While closed captioning began as a way for the deaf and hard of hearing to understand the audio portion of TV shows, its use has now become quite pervasive. As a result of legislation, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the work of social activist groups, video with on-screen captioning is routinely provided in non-traditional broadcast settings such as:
- Church worship services
- Online college courses
- Classrooms
- Corporate videos
- Social media
- Video conference calls
- Public places, like bars and museums
In these public forums, video captioning is provided to make spoken content accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing. But hearing individuals can also benefit in a variety of ways. In public settings, such as bars or airports, on-screen captions let people follow video programs with the sound low or off while socializing or waiting for flights without disturbing others.
In the educational arena, online college courses, classroom lectures, eLearning, and video-based training also provide captions for greater accessibility. But many hearing individuals watch video presentations and podcasts with the captions on for better understanding and retention of the information. Educators also use captions to keep their online audience more attentive and engaged. The captioning process also helps generate accurate transcripts that learners can search to review the essence of videos they missed.
In public settings, such as live events, public hearings, and community meetings, meeting hosts often stream captioning text online so that attendees can access it on their mobile devices in order to enjoy and take part in the proceedings. Under the ADA, videos presented in public places must be captioned.
Regardless of how or where captioning is required, ENCO’s software-driven enCaption can automate the conversion of speech to text in near-real-time with exceptional accuracy. This proven technology is always user-friendly and ready to go.
