-video-player-zooming-in-and-out which is marked as closed.
Whilst we appreciate the implementation of the Lock Overlays Toggle as a quick fix for the zooming media player, we see it more as an interim workaround to what is really an accessibility issue.
The Lock Overlays Toggle reverts the student experience to one that we all agreed was poor last year when the new media player introduced the black padding. We use embedded media players almost exclusively, as our learning designers recommend it. This approach allows students to view recordings within the context of the rest of the learning content on the web page, without needing to navigate away via a link or open the recording in full screen in a different tab. We need our students to be able to see the recordings in the maximum available space on that web page, especially recordings that have a lot of fine detail such as anatomical demonstrations. The black padding makes this an issue. We have very little use of in-venue recordings now and almost no uploaded slide decks, so this argument is really irrelevant for us as an APAC region customer of Echo360. I suspect that we are not alone.
The zooming media player does not support accessiblity in that predictability of a media player is considered critical to meeting WCAG guidelines and ensure an equitable experience for all users, particularly neurodivergent and low vision users. Our advice will need to be to use the toggle to revert the media player, but it's disappointing that we will need to make this call.
J
Jessica Florent
I fully agree with Anne, Jacob, and Rebecca. The Lock Overlays Toggle is only a temporary workaround to what is fundamentally an accessibility issue.
As others mentioned, we primarily use embedded media players to keep students within the learning context, and the zooming behaviour creates a disorienting experience, particularly for neurodivergent and low vision users. The black padding significantly reduces usable screen space for content with fine details.
Whilst we appreciate the quick response, this toggle solution places the burden on individual users who may not understand what 'Lock Overlays' means or even discover this setting. What we need is a permanent, universal solution that addresses the core issue rather than forcing users to choose between two problematic experiences.
M
Michelle Craig
Yes, I agree this isn't really a fix. We already give students so many instructions, so having to find a place to tell them to search for the toggle to stop the zooming on the video player seems like an unnecessary addition. It is just a poor user experience.
J
Jacob Dyer
100% agree, like Anne the vast majority of our viewing happens embedded in our LMS, where space is a premium. And with the current setup, students either have the terrible zooming experience, or we're back to black bars, just like we complained about for nearly 12 months last year.
While the speed of the 'fix' was appreciated, it really is not a fix, and trades one issue for another, in a way that most students will never find anyway.
R
Rebecca Foweraker
Hi Echo,
I agree with Anne.
I see the lock overlay as an interim workaround. Firstly, this option is kind of hidden away from users and I am not sure without guidance, that staff and students will understand what exactly lock overlays means or does. We need a fix to be universally addressed, and not just toggled on user by user.
As Anne mentioned, most of our videos are embedded in a web page for students to access. I am worried that for many students, this is their first interaction with both their units and with Echo360 - and it is not a good one.
I do not think students will easily find the option to turn this zooming in and out off. It is an accessibility issue. It actually makes me feel a little seasick when I am supporting staff or students and looking at their unit pages.
I hope that you consider the issue further and look into a more permanent solution so all users can make the most of the new features within the new media player.
Marc Jennings
considering