The global progress of accessibility continues to empower everyone, particularly those with disabilities. As these inclusivity measures become more widespread, it’s crucial to understand that accessibility extends beyond just planned and recorded content—this is especially pertinent as nearly any event can now be live-streamed. Whether we’re talking about an in-person gathering or a live-streamed event viewed on a laptop, live events can present unique challenges for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or in environments that hinder real-time content comprehension. So, how can businesses and organizations overcome these hurdles? Enter live closed captioning!
Live closed captioning services not only enhance viewer accessibility but also play a pivotal role in ensuring a company’s adherence to accessibility standards and laws, which significantly impact content creation and hosting. A wide range of events can benefit from this service. To dive in, let’s explore a few examples of live events that can greatly benefit from the incorporation of live closed captions.
Where Can Live Closed Captioning be Used?
Automatic Captioning in Educational Settings
The expectations for accessibility in classrooms and learning environments continue to evolve daily. To support students and fulfill accessibility mandates, numerous universities now offer attendees the option of live closed captioning accommodations.
These accommodations are available in classrooms, lecture halls, webinars, and more across leading educational institutions. Live closed captioning services can seamlessly integrate with classroom-friendly platforms like Zoom and Skype, delivering added value and fostering a more inclusive atmosphere. These services don’t just provide convenient access for viewers; they also enable institutions to meet local and international accessibility requirements, such as those outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Live Captioning in Corporate Gatherings
Accessibility plays a pivotal role in building a thriving and inclusive workplace. With this in mind, businesses and organizations must contemplate the events they organize and how these events can be enriched for both employees and clients.
From large-scale events such as town halls and training conferences to more intimate meetings and presentations, every organization engages in live content dissemination. These events reap benefits from live closed captioning by aiding employees with hearing impairments and providing a solution for attendees in noisy environments. Live captions can enhance the experience for remote viewers who may encounter connectivity issues, offering a clear understanding of the proceedings even if their devices experience playback issues.
Beyond fostering an inclusive environment for employees and clients, incorporating services like live closed captioning also mitigates the risk of accessibility-related legal disputes. According to research conducted by Level Access, the average cost of resolving a digital accessibility compliance complaint is approximately $200,000. As accessibility gains more prominence, so do potential complaints. By adopting services like live closed captions, businesses and organizations can safeguard themselves against reputational and financial vulnerabilities.
Live Captions for Political Discussions
Political events, whether local or global, disseminate information that significantly impacts individuals and societies. Consequently, ensuring that this information is accessible to everyone is of paramount importance. Given the diverse range of audiences, viewers may have varying language preferences, ability levels, and preferred viewing formats.
This is where live closed captioning steps in as a valuable asset in the realm of political events. By providing timely and reliable captions, any auditory or language barriers faced by viewers or attendees are effectively addressed. Additionally, these services can be seamlessly integrated into streaming platforms, allowing audiences to customize their caption settings and bolstering event accessibility.
Live Event Captioning in Entertainment Settings
Partaking in a live event—be it a concert, stand-up comedy show, a live stream event, or speaker session—is an exhilarating experience. However, these events often lack natural accessibility for individuals with hearing impairments or other disabilities affecting auditory comprehension.
During a live-streamed performance, Grammy Award winner Sheryl Crow took live event captioning to the next level. With the aid of translation and captioning services, her performance featured live closed captions in both French and English. This added service provided an opportunity for more fans to enjoy the show in their preferred language, regardless of their abilities.
In addition to enhancing accessibility, the use of these services also allows remote viewers to enjoy muted performances in environments where high volume isn’t feasible. Implementing live closed captions at live streamed events benefits both disabled and non-disabled viewers, leading to a more fulfilling experience for all.
Overall Positive Impact on Audiences
As mentioned, live closed captioning isn’t limited to the aforementioned events. Like all accessibility features, this service enhances the overall value and enjoyment of live events for diverse audiences. Although the primary focus is on enhancing experiences for the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities, it’s also a valuable tool for those without disabilities.
To truly maximize the benefits of incorporating live closed captions, businesses and organizations must prioritize the accuracy of the information conveyed through the captions. When collaborating with a reputable accessibility and language services provider, companies should supply a list of keywords, including names, locations, and event-specific details. This step ensures correct spelling and usage in the captions, guaranteeing that viewers and attendees grasp the intended message from the company or performer.
Wrapping Up
While live closed captioning significantly enriches audience experiences at virtual events, it also functions as an additional layer of protection for businesses and organizations. By bolstering events with accessibility accommodations and taking measures to ensure the involvement of a high-quality service, organizations shield themselves from potential accessibility-related complaints and legal actions. Given the potential costs of legal proceedings and the associated harm to reputation, it’s imperative to factor in accessibility for all forms of live content.
Enhancing the accessibility of live events is a fresh endeavor for many and varies based on objectives, event types, and industries. However, it’s indispensable for creating meaningful and impactful live content that caters to diverse stakeholders while also maintaining compliance with global accessibility laws and regulations.
