Transcripts and Captions

Inclusivity involves catering to users who speak different languages or have limited English proficiency. A website might provide content in multiple languages to ensure a broader audience can understand the information. In this scenario, accessibility comes into play by providing accurate transcripts and captions for multimedia content like videos. This not only makes the content accessible to deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals but also benefits users who might not understand the spoken language well, regardless of their language background. (Favreau, 2023)

Ofcom did a study collecting statistics about user awareness of closed captioning and the number of people who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing in the UK (Klein, 2022). They found that around 7.5 million people in the UK (about 18% of the population) used closed captions; of those, only 1.5 million were d/Deaf. This means that around 80% of the people using captions were doing so for something other than hearing issues.

Transcripts and captions can provide significant public benefits in various scenarios beyond just accessibility for people with disabilities. Here are a few examples:

1. Noisy Environments
   Having captions available for TV screens can be invaluable in loud bars, restaurants, or other noisy public spaces. Customers can follow news broadcasts, sports games, or other televised content without struggling to hear over the noise. This enhances the overall experience and ensures that individuals stay informed even in challenging acoustic conditions.
2. Airports and Transportation Hubs
   Airports and transportation terminals can be bustling and noisy environments. Visual captions on screens displaying important announcements, flight information, or emergency instructions ensure that travelers receive critical information accurately, regardless of the noise levels.
3. Healthcare Waiting Rooms
   In doctors’ offices or hospital waiting rooms, where patients may be waiting in silence, TV captions can help individuals understand and follow health-related information or news updates without disturbing the quiet environment.
4. Gyms and Fitness Centers
   Fitness facilities often have multiple TVs showing news, sports, or entertainment content. Captions enable gym-goers to read along with the content while listening to their music or focusing on their workouts, providing an inclusive experience.
5. Public Transