Category: Captioning

When it comes to discussing people’s disabilities, it’s important to pay attention to your word choice. The start of Disability Pride Month is a great opportunity to look at the many well-intended statements that can come off as offensive or condescending. Also, it may feel like the “correct” words or phrases are constantly evolving. This sentiment is valid, especially because,…

Zoom Transcription Services  –  As Zoom continues to climb in popularity and the business world learns to function in a hybrid work environment, the need for transcription and the captioning of video calls occurring on the platform is becoming increasingly important. To put this sentiment into perspective, let’s look at the current numbers on Zoom. Zoom saw $4 billion USD…

It’s no secret that people are consuming more video content than ever before. As of 2022, the average person is predicted to spend 100 minutes per day watching videos online. 9 out of 10 viewers prefer to engage with the videos of brands and businesses over any other medium. This spike in demand for video makes video accessibility more important…

Corporations which are identified as more diverse and inclusive are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors. They’re also 70% more likely to capture new markets.In fact, diverse teams are 87% better at making decisions, which ultimately lead to a more productive workforce that generates higher revenue. A panel of international leaders from Verbit, Nasdaq, Interpublic Group and Deliveroo spoke…

While most are likely familiar with Instagram Live, Facebook Live and YouTube Live, the latest livestreaming service that’s gaining headway is Twitch. It’s well worth taking note of, as Twitch currently boasts viewership of 1.8 billion hours. It’s also seeing annual revenue of $1.54 billion.The 140M monthly active users who are utilizing Twitch use the interactive live streaming platform to…

UK businesses lose approximately £2 billion a month by ignoring the needs of individuals with disabilities. More than 1 in 5 UK consumers have a reported disability, according to research conducted by the Purple Pound. For individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing, accessibility solutions like transcription can be the make or break of whether or not they are…

Today, Verbit is increasing its footprint in the media and entertainment sector by acquiring U.S. Captioning Company. This addition to Verbit’s portfolio will strengthen its position as a global leader in AI-powered solutions built for each industry’s unique needs.  U.S. Captioning is a renowned US-based provider of closed captioning services for national TV stations, networks, producers and programmers. As the…

Video conferencing is now a regular part of many people’s workdays. While Zoom receives most of the mentions and accolades with the shift to remote work, webinars and virtual meetings, many are using Webex in its stead as the platform’s popularity rises.  While Webex boasts many remote work advantages, making your Webex meetings, webinars and virtual events accessible is essential.…

Most are familiar with Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant, which have made their way into our everyday lives. However, speech to text technologies have quickly transcended daily life and have found their way into the business sphere. Speech to text software is transforming how individuals and businesses communicate and get work done. In fact, 41% of adults use speech to…

Zoom’s video conferencing platform usage continues to grow rapidly as professionals continue to conduct meetings and events from home post-pandemic. There has never been a better time to harness the benefits of a Zoom closed captioning service. By using closed captioning on Zoom, you can maximize the impact of your Zoom meetings by making them both inclusive and more engaging. …

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects sensitive medical information. The US federal statute dates back to 1996, and details standards that prevent the spread of private data without a patient’s consent. HIPAA compliant transcription software When does HIPAA Compliant Transcription Matter?How to Protect Medical Transcripts With HIPAA Compliant TranscriptionConsequences of HIPAA ViolationsSecurity Beyond HIPAA Compliant Transcription HIPAA…

TikTok is one of the fastest growing social media applications in the world, boasting over 1.1 billion active users worldwide. The 15 second to 3 minute videos being created are helping individuals and brands engage and share information in fun, short formats.  Professionals posting on the platform can greatly benefit when adding captions for TikTok to their videos, whether recorded…

While many people believe that all video captioning is created equal, there are key distinctions between each kind that make them ideally suited for different content types and audiences. Let’s explore the main differences between the three most common options: subtitles, closed captions, and Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH). What are Subtitles? Subtitles are written transcriptions…

Closed captions and subtitles are being used by many individuals in a variety of use cases outside of those they were initially designed for. Technology and artificial intelligence have greatly improved their accuracy, as well as their ability to be generated live at rapid speed. As the technology and use cases evolve and expand, more questions continue to arise on…

Inclusion is becoming increasingly more important in the financial world due to both legislation and the public’s evolving expectations. Still, there are misconceptions about the need to offer accessibility to consumers and employees in the finance sector. Taking inclusion into consideration is a must for a multitude of reasons. First, failing to meet the needs of people with disabilities, among many…

The Verbit team is proud to launch a year-long partnership with Accessibility.com. The partnership will consist of monthly webinars focused on the growing importance of workplace inclusion.  The most recent event, Before You Spend Another Penny: Bake Accessibility into Your Procurement Process, took place on April 26th at 1pm EST. This webinar and the ones that follow are focused on…

As companies continue to expand their global reach, subtitles are becoming invaluable for the video content they’re putting out. Marketers, business owners and content creators alike can all benefit when they add subtitles to video. Subtitles make video content in different languages accessible through translations. They therefore offer an easy way to reach and engage greater international audiences.  Adding subtitles…

Helpful speech-focused lingo and terminology to know If the terms AI, ASR and NLP have you frazzled, you’re not alone. More speech-related acronyms and technologies seem to be popping up regularly, and they’re making their way into the daily vernacular.Here’s a helpful cheat sheet of terms for you to reference. Utilize this list to gain a better understanding of common…

The popularity of podcasts has ballooned in recent years, with estimates putting the number of US listeners at 144 million by 2025. Top financial firms are taking advantage of the popularity of this medium by creating educational content that connects them with potential customers. Producing a successful finance podcast helps companies market themselves, while also positioning themselves as thought leaders…

Webinars are being executed on the daily. Successful ones are replacing the need for in-person interactions, creating additional opportunities for engagement, both internally with remote team members or externally with target prospects and relevant audiences. Many business leaders are now upping the ante, investing in platforms like Zoom Webinar, On24, Cvent and the like to drive more interactive, immersive virtual…

During the challenging last couple of years, corporations showed the world that when they need to adapt, they can. That adaptability included some accommodations, including work-from-home arrangements that people within the disability community have been requesting for years, but to little or no avail.   To this point, Russell Shaffer, Walmart’s Senior Director of Global Culture, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, quoted…

This post was contributed by Jacques Botbol, VP Marketing, The Verbit Company.Today, we’re unveiling our new branding and vision, which we released internally a few weeks ago through a global Zoom event (Tonight Show Style) – watch here. Our new branding emphasizes the value that the Verbit Company brings —  a suite of companies that provide specialized transcription and captioning…

What sets Verbit apart and allows it to support the accessibility needs of today’s businesses, universities, institutions and agencies? It’s not only its advanced in-house technology; it’s the human element.Verbit has assembled a robust team of professional transcribers who undergo thorough testing and training processes. In 2021, only 6% of transcription applicants were accepted, as Verbit ensures only the top…

Data breaches increased 68% in the past year, and the associated expense of each incident rose 10% to an average of $4.24 million. These numbers show the significance of data security in today’s modern world.Today, on January 28th, nations across the globe recognize Data Privacy Day to commemorate the Council of Europe’s landmark personal data protection treaty. Now, more than…

