Standards and accessibility. A researcher in the world of consensus
Anna Matamala · Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) · 2017
University lecturers' natural environment has traditionally been classes, conferences and academic publications. However, a third element is gaining presence next to teaching and researching: knowledge transfer. Society funds research and researchers need to offer knowledge back to society. A clear means of knowledge transfer is standardisation. In this paper I will talk about my personal journey into the world of standardisation, with a special focus on access services. I do not claim to be an expert in standardisation, hence my aim is only to provide an overview of my personal experience. I will explain the initial challenges I faced when I got involved in standardisation, the procedures I follow as an expert and, most importantly, the importance of reaching consensus with the various stakeholders involved in the process. I will refer to my work as part of ISO/IEC SC35 WG6 both as co-editor of an already published technical specification on audio subtitling and as an expert in other standards. In the end I will highlight why I think getting involved in standardisation can be relevant for research, without forgetting some of its setbacks.