Much progress has been made in recent years on Deaf awareness and advocacy. It has opened the floor to a much-needed conversation about live captioning and its role in breaking communication barriers.
Live captioning has been a blessing for the Deaf community, providing those with hearing loss greater access to information and content in daily life.
With the help of audio-to-text transcription technology, live captioning is enabling Deaf individuals more opportunities to participate in conversations and activities that were once inaccessible.
Live captioning has also helped increase awareness about Deaf issues such as accessibility, inclusion and understanding within society. It’s reducing unnecessary obstacles across communication mediums and helps promote an environment of inclusivity — regardless of any physical disability or language barrier.
It’s a transformative tool that provides Deaf and hard of hearing people with the opportunity to participate in conversations, whether online or in-person. This technology is changing lives by providing a way for members of the Deaf community to access information quickly and accurately.
Live captioning is the process of translating spoken word or audio in real time, as it’s being delivered. It’s used by many organisations such as schools, colleges, universities, for conferences and other events, as well as by television networks to provide captions for members of the Deaf community.
If you’re Deaf, live captioning can be a lifesaver when it comes to effective communication. It’s a great piece of technology that allows more accessibility in events and day-to-day tasks like attending meetings at work or watching live television. Here we take a closer look at live captioning and the benefits it can bring to your organisation.
Is there a difference between live captioning and closed captioning?
In short, yes, but it’s only a minor difference when comparing closed captioning with live captioning.
Closed captions are a ‘post production’ addition to a piece of content or audio and are edited into a video or audio after filming.
Live captioning happens in real time, where a person or speech recognition device listens to what is being said, and translates it on the spot.
How live captioning works & the benefits of it
Deaf and hard of hearing people face barriers to communication daily in hearing-prominent settings. Too often, the Deaf community and their needs are overlooked, resulting in discrimination and prejudice, whether intentional or not.
Live captioning allows Deaf people to easily follow along with talks and conversations when attending events, seminars and meetings, without having to rely on lip-reading.
It works by converting spoken words into a written form that can be read by all parties involved in the conversation.
This is usually accomplished through sign language interpreters, speech-to-text software, or other assistive technologies.
Real-time captions are often used in classrooms, business meetings and other settings where effective communication between Deaf and hearing people is essential. With live captioning services, everyone has equal access to the conversation.
There are two main ways that live captioning can be done, either with human operators, or computer software.
Speech-to-text reporters
A speech-to-text reporter (STTR) is someone who takes audio of speeches and turns them into text. This is usually done in real time, so the text can be used by people who are Deaf or hard of hearing. STTRs use a specialised form of shorthand that allows them to type very quickly, so they can keep up with the speaker.
Computer generated/AI
In recent years, the possibilities Artificial Intelligence (AI) has given us are incredible. Computer software and AI devices are available to provide live captioning without the need for a person to listen and type out the speech or audio. A recent example of this is from a company called Xrai Glass. It recently launched a product that turns speech into subtitles in real time through a pair of glasses that the Deaf person wears while having a conversation.
All in all, live captioning assists in better communication between Deaf and hearing individuals. It provides an easier way to convey messages between people and allows for a more accessible and inclusive way of communicating.
So, if you need live captioning – for either a video, an event or meeting, or some online content – but aren’t quite sure where to start, Sign Solutions can help.
We provide a full range of video interpreting and BSL in-vision translation services, plus expert consultancy to help you share your content in a way that’s inclusive, effective and, crucially, accessible.
For more information on how we can help, give us a call on 0121 447 9620 or email bookings@signsolutions.com.