Video content is essential in today’s digital world. 52% of consumers want to see more video from the businesses they support, but connecting with individuals who speak different languages isn’t without its challenges. Multilingual transcription services, also known as subtitling, can help businesses professionals translate their videos for audiences and employees who speak different languages. If your goal is to…

In November 2021, a record 4.5 million Americans left their jobs. The high number of people quitting was part of a trend that persisted throughout the year, earning the label “The Great Resignation.” With so many employees throwing in the towel, business leaders are realizing they need to change course if they want to attract and keep talent.  Research shows…

In the US, conversations surrounding inclusion and related legislation like the Americans with Disabilities Act are occurring with greater frequency. More institutional and business leaders are investing in supporting accessibility as their every action, site page and marketing campaign is being examined under a microscope, especially as they connect more with diverse audiences online.As businesses continue to operate more globally,…

Verbit was ranked No. 1 in Power in Diversity Israel’s 2021 Women in Startups Report for the best representation of women in large companies of 500 employees and more. The report was based on 424 startups and 70 venture capital firms surveyed.Power in Diversity Israel, which commissioned the report, uncovered gender diversity numbers and insights, reasons why diversity, equity and…

Business leaders and marketers are seeing great benefit in boosting their brand identities and connecting with consumers on Instagram. With 1 billion active monthly users worldwide, this visually-focused platform offers them the ability to attract audiences by sharing engaging content like images and videos. Marketers using Instagram are now focusing more on video since videos receive twice as much engagement…

With approximately 43 million of the world’s population living with blindness, individuals who are blind play a large part in our global community.  This World Braille Day, Verbit’s leaders are encouraging businesses, schools and the public to consider and recognize the challenges that individuals who are blind or have low vision may be facing on a daily basis.  While the…

Today, Verbit announced it has acquired education and government industry veteran Automatic Sync Technologies. Automatic Sync Technologies is renowned for its transcription solution and expertise and was initially developed by a team of experts with a grant from the US Department of Education. The acquisition furthers Verbit’s leading market position in the US transcription and captioning space, as well as…

Scott Ready, Director, Customer Success and Accessibility Evangelist at Verbit, was recently the featured guest on Accessibility.com’s “Accessibility Matters” video series. Ready has worked in the accessibility realm for over 25 years. In his role at Verbit, he currently works with leading universities and institutions to ensure their learning environments are accessible to students with disabilities, among others. Some of…

In the past, students needed to contact university administrators every time a Zoom or web conferencing link for one of their classes changed. It needed to be updated in the system by the school administrator. The result? This process prevented or delayed the accessibility they needed to participate in courses effectively. It also clogged the schedules of administrators tasked with…

Verbit will now provide more Kaltura customers with greater video accessibility. Verbit and Kaltura have expanded their partnership to offer Kaltura customers advanced AI-based captioning, incredible speech recognition technology and fast delivery times to meet the needs of today’s video audiences. Following the shift to virtual events, online learning and remote work brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, more of…

Video is arguably now the most critical and explored way to spread a brands’ message and appeal to consumers. Not just video, but mobile-first video is vital for business leaders who want to connect to modern viewers, who are one with their devices. In fact, 75% of individuals report they consume video most frequently on their mobile devices. This reality,…

Last year, companies shifted to virtual events out of necessity and under extreme circumstances. As the world emerges from the restrictive environment that the pandemic created, savvy business leaders are using what they learned to build hybrid events to fuel networking opportunities and meet their KPIs. Research states that 96% of marketers see hybrid events as the future. Verbit gathered…

As university leaders struggle to raise enrollment rates from the 72% decrease experienced this year, many are turning to international students. Verbit hosted a live webinar with guest speaker Julie Merendino, Assistant Director of International Admissions of American University to provide our audience with insights on how to attract and retain these students. 16% of undergraduate students and 13% of…

Today, Verbit announced it has closed its Series E funding round at $250 million, bringing the company’s valuation to $2 billion just five years after it was founded. This new round will further enhance Verbit’s market leadership in the transcription industry, as well as the value that the voice AI platform brings to customers who rely on Verbit’s technology and…

78% of people watch videos online every week. As video becomes one of the most engaging mediums for educating, marketing and connecting with audiences, it’s critical for professionals to use it wisely. In partnership with Brightcove Media, Verbit has joined Brightcove Marketplace’s robust partner ecosystem, a platform that allows its users to learn about tools and integrations that extend the…

The live streaming industry is estimated to reach $70 billion by the end of 2021. As a video accessibility provider, Verbit is committed to keeping up with the most recent trends in online media, especially as the live streaming industry continues to grow rapidly. Verbit is therefore proud to announce its new partnership with developer video platform, Mux. “Mux is…

In response to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, the US government created three Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) categories. They include the Coronavirus Aid and Economic Security Act (CARES), The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Institutions across the country have access to these funds, but data suggests that many schools…

Renowned video cloud provider, Kaltura, has selected Verbit as the trusted partner to provide captioning services for 20+ live sessions at its “Virtually Live” event on November 9th. Together with Kaltura, Verbit will ensure top-notch accessibility and engagement are offered to the conference’s thousands of attendees. In addition to providing live captioning for all of the sessions, Verbit will host…

While Zoom already provides live captioning and transcription services in English, the platform will add them in 30 other languages over the next year. Zoom will also begin offering translation services in 12 languages. Zoom’s leaders are aiming to accommodate more users and have recognized that non-English speaking populations would greatly benefit from access to captions and word-for-word transcripts of…

The popularity of the social media platform TikTok has grown enormously. Its easy-to-consume, 15-60-second long has attracted 1 billion active global users. The platform had previously amassed 732 million monthly active users in just 5 years, beating Facebook’s long held record of 7 years to reach that goal. Since TikTok’s rise to popularity, businesses have been tapping into using TikTok…

Learning disabilities affect a large number of the US population with 1 in 5 young students navigating learning or attention issues. In honor of Learning Disabilities Awareness Month, it’s important to be aware of the diversity learning disabilities that exist. There are undoubtedly many individuals that struggle day-to-day without a diagnosis and tailored support, and there’s more that K-12 schools…

Verbit is thrilled to earn a place on TechRadar’s list of “Best Speech-to-Text Services. TechRadar is a respected source for up-to-date technology reviews for businesses. The list features service providers that offer live transcription and captioning solutions for the corporate world and educational institutions. Verbit’s high ranking comes just months after it announced that it achieved the highly coveted unicorn…

Corporate leaders are getting the message: diversity is good for business. Creating a diverse workforce is the right thing to do, but research shows that it also improves profits, increases employee satisfaction and raises retention rates.  Savvy companies are now fostering diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies. The extent of the benefits that corporate DEI efforts generate can be surprising.…

Learning Disability Awareness month is celebrated by thousands each year to inform others about the experiences of professionals and students with learning disabilities. Currently, 7.3 million public school students receive special education services and this year was particularly difficult as higher-ed and K-12 learners alike continued their studies with COVID-19 restrictions. To honor those with LDs this month, Verbit spoke…

This guest blog was written by Dr. Misty Cobb, EdD, MBA, a transformational education & technology expert. In her role at Verbit, Cobb works with K-12 and higher education leaders on best practices for using technology to provide accessible and equitable learning opportunities for all students. Cobb earned her Doctor of Education from the University of Alabama where her research…

