Perhaps one of the most unexpected ripple effects of the global pandemic was a renewed interest in and need for closed captions and subtitles on pre-recorded and live media content. In fact, recent research suggests that post-pandemic, roughly 24% of media consumers turn on subtitles and leave them on all the time while viewing video content on television sets or online.
Now that live venues have reopened to the public, Verbit has rolled out a new solution specifically designed to help translate the public’s growing dependence on captioned and subtitled content into live event settings. Venue Live is set to revolutionize accessibility in live venues like arenas, stadiums, theaters and concert halls by providing top-tier captions and subtitles for live events and performances, such as sporting events, town halls and meetings, conferences or graduation ceremonies. Let’s discuss some of the basics of Veribt’s live captioning solutions and explore how this revolutionary technology can help create a more equitable and accessible world.
What: Closed captions and subtitles
Put simply, captioning refers to the process of converting audio information to on-screen text that can be accessed and viewed in sync with a piece of live or recorded media. Closed captions are captions that can be controlled by an individual viewer – i.e. the captions can be turned on and off as each audience member sees fit. Open captions, on the other hand, are permanently affixed to a video and cannot be enabled or disabled on an individual basis.
There is often a tendency for people to conflate the terms “subtitles” and “captions.” Subtitling is technically a style of captioning that provides visual representations of only the spoken text of a video. This differs from traditional closed captioning in that closed captions must also convey written representations of non-speech audio elements like music and sound effects. Due to their comprehensive nature, closed captions are an incredibly effective solution for supporting audience members who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
The same cannot be said of subtitles. Because they seek to represent only the spoken language of a video, subtitles are most frequently used to provide on-screen translations of content for viewers who may be engaging with media in a non-native language, rather than as accessibility tools. Both subtitles and captions can be valuable tools for providing more accessible and engaging live venue experiences, but it is important to consider the specific needs of each audience to select the most appropriate solution for any given event.
How: Venue Live
Venue Live, Verbit’s event captioning solution, is highly versatile and universally adaptable. Venue Live is powered by Verbit’s proprietary ASR technology, Captivate™, and designed to deliver seamless support for the specific needs of different audiences. That’s because Verbit’s ASR software is trained using advanced, industry-specific learning models in conjunction with constantly evolving client input. By pre-training our solutions, Verbit is able to deliver more accurate, industry-appropriate captions for live events across a variety of contexts. With Venue Live, audio input is received in real-time, converted to text and displayed within a venue or on a mobile device.
Here’s how it Verbit’s live captions can be integrated into different event settings:
- Scoreboards: Captions can be displayed on scoreboards, ensuring that everyone in the audience can follow along in real time with live commentary and announcements.
- Ribbon boards: Ribbon boards are often found around the interior of large venues like stadiums. Captions can be displayed on these ribbon boards and used to provide visual representations of public addresses, safety announcements and more.
- Mobile streaming: With Venue Live, attendees have the option to stream closed captions directly to their mobile device via unique URLs. Verbit’s captions can be streamed and translated into more than 30 different languages, so this solution is an excellent option for supporting audience members of different language backgrounds.
Thanks to its varied delivery options, Venue Live is a software solution that can easily be incorporated into a broad spectrum of events designed for audiences of diverse backgrounds and abilities. Providing highly accurate captions for live events can not only enhance accessibility for attendees with disabilities but deliver more engaging, dynamic event experiences to all.
Why: Accurate live event captioning
In today’s diverse and multicultural society, captioning is no longer an added bonus, it’s an absolute must-have. Here are some of the most crucial reasons for event organizers and venue managers to consider incorporating assistive technologies into their programming:
Legal requirements
Various legal standards and guidelines currently mandate accessibility in public venues in the United States, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA requires that public accommodations, including sports arenas and event centers, provide auxiliary aids and services to ensure effective communication with individuals with disabilities. This includes providing accurate captions for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing. Verbit’s live captions are accurate enough to support today’s legal standards and guidelines while ensuring all event attendees can engage fully and equally with live event experiences.
Moral considerations
Beyond legal compliance, providing captions is simply the right thing to do. It promotes inclusivity and ensures that individuals of all backgrounds and abilities can enjoy and participate equitably in live events. At their best, live events provide unique and remarkable opportunities for people from all over the world to build community and engage with like-minded peers. With that in mind, it’s crucial to ensure that all attendees can live in the moment and make unforgettable memories without feeling held back or limited by accessibility issues.
Business benefits
From a business perspective, offering accessibility services can also lead to increased attendance and greater overall customer satisfaction. Attendees are more likely to return to and recommend venues that provide a fully accessible experience. Providing top-tier, accessible experiences to all attendees is one of the best ways to establish your venue as one that values and prioritizes diversity, equity and inclusion.
Changing the live event landscape
Venue Live by Verbit is well-positioned to change the landscape of live events now and for years to come. Thanks to its highly adaptable and ever-evolving technological foundation, Venue Live has the ability to grow and change with a venue to meet the needs of staff and event attendees of all backgrounds and abilities. Whether displayed on scoreboards and ribbon boards, or streamed directly to mobile devices, Verbit’s live captions ensure that everyone can live in the moment and make the most of their event experience.
To learn more about incorporating captions and translations into live events or for more information about how Venue Live is helping event professionals raise the bar on event accessibility, reach out today to speak to a member of the Verbit team.