Abstract

YYeTs is a platform that helps to provide Chinese consumers with knowledge and information of other cultures via TV series and movies from other countries, such as America, England, and Korea, for example. Once the TV series or movie in question has been translated and uploaded onto a YYeTs platform, this is when the particular culture sharing can take place through a variety of different methods. One of the first ways that this happens is through the use of written connotations and notes inserted into the actual content explaining the terminology and slang used to help them further understand the culture, aside from just standard viewing. Additionally, while watching viewers can utilize what is called a bullet screen function, which allows them to post ‘live’ comments throughout the video, which can initiate conversations and provide a space to ask questions if they don’t understand what is happening. All of the videos have the option to leave comments below, creating another feed of comments and conversation. Following on from this, individuals can use a sharing feature through platforms such as WeChat, Weibo and Douban, along with inviting other individuals to use the app, allowing users to in effect promote the sharing of culture and knowledge to others.

Algorithm

Below is the algorithm for the fansubbing timeline, detailing the specific route from raw materials (content from abroad) through the content coordination and manipulation process. We examined the mechanisms which help make YYeTs such an innovative platform.

The whole fansubbing process starts from raw material providers who can easily get access to E2TV (one of the biggest video resources websites in North America) and download them and transmit original videos to translators in China. Translators are responsible for listening to every word in source languages precisely and translating them into target languages. They use SubRip software which can generate subtitle SRT files. These types of files hold video subtitle information like the start and end timecodes of the text and the sequential number of subtitles. When they finish this step, they send TXT files to editors, who will further check the text and correct some mistakes. Timeline producers need to calculate the proper time for the show up of subtitles by using the software called Time Machine. When they generate the timeline table, the technical worker group 1 will insert subtitles to videos according to the timeline, and add YYeTs’s logo, some claims and staffs’ names into videos. They send the integrated videos to the technical groups 2, which is responsible for compressing videos by using Easy RealMedia Producer and VirtualDub. In most cases, the videos are compressed into two formats: RMVB and MP4. RMVB file is rather small with low picture quality, but it needs a short compressing time, like 1 to 2 hours. Some fansubbing groups use this file format in order to become the fastest one to publish the video resources. MP4 file is another format with a high definition picture, but it needs almost 10 hours to compress. fansubbing groups may choose different formats according to their own requirement. Finally, the complete cultural product will be posted on the YYeTs application and website by some senior members. And this is basically the first step of cultural sharing from the perspective of fansubbing.

Flowchart

After examining the various elements of how YYeTs operates, we have constructed a flowchart which combines the various elements of the platform into a story on how the user is taken on a journey of cultural exploration. One which is uniquely different from the streaming services we find here in America. YYeTs is a door which opens up China to the vast catalogs of content available at our Western fingertips. Perhaps to our detriment, we are overloaded with content (mostly in our language) which we can devour. In China, however, young people have constructed a unique system to ensure there is no barrier to engaging with content, linguistic, or technological. While legal implications still abound, the platform is growing day by day and is opening up a generation of youngsters to foreign languages, new experiences, and an entertainment world previously blocked from sight.

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