The fitness space continues to embrace inclusivity in various ways, with its leaders and influencers promoting everything from body positivity to diverse options for workout routines and diets to accommodate individual needs. Now, the fitness world is continuing to expand its massive online presence with on-demand videos available via YouTube and other apps. One of the most commonly known names…

It’s International Week of Deaf People (IWDP)! With approximately 600,000 deaf people in the United States and 5% of the world’s population needing some form of hearing rehabilitation, it’s more important than ever to participate in the celebration that empowers and honors Deaf individuals. The IWDP initiative, held this year from September 20 – 26th, is dedicated to honoring the…

From workplaces to classrooms and the public sector to private educational institutions, ensuring inclusion is provided to individuals with disabilities isn’t only the right thing to do, it’s the law. However, legal guidelines and their defined details can be daunting to many. The legal requirements and components set in place today are based on various laws which sought to offer…

While most business owners want to make their websites and brands more inclusive, many cite lack of budgets and resources as the key factors holding them back. However, with up to 59.6% of the disability community living in a household with Internet and the greater population spending more time online, website accessibility has ultimately become a need for businesses. Not…

55% of people watch video content every day, and 78% of people watch videos online every week. As audiences and consumers spend more time glued to their screens, businesses and organizations are investing more than ever in their video content. Video content creators at brands and businesses are looking to improve the outcomes and engagement of their videos. With this…

The stick: ADA lawsuits are on the rise. Many universities and businesses are now taking more proactive approaches to ensure they’re covering themselves and meeting necessary guidelines. The carrot: Universities and businesses that follow ADA requirements are also able to build stronger connections with their students and customers, respectively. Creating a more accessible environment is shown to help with brand…

TIME Magazine dedicated its latest issue, Education Heroes, to honoring the incredible individuals in the K-12 school system who supported students, parents and each other during a trying ‘pandemic school year’ which tested and challenged us all. TIME’s cover dons a striking image. It showcases well-recognized yellow school buses surrounded by a likely lesser-known group of individuals, but who will…

Verbit’s team recently commissioned a survey, Higher-Ed Accessibility Uncovered, to deep-dive into the accessibility and inclusion measures being taken at today’s institutions. The team wanted to explore the knowledge and decision-making processes of today’s higher-ed professionals to inform our community as they head back to school this fall. Additionally, the team wanted to gain an understanding from students with disabilities…

Slator estimates that the video localization market will be valued around $4.97 billion by the end of 2021. Video localization technologies such as captioning and transcription are being used more than ever before, contributing to this growing video localization market across the globe. To educate business leaders seeking insights on video localization services and technologies Verbit Founder and CEO Tom…

While the US continues to make significant progress in terms of gender equity, it likely comes as no surprise that it’s still falling short. In 2020, it ranked No. 53 in the World Economic Forum’s list of 154 countries based on gender equality, and this year it moved up the ranks to No. 30. However, the majority of improvements made…

42% of small businesses reported using mobile applications to connect and engage with their consumers. Another 30% said they planned on developing apps in the near future. As more companies small and large launch apps, app accessibility is becoming a hot topic. Businesses that develop mobile apps need to consider whether they are taking the necessary steps to reach audiences…

Social media usage is expected to grow to over 4.41 billion by 2024, nearly doubling the amount of users online since 2017. The growing number of social media users, as well as their quick attention spans is a topic of concern for business leaders looking to make an impact.  Social media platforms are now being used more than ever as…

This month, the Securities and Exchange Commission disappointed accessibility advocates by approving the NASDAQ’s proposed diversity reporting rule, which excludes disability as a category. People with disabilities are the largest minority group in the US, and many see the decision as a missed opportunity to promote a more inclusive corporate culture. Despite this setback, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)…

With the greater need to provide support to students, employees, consumers and others who are Deaf or hard of hearing, more are captioning their content. However, many automatic Artificial Intelligence-based tools miss the mark. Renowned institutions like Harvard and MIT found out the hard way, but all school leaders can pivot to protect themselves and better serve their students. School…

Business leaders are investing more in live streaming to engage effectively with online audiences. This medium is being used more than ever before, and the live streaming industry is likely to be valued at over $70 million by the end of 2021. Offering live streams of courses, podcasts and events are important for business professionals interested in growing a strong…

Captioning helps with video engagement and accessibility and is therefore being used by the majority of businesses creating video content. However, captioning can be a super manual process if not done effectively. With the goal of simplifying the captioning process to encourage more businesses to make their videos accessible, Verbit has invested in offering key integrations with a variety of…

Most people become frustrated after waiting at a traffic light for just 25 seconds. Research strongly indicates that modern humans expect unrealistically rapid results. The Internet, two-day shipping, streaming services and the ability to download entertainment on-demand are contributing to an incredibly impatient population. However, there are times when people are right to expect fast turnaround times. For millions of…

For today’s universities, having a strong diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) plan is more important than ever. DEI in higher education requires that schools offer an equal learning experience to all students, regardless of their religion, gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, age, political perspective, socioeconomic status, language or (dis)ability.  Although the 1960s brought some early forms of diversity training…

The Olympics are considered a symbol of progress and prosperity for many people. As the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a title which is still used as the games were postponed during last year’s pandemic, take place, business leaders are becoming increasingly interested in the experiences and stories of the athletes involved, particularly in relation to the Paralympics and how to make…

As the new school year approaches, K-12 schools, colleges and universities are transitioning back to in-person learning and physical classrooms. Returning from almost a full year of delivering learning remotely is exciting to many. However, it’s important that school leaders do not simply resort back to education as it was. Remote teaching and online learning delivered helpful insights on how…

National Disability Independence Day is coming up on July 26th! Prior to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it was legal to pay a person less just because of their disability. It was legal for a restaurant to refuse to serve a person with disabilities. The lack of accessible restrooms meant people with disabilities might have to…

Savvy business leaders are always looking to improve the reach of their brands, keeping SEO as a top-of-mind strategy to do so. The challenge of increasing website reach, particularly for greater Search Engine Optimization (SEO), is something that many organizations struggle with. Studies have shown that 68% of site traffic comes from search engines, a number that will only continue…

40% of all undergraduates in the US are community college students, totaling 8.2 million across more than 1,400 community colleges.  Community colleges are higher education’s open door, offering more opportunities for students to earn degrees due to cost, proximity and other factors. However, enrollment statistics and the education offerings provided by community colleges are ever evolving, especially in light of…

Government agencies aren’t using Zoom Commercial, but rather Zoom for Government for their meetings, events and town halls. The platform was granted authority to operate by the Department of Homeland Security and the FedRAMP PMO. However, while guaranteed privacy and compliance with a platform that meets the requirements of FedRAMP Moderate baseline and DOD Impact Level 2 is crucial, it…

Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART), also known as “open captioning” or “real-time captioning,” is used to convert speech into text. CART services provide instantaneous translation of what is being said into a visual print display so that it can be read rather than heard. With CART, text appears in real time while words are spoken with options to display them…

With more of the population vaccinated, many companies are now hosting hybrid-style events. However, many others have no idea what a hybrid event means or entails or how to execute one effectively for attendees. A hybrid event refers to any conference, seminar, or workshop with both a “live” in-person event component and a “virtual” online component. Hybrid events appear to…

Transcription and captioning are critical tools which must be provided to aid a variety of individuals. Without them, many such as those who are  Deaf or hard-of-hearing can struggle to participate with equity. Transcription and captioning enable them to follow along with any audio and video they wish to consume in their free time or need to consume as a…

July marks Disability Pride Month! With at least 25% of American adults living with a disability, it’s never been more important to learn from one another and embrace each other’s differences in both personal and professional settings. Approximately 61 million individuals live with a disability that impacts major life activities, according to a CDC report. Verbit is fully committed to…

For businesses, understanding obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) can be challenging. There is no list of covered disabilities, nor does the Act specifically detail all of the accommodations that companies must make to avoid legal consequences. Given the lack of detailed guidelines, business leaders may wonder, what is ADA compliance? A Note on the ADA and Language …

Online learning is making education more attainable to many individuals and greatly enhancing their employability. Individuals no longer need to be concerned about online learning programs not being deemed acceptable by employers. According to a survey of 750 employers in the United States, 61% believe credentials earned online can be of equal quality to those completed in person. As a…

It’s Effective Communications Month! With more remote work opportunities, as well as online learning and Zoom events becoming the norm, the topic of effective communication is more pertinent than ever before. Detecting and accurately interpreting what others mean via email, social posts, video calls, and WhatsApp messages is often a challenge. Most of all, poor communication is costly. A recent…

This Friday, June 18, Verbit’s Director of Key Accounts, Kevin Sklar, will present at ICT’s annual Accessibility Summer Camp. The conference is designed to connect professionals and educators who are invested in learning more about accessibility needs and best practices. Sklar will be presenting alongside noteworthy industry leaders from the likes of Blackboard, Google, UC Berkeley and California Polytechnic State…

Verbit joins the likes of Blackboard, CANVAS and Pearson at today’s Online Learning Summit produced by the University of Derby. The event is designed to explore the evolution of online learning and teaching for the future. Today’s event celebrates a decade of designing and developing online learning for a global student body. Delivering effective online education during the COVID-19 lockdown…

Facebook is the third most visited website. Optimizing advertising on the popular social media platform can yield strong results. In fact, 62% of people are more interested in a product after watching a video about it on Facebook. Also, social media content with native video gets 48% more views and an uptick in shares.  It’s no wonder that marketers are…

It’s June, which means professionals, consumers and students alike are likely “seeing rainbow.” With countless universities and businesses adding a rainbow background to their social media accounts, it’s quite hard to miss. However, it’s also quite simple to ask designers to renovate brand logos. And while the rainbow imagery effectively raises awareness for the milestone that is Pride Month and…

On the heels of its recent acquisition of VITAC, the Verbit team has exciting news to announce. Verbit has secured $157 million in Series D funding, positioning the company as a unicorn with a valuation of over $1 billion. This marks an incredible achievement just four years after Verbit’s inception. The round was led by Sapphire Ventures, alongside new investors…

Businesses are investing significant efforts in growing their online presence, and they’re creating and distributing more video as a result. Videos are being launched on a variety of channels, including social and streaming platforms, to raise brand awareness and engage online audiences. In fact, 86% of businesses now use video as a marketing tool, a 25% increase from five years…

Schools are Implementing Technologies that Benefit All Students, Increasing Retention & Graduation Rates Student retention is always a top concern for universities. In 2020, only 41% of full-time students earned their bachelor’s degrees within the standard four-year period, forcing institutions to reevaluate their offerings to ensure their students stay with them through graduation. These numbers have only continued to change…

When COVID-19 forced schools, businesses and other institutions to go remote, Zoom became a household name. The platform supported millions of meetings, classrooms and government proceedings to allow the world to continue to function in unprecedented times. Verbit launched an integration with Zoom to offer its sophisticated artificial intelligence to provide Zoom transcription and captioning. The result: a much-improved improved…

The transcription market in the US alone was valued at $19.8 billion USD in 2019 and is anticipated to expand by 6.1% from 2020 to 2027. Organizations across the globe generate large volumes of data every day that can be effectively used to obtain valuable insights. Today’s businesses and organizations are using transcription for webinars, research projects, classes, legal proceedings,…

Many technologies designed to be inclusive fall short. Speakers with non-anglicized names or who have less neutral accents often feel that technology is excluding them. Voice recognition programs like Siri and Alexa frequently misinterpret a speaker’s words.  For many individuals, the inability of tech to correctly transcribe their speech is a frustrating result of discriminatory programming. Programming voice recognition is…

Video creation should be a key component for any modern business’s communication and marketing plan. Not only are videos one of the most effective marketing tools to boost engagement with your audience, but they are also effective in getting messages across to your employees. That said, simply creating video is not enough. In order to engage with audiences, employees and…

Accessibility isn’t just what we do, it’s what individuals at Verbit believe in. Verbit hires individuals who recognize that accessibility is a necessity. Some of our team members have personal experiences with disabilities, while others are working hand-in-hand with university and business leaders to make their offerings more accessible. On a daily basis, we see the importance and the results…

With Global Accessibility Awareness Day coming up this week on Thursday, May 20th, it’s only fitting for the education community to host multiple events focused on this important matter. Verbit’s leadership are investing in events which focus on the idea that accessibility and inclusive design are more important than ever. Accessibility continues to become of greater concern to more stakeholders…

According to UK statistics, 13 percent of students entering British universities have a disability. Accommodations are essential to help these students fully participate in their coursework and thrive in higher education settings. Technology is constantly evolving to offer support to higher education students who are navigating disabilities. However, the UK’s laws surrounding accommodations can often be unclear. Some higher education…

In an effort to drive forward its mission to make all video and audio content accessible to everyone through its high-quality captioning and transcription capabilities, Verbit’s leadership team has exciting news to share. Today, Verbit announced the acquisition of VITAC, the largest provider of captioning products and solutions in North America. The acquisition will position Verbit as the No. 1…

Today, transcription is being used in a variety of scenarios and formats. Whether it’s a court hearing or an online class, many professionals, students and consumers rely on accurate transcription to perform their daily tasks and job roles. These transcription services are often accompanied by an interesting, yet challenging counterpart – live captions. This service, which is primarily designed to…

Technology has ushered in a new era with the globalization of information. Information can now cross borders with much more ease thanks to the likes of translation and captioning software. Regional barriers and language barriers are no longer great obstacles and the cost associated with them is no longer a great factor. More and more companies are operating globally and…

Isn’t it nice when technology just works? Erin Willder, Managing Editor at Brigham Young University, is set on ensuring BYU Continuing Education students have all of the tools they need to participate effectively in their courses and that the university’s events are fully accessible to audiences. Willder and her team at BYU are doing so utilizing Verbit and its integration…

The demand for translation services continues to rise. In the past decade, the industry has doubled in size and is now worth over $56 billion dollars in 2021. There are numerous reasons why, including the globalization of business. Content is being consumed online by international audiences and brands need to provide customer service to  global consumers. As a result, video…

The UK government has announced a Culture Recovery Fund to help support the reopening and recovery of more than 90 independent cinemas across England. £30m has been set aside for England’s independent cinemas. 92 venues will receive a share of more than £6.5m from the British Film Institute, or BFI, which is distributing funds as part of this support package…

The CARES Act, or Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, was passed by Congress in March 2020. Of the $2.2 trillion allotted to provide quick and much-needed economic aid to the Americans impacted by the pandemic, $14B was given to the Office of Postsecondary Education as the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, or HEERF. In January 2021, The US…

Providing accessibility to individuals who are hard of hearing is critical. It provides independence to individuals, helping them to follow their desired career paths, enjoy activities and participate equally. The rise of accessibility implementation and awareness in the US is driven by both the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as well as continuous technological breakthroughs. With more technologies to…

Verbit’s leadership is excited to announce the date for our annual EduALL Virtual Summit: Making Higher Education Work For All Learners for April 22nd from 10am-1:30pm EST. The event will engage technology thought leaders and higher-education professionals focused on crafting courses that work for all students. There will be a special session geared toward K-12 education as well, featuring creative…

In response to media industry changes and COVID-related needs, more technology is being involved in the media production process to help with remote work. Today’s media production companies and professionals are facing delayed shoots and budget constraints, greater expectations for more on-demand content, FCC compliance requirements and audience desires for personalized content. There’s also a greater need to reach more…

Verbit is thrilled to be partnering with the Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) to sponsor the keynote session at the LDA 58th Annual International Conference on February 18th. The event, which will be held virtually in 2021, gathers teachers of special education and general education, counselors, social workers, para educators and special education instructional assistants, psychologists, researchers and college…

Media brands and media producers are tasked with creating and delivering content that informs, entertains and inspires audiences. To do so, media and brand content creators are investing significant resources into the creation of video and audio. However, media and brands are likely missing out on their audience reach. If media professionals aren’t making every effort possible to test out…

This week, Verbit has been partnering with the University Professional & Continuing Education Association for its SOLA+R 2021 event. Verbit has been exhibiting at the event, but is also powering the live captioning of speaking sessions at SOLA+R, the Summit for Online Leadership and Administration + Roundtable. The event engages key campus leaders to focus on the online enterprise from…

On the heels of President Biden’s decision to reverse the former administration’s ban on transgender troops in the military, The White House is further committing to inclusivity and diversity initiatives by providing a sign language interpreter at every press briefing. White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced this week that an American Sign Language interpreter will be present at all press…

Assistive technology helps professionals with disabilities by providing them with equitable opportunities to succeed at their jobs. Offering them with access to these assistive technologies is not only the right thing to do for your workforce; it’s required. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is an anti-discrimination law which all business owners and HR leaders need to be familiar with…

Inclusion and diversity are top-of-mind topics to business owners and enterprise leaders today. Each year, businesses are held to higher standards and are expected to invest more in these initiatives and in bringing equity to their workforces and advertising. “2020 taught us all a lot about inclusion and why it’s important,” said Ashley Brundage, a well respected speaker, educator and…

Is there a right way and a wrong way to conduct a media interview? You bet, but now that content is an integral part of nearly every business, media interviews are being conducted by more than just media entities. Standard media outlets continue to rely on interviews to produce broadcasts, articles and videos for news audiences, but now leaders in…

The rise of eLearning in 2020 The global eLearning market reached a historic spike in 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic forced the majority of schools and classes to migrate online. More than one billion students across the globe are currently unable to attend schools or universities due to social distancing restrictions. Integrating technology into teaching and learning has never been…

Media and Entertainment (M&E) entered a new era in light of COVID-19. Demand for content, while many are stuck indoors, has increased, but the competition has never been higher. At the beginning of this new year, it’s clear that original content is the greatest factor driving consumer entertainment adoption. M&E leaders need to find creative ways to attract a wider…

It started with the 2015 Oscars when #OscarsSoWhite began trending. Fearless actors stepped onto the red carpet and one of the largest stages available. They proceeded to call out Hollywood for its lack of diversity. The silver screen’s inability to showcase different races and body types that are truly representative of the real world has since become the primary subject…

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted over 1.6 billion students globally with education shifting either entirely online or to hybrid learning models. With less than 50% of faculty having taught online prior, educators have been challenged in 2020, though some of these unprecedented changes have been for the better.  Education leaders in three regions, the US, UK and Australia, spoke live…

COVID-19 became a true turning point for higher education with over 1.6 billion learners affected. 91 percent of those enrolled learners have been affected and they’re representative of 191 different countrywide closures. This reality has forced leaders and institutions to globalize higher education. “With the pandemic forcing millions of instructors and students abruptly into remote schooling, many have questioned the…

On March 16, over 250 US colleges and universities came to a grinding halt. Neither the colleges nor students were prepared for campus closures with both ends of the stick facing enormous challenges ahead. Now, the shift is evident, with nearly two-thirds of US colleges remaining either fully or primarily online. Educational institutions have built digital systems at unprecedented rates…

The need for effective online education and corresponding materials to help remote students succeed has been greatly exacerbated by COVID-19. Making content more accessible to all, especially to hard-of-hearing students, has been one of the main goals of Virginia Tech’s leaders in 2020. As such, VT has been implementing professional captions and transcripts to their materials to enable inclusive access…

The use of Artificial Intelligence, commonly referred to as AI, is growing at an unprecedented pace. The AI market is projected to grow to $312.4B USD by 2027, according to ReportLinker. It’s critical for businesses to keep up-to-date on the latest trends to determine where they can incorporate this technology to not only increase efficiency, but keep up with the…

As universities and schools move courses online and remote work continues to become the norm, more individuals are seeing the benefits of video conferencing. Video conferencing has advanced greatly, with Zoom likely emerging as the most important communication tool. With a 400% increase in the number of employees working from home at least once a week over the last decade,…

Keeping C.A.L.M. during a pandemic is not an easy feat, but the leaders at Virginia Tech have taken this time as an opportunity to expand on their campaigns for inclusivity and accessibility with the move to online learning. With nearly every course being offered remotely or in a hybrid environment, instructors and universities are being charged with finding creative ways…

With the need for today’s business leaders to reinvent their strategies for lead generation and bringing on new clients, customers and users, many are turning to virtual events. These online events, such as large scale virtual conferences and smaller webinars, are paving the way for lead generation efforts in the face of the pandemic. However, there are certain elements to…

Skillshare, an online learning community for creativity, has more than 12 million registered members and over 30,000 video-based classes in creative disciplines such as graphic design and photography. The mission of Skillshare is to support professional and personal growth through creativity. Now, its leaders are focused on ensuring that all of their learners are offered a fully inclusive and accessible…

Simply put, this school year, there are more factors to consider when looking at student performance. Aside from natural items that come up, such as a student’s academic track record or reported learning challenges, wrenches have been thrown into the mix due to the current pandemic. Some additional factors affecting student performance pertain to the student’s environment, family status and…

Prior to the pandemic, there was a rising trend in the creation of virtual events. With target attendees based across the country, or even globally, virtual events provided an opportunity to reach the greatest audience pool possible. They also provided attendees with more flexibility to connect to pieces of the event they deemed most relevant to them, rather than travel…

The novel coronavirus has brought about significant challenges for today’s colleges and their students. Yet some higher education leaders are choosing to instead adopt a positive mindset and look at COVID-19 as an opportunity. Among these leaders is Virginia Western Community College, a two-year public institution of higher education operating under the Virginia Community College System. Virginia Western sees a…

Verbit commits itself daily to ensuring all students and individuals with disabilities are given equal opportunities to succeed academically and professionally. Captions and transcription are core to our offering and were initially designed to help students and viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing. While these tools have evolved and are now helping a multitude of different student and…

The COVID-19 pandemic has left an indelible mark on business as we know it. Prior to the pandemic, digital transformation and innovation were reinventing nearly every industry and new tools and processes were taking form with the implementation of more technology. Now, business leaders have been faced with the need to operate remotely for the foreseeable future. A report from…

The public’s expectations of the media industry have shifted greatly with the influx of technology. This growth in technology has provided more access to both live and on-demand coverage. Audiences are now consuming media and news, not just on their TV, but on all devices and platforms. They’re also consuming media in a variety of formats. As a result, the…

The term ‘Artificial Intelligence’ often trips up business leaders in industries which don’t intersect directly with technology. It can invoke images of robots and feelings of machines stealing the jobs of humans. The reality is that AI can help to make their professional and personal lives run more smoothly by removing a lot of the tasks which were previously done…

The media industry is surely made up of movers and shakers who are used to a fast-paced environment and a continuously evolving landscape. This week presents new rulings relevant to all media industry professionals, particularly those concerned with meeting FCC guidelines and those working on UK-based shoots. UK Media Production Fund Approved In the UK, a new fund was approved…

A business is nothing without its employees. How are you ensuring your employees are properly trained and equipped to understand your goals and benchmarks for success? Training and development in the workplace continues to evolve. Are you training them to go out and pitch your products and offerings to clients and consumers effectively? Effective employee training is highly important for…

In the new age of remote work, effective communication can make or break a business. With social distancing considerations in mind, as well as the expectations of today’s millennial worker who was already pushing for remote opportunities prior to the pandemic, creating seamless communication is a significant primer for success. So how are leading businesses ensuring communication channels remain clear?…

Universities’ plans on how to approach the Fall 2020 semester seem to be continuously changing. Many universities and higher education leaders who had hoped to launch on-campus offerings are reversing course and now enlisting fully-online or hybrid approaches. For example, this week, Morgan State University and Santa Clara University joined the list of schools changing their initial plans to reopen.…

Successful distance learning is a far cry from a ctrl+c and ctrl+v of in-person classes into online learning platforms. During this period of social distancing and a significant increase in distance learning offerings, the importance of web accessibility is gaining momentum. Web accessibility occurs when website development and interaction with that site work together to become accessible to individuals with…

You’re using video to conduct your meetings and keep business moving, but are you using all of the benefits that online video conferencing tools offer? It’s not as simple as just deciding to use Zoom or GoToMeeting, as much as it is to promote clear communication and goals for these calls with your employees and clients. The rise of business…

Now that the number of students learning online has increased substantially, schools have been able to gather data and make informed decisions on tools that serve their students best. School leaders are also learning that these tools, such as web conferencing or video hosting platforms, may work well for one school or age group, but not for others. As a…

The end of summer is fast approaching, and government and school leaders are crafting plans for what back to school will look like in 2020. While many K-12 students are slated to return to school in August and early September, the situation will likely vary from region to region and even school to school. It’s also quite likely that decisions…

Many professionals are questioning what the educational experience will look like come fall 2020 and even spring 2021. Institutions are crowdsourcing information and making decisions for the months ahead. University leaders are performing around the clock course design work in preparation and anticipating for the future, even though the future remains quite unclear due to the global health crisis. Higher…

For many business leaders, the past few months have been a complete blur. It’s been an ongoing Groundhog Day. These are unforeseen times for all businesses and their employees. Regardless of enterprise size and industry, nearly every individual is experiencing change and disruption both personally and professionally. While the full impact of COVID-19 remains to be seen, it’s likely that…

You’re not likely to encounter a workplace without a ramp or elevator these days. More workplaces are now extending the accessibility measures they put in place for those with visual disabilities to meet additional needs, such as employees who are deaf, hard of hearing, who have learning disabilities and others. A workplace which promotes a fully inclusive environment primes all…

A significant number of online learning experiences are now happening via Zoom. With more time and experience utilizing the platform, educators have identified challenges and are benefiting from best practices which have been uncovered in the process. As a result, Verbit is investing more in its integrations with Zoom and additional web conferencing platforms. We’re therefore hosting a webinar to…

Verbit has released a new desktop application, Live Room by Verbit, which provides live, interactive transcripts and captions within Zoom web conferencing. The application supports companies and universities, helping them to ensure their online meetings, courses and events are delivered effectively to both comply with legal requirements and meet the needs of all remote participants. “Following the massive growth in…

Many new employees may come into their roles with relevant degrees and similar past experience, however, most of what is learned happens on the job. From individual company nuances and policies to required HR trainings, corporations are looking to offer their employees with corporate learning programs. Additionally, with the growth of technology, nearly every industry continues to evolve and be…

Video conferencing and video-driven tools have grown tremendously in popularity in recent years. The use of video in business has also increased significantly in recent months due to social distancing requirements mandated by the novel coronavirus. Prior to the virus however, many enterprises have been enlisting video conferencing solutions for improved international communication, to facilitate remote work and to save…

Accessibility and inclusion should be at the forefront of every higher education leader’s strategic goals. Today marks Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Verbit is highly committed to spreading awareness about the importance of accessibility for today’s students. Access can truly make or break the student experience. All students should be given equal opportunities to succeed and participate in the online and…

The pivot from in-person classes to virtual learning at colleges and universities around the world has been an eye-opening experience. Instructors are quickly realizing the power of video to deliver engaging, personalized learning, while students are settling into video lectures and collaborative conferencing calls. It may be easy to overlook one important aspect – accessibility – during the rush. As…

Thursday, May 21 marks the ninth annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Accessibility and inclusion should be at the forefront of every higher education leader’s mind and embedded in their strategic goals when designing new courses, providing students with online video offerings, as well as organizing extracurricular events. Global Accessibility Awareness Day is designed to get everyone talking, thinking and learning…

Summer semesters present opportunities for universities to engage new students, as well as allow for existing students to complete more coursework to speed up their anticipated degree completion dates. This summer, most courses will be offered online due to the COVID-19 crisis. However, professors who are new to teaching in the online environment can now make it relatively easy to…

Today’s business leaders, educators and media professionals are tasked with providing accessible materials to account for a variety of scenarios. From students participating remotely with disabilities to consumers watching news silently, captions and transcriptions are being utilized to make these materials more dynamic and accessible. However, providing basic captions and transcription to ‘check a box’ without utilizing a service that…

As more professionals turn to Zoom to enable their virtual meetings, conferences, training sessions and lectures, they’re becoming more well-versed in the platform and its capabilities. From virtual backgrounds to the ability to add Zoom closed captions, Zoom allows for a variety of functions and customization that are benefitting its users. To help those making the transition to remote work…

Technology has greatly disrupted traditional education and learning methods. The industry only continues to evolve as more tools to fuel student engagement become available. There has been a substantial increase in implementing online tools and digital media to modernize education and drive the engagement of students. Video and the need to facilitate distance learning is one of the biggest drivers…

The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly driven enterprise leaders to rethink the way they operate their businesses. In order to conduct business without disruption, professionals have turned to video conferencing to stay connected with their colleagues and customers. With the need to social distance and work remotely, video conferencing provides a more personalized approach. It serves as the closest alternative to…

This week, Professor Jeffrey Gray of Johns Hopkins University is hosting a virtual conference with more than 200 scientists to drive further collaboration and synergies as they work to develop possible vaccines and treatments for the new coronavirus. The virtual meeting is designed to bring together the COVID-19 related research being conducted at more than 75 Rosetta Commons labs. The…

In a recent piece on Forbes, Paul LeBlanc examined the current challenges facing colleges and universities, which are “scrambling to finish the academic year online, fretting over next fall’s enrollment, and struggling with cash flow challenges.” LeBlanc serves as President of Southern New Hampshire University, one of the largest universities in the U.S. with 180,000 learners, mostly online. He went…

Closed captions were once considered only as an aid for individuals with disabilities. The ability to turn on the CC feature helped these select individuals consume media content effectively. Now, closed captions are both expected and used by a wide range of audiences. Broadcast Captioning not only ensure that emergency alerts are effectively delivered to individuals who are deaf or…

The use of video has exploded in recent years. Video has proven to be an effective tool to engage, educate and entertain an array of audiences. It’s therefore being implemented into more university courses, eLearning, companies’ marketing campaigns, employee training and media coverage. When producing video, leaders at universities, companies and media institutions can select from a range of solutions…

University leaders are currently being charged with continuing to provide coursework to students, but limiting all face-to-face interactions to keep their students safe. However, many of these professors have never taught in virtual environments prior. They’re actively seeking actionable tips and knowledge on how to keep their students engaged while learning remotely. “The challenge right now is ensuring that new…

University administrators with responsibilities which fall within the disability services, IT and accessibility departments were formerly faced with the daunting challenge of making the case for embedding more digital technologies into current classrooms to aid more students. Now, with 200 universities and colleges moving their courses online in response to the coronavirus outbreak, the expertise of these individuals is being…

A growing number of universities and colleges are shifting to remote learning and cancelling in-person classes due to fears of the spread of the coronavirus. Some schools are even asking students to leave their campuses. More than 1,000 cases have now been reported in the US. American University, the University of Maryland, Syracuse University and Rice University are among those…

Verbit is excited to announce the launch of EduALL, a complimentary virtual summit, on April 1st from 10am – 12:30pm EST. The event is designed to provide higher-ed professionals with best practices, tips and tools to evolve their universities and online schools to work for all students, regardless of ability or disability. The event will feature notable speakers such as…

Universities and online schools in North America aren’t the only ones looking to make their course materials more accessible. Legislation in the United Kingdom, including the Equality Act of 2010 (EQA), has driven universities and online schools in the UK to provide greater accessibility to their students. Rather than view the tools deemed necessary to make materials accessible as requirements…

The “Universal Design for Learning” approach continues to gain recognition and momentum among higher education professionals. Verbit recently hosted a webinar focused on UDL application to provide a refresh on UDL and how it’s evolving. Dr. Eric Moore, a UDL specialist at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a higher-ed consultant, recently joined Verbit’s Accessibility Evangelist, Scott Ready to explore…

From parents with young children to those who lack means of transportation or are employed full-time, online course offerings can remove a significant barrier standing in the way of their ability to earn an education and a degree. Online courses present countless benefits, including meeting the expectations and needs of today’s tech savvy, remote world. Yet designing an online course…

The number of international students in the US reached an all-time high, with more than one million international students. International students make up 5.5 percent of the total US higher education population. They also contributed $44.7 billion to the US economy in 2018, an increase of 5.5 percent from the previous year, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Universities…

Verbit is excited to be participating and exhibiting at this week’s video experience conference, Kaltura Connect, to be held January 21-23 at the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans. This annual conference gathers 500 attendees for three days of workshops, panels and networking to discuss the latest challenges and opportunities in video. Each year, Kaltura gathers some of the world’s leading…

Providing students with more personalized learning has been a goal of university leaders for years. Experienced higher education professionals understand that each learner brings a unique blend of experiences and expectations to the desk and can therefore benefit from multiple methods of consuming course content. In the past, educators have tried to enlist learning management systems to develop various learning…

Verbit is excited to announce the close of a $31 million Series B round, led by growth equity firm Stripes and with participation from Viola Ventures, Vertex Ventures, HV Ventures, Oryzn Capital and ClalTech. This latest round of funding brings Verbit’s total amount raised to $65 million, following a $23 million Series A round in January 2019. Verbit’s valuation has…

Video streaming is on the rise, increasing from over 972MM video viewers in 2017 to over 1.1 billion in 2020. This number is only expected to increase, reaching 1.3 billion by 2024. When considering the growth of video, it’s important to consider all of the individuals consuming it. From those who are commuting to those who are living with disabilities…

The experience of going off to college can feel daunting to many. Students are presented with a period of unprecedented internal growth and a mix of opportunities and challenges that can be self-defining. Yet when you factor in also managing a learning challenge or disability, it’s important for students to know they’re investing in schools that will also invest in…

More universities and companies are investing in providing distance learning opportunities. With many marketing tactics at play and unaccredited programs on the market, it’s important to do your research and gain a strong understanding of the specific program you’re signing up for. When choosing to invest your hard-earned savings or making considerations to take out a student loan, it’s crucial…

As part of a recurring series, “The Accessible Classroom Redefined,” Verbit hosted a webinar this month to gather higher education decision makers for a live discussion. This episode, Driving Inclusion with Key Partner Institutions, was led by Accessibility Evangelist Scott Ready and featured TCS Education System’s Senior Learning Experience Designer, Lord Giddie. Giddie has been successfully implementing inclusion measures and…

Automatic speech recognition (ASR), is one of the technologies focused on voice that has the greatest impact; it’s transforming the way students learn, employees work and society functions. ASR technology is also creating opportunities to assist specific communities of individuals, such as those navigating life or their studies with disabilities. What is ASR? Automatic speech recognition refers to technologies built…

Leaders in higher education are captioning their content more than ever before. Institutions are utilizing closed captioning services to assist students who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as students who retain content better when it’s also presented visually. Unlike open captions, which are displayed on the video by default, closed video captioning services are controlled by the…

A landmark case on accessibility involving one of the most iconic universities was just settled. Four years after litigation began, The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) announced that Harvard University will be instituting a new series of guidelines to make the university’s site, online resources and live events accessible to those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Harvard…

Student retention is often top-of-mind for nearly every university leader, but what happens when initial enrollment numbers decline? Declining enrollment is a significant problem facing the higher education industry. The severity of today’s enrollment decline came to light last month in Boston when Beacon Hill leaders met to debate a bill requiring more financial transparency from higher education institutions. The…

Individuals navigating a multitude of disabilities that often aren’t evident by the naked eye, frequently do not disclose them. As a result, these individuals often aren’t taking advantage of tools that can greatly assist them in their studies, workplace or daily lives. This reality is elucidated by statistics, which include: 1 in 8 people in the U.S. is experiencing hearing…

As technology progresses, higher education institutions continue to make strides toward more inclusive, accessible experiences for students. Yet according to a 2019 report by the National Center for College Students with Disabilities, there are still many barriers to campus access. Professionals at Verbit continue to seek out ways to partner with organizations that educate higher education institutions on accessibility and…

1 in 4 US adults, or 61MM Americans, have a disability that impacts major life activities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yet only 4% of employees, identify “as having a disability” in the workplace, reported the National Organization on Disability. More individuals with disabilities are finding employment opportunities, but “only 1 in 20 young adults with…

Automatic speech recognition impacts everything from our personal lives to how justice is served in courts to improved student learning. So what exactly is speech recognition? How does speech recognition work across industries that impact our day to day lives, health, education, careers, and chances to thrive? How Did Speech Recognition Begin? It was 1952 when Bell Laboratories presented Audrey,…

Higher education institutions are combining advanced technology and education strategies to improve student achievement. This combination has led to incredible growth in the expansion of personalized learning paths that help students thrive and interactive experiences that further immerse students in the professions they’re pursuing. These strategies are preparing students to work in fast-paced, technologically-driven environments. Arguably the greatest impact of…

In a world and society designed for ‘normal’, people with disabilities often find it challenging to access everyday opportunities that many take for granted. This reality is especially evident in higher education. These limitations are evident physically, such as university elevators that are too narrow for wheelchairs, and academically when classes are taught without closed captions and transcriptions for deaf…

Voice recognition technology identifies a speaker and authenticates that he or she is indeed that individual. Unlike speech recognition, which identifies the words spoken, voice recognition analyzes countless patterns and elements that distinguish one person’s voice from another. Voice recognition is now being used in every facet of our lives, personally and professionally. How Is Voice Recognition Used in Everyday…

Digital transformation is making waves in higher education across the world. It changes how leadership manages the campus, it makes data-based automation possible for improving campus operations and student wellbeing, and it differentiates institutions for top tier students who seek innovative education that trains them to succeed in tomorrow’s workplaces, just to name a few of the exciting developments. But…

In today’s world, organizations are inundated with a wide variety of transcription rate structures, which makes it challenging to compare one service provider from another. Therefore, the following quick guide is all about the most common payment structures, what transcription rate per minute and transcription rates per hour organizations can expect to pay, plus what exactly goes into those rates,…

Education has been opening doors to professional and personal growth for centuries, but not for everyone. Therefore, an increasing number of education organizations are tapping into the positive effects of technology on education, realizing that choosing the right tools and methods can be a game-changer for students that have been previously marginalized. To get organizations ready to expand their impact…

“In 1945, Congress declared the first week in October ‘National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.’ That week is now a month, so there’s more time to celebrate,” reported the National Disability Institute, explaining that the entire month of October is now dedicated to highlighting barriers to employment that people with disabilities face, and the significance of including them more efficiently…

Today’s universities and online education organizations strive for inclusivity and accessibility in order to spread knowledge and create career opportunities for all, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing or aren’t native speakers of the class’s language of instruction. As distractions increase and information is conveyed faster than ever, adding captions to your content can easily scale the…

In the ’70s, ABC introduced the concept of adding words to television programs. It was a major innovation that required sophisticated technology and specialized equipment, meaning not all TV sets could support it. But, it marked the dawn of a new era and represented a major milestone for the hearing-impaired community. As the decades progressed, we’ve reached the point where…

The makeup of the American student population is changing. According to a report by the United States Department of Education, approximately 11% of all undergraduates in American colleges report having a disability – up from 6% almost two decades prior. But, while more students with disabilities are enrolling in college programs, the graduation rate of this population remains lower. 41%…

Technology is evolving faster than most of us can keep up. It’s hard to believe that the iPad made its debut a mere nine years ago. 15 years ago, who could fathom that we could keep a computer in our back pockets? Yet a few years later, the first iPhone made its debut and that is exactly what we do.…

What is the Definition of Assistive Technology? The 1998 United States Assistive Technology Act defines assistive technology, or, adaptive technology, as any “product, device, or equipment, whether acquired commercially, modified or customized, that is used to maintain, increase, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.” Like all technology, these products have evolved over time, both in their capabilities…

On April 23, 2005, Jawed Karim posted a video of himself online. Although Me at the zoo was not the first video to be uploaded to the web, nor were its 19 seconds exceptionally remarkable, the footage would make history by being the first entry on YouTube. Since then, billions of videos have been shared on the platform, with an…

AI is the difference-maker According to the online database maintained by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA), there are 316 certified CART providers in higher education in the United States, which is insufficient to meet the high demand for this service. Due to their lack of availability, it is hard to book these highly sought-after professionals, which is particularly challenging…

Higher education today is not what it used to be. Once upon a time, taking copious notes as the professor droned on and memorizing textbook passages were synonymous with the college learning experience. However, over the past two decades, online education and multimedia content have supplanted outdated methods, becoming mainstays of the educational landscape. Thanks to the surge of digital…

On April 23, 2005, Jawed Karim posted a video of himself online. Although Me at the zoo was not the first video to be uploaded to the web, nor were its 19 seconds exceptionally remarkable, the footage would make history by being the first entry on YouTube. Since that watershed moment, billions of videos have been shared on the platform, with an…

Welcome back to our blog series on increasing campus accessibility. Part one focused on the importance of inclusive academics, specifically through universal design. In this section, we will explore the key role of online accessibility in ensuring an equitable learning environment for all students. Most universities have shifted to an online paradigm, offering lecture recordings along with a variety of content on…

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law in 1990. The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities…

Online videos have become the norm and one of the most predominant ways of watching online media in the 21st century for the majority of individuals. Gone are the days of checking your TV guide, or even Tele-Text (for those old enough to remember) for the next available screening of your favorite TV show. With online videos, multiple streaming services,…

When trying to figure out the best solution to use for closed captioning and audio/video transcripts, the options are endless. With a wide spectrum of vendors, only a selected few are able to stand out and provide a solution unique from the rest. Below are 5 points to keep in mind when researching solutions for closed captions and audio/video transcriptions:…

Ever sat and wondered what the advantages of transcription actually are? Well, the truth is that unless you need or use transcription and captioning,  chances are you’ve been kept in the dark. “Transcribing is one of the fastest growing jobs in the US. Transcription work can be a good choice for people who are retired or who want to earn…

April 2018 – Verbit secures a $11million seed funding, led by HV Holtzbrinck Ventures, Vertex Ventures and Oryzn Capital. Verbit was founded only a year ago by entrepreneurs Tom Livne (CEO), Eric Shellef (CTO) and Kobi Ben-Tzvi (VP of Engineering). The startups operates in the professional transcription market, which is a multi billion dollar market for its various connections to clients at different…

For a moment, let’s consider accessibility and imagine that the year is 1990. New Kids on the Block is churning out hit after hit, Home Alone is the No. 1 movie in America, and the Internet still exists as a hard-to-explain phenomenon (yes, a strange year indeed). And yet, beyond the pop culture references and fun facts, 1990 also marks…

The following white paper aims to give a clearer insight and approach when choosing a transcription and closed captioning vendor.  Depending on your own specific needs such as, boosting SEO, or making your videos more searchable some generic questions will need to be asked before selecting a vendor. Selecting a captioning and transcription vendor is not as easy you think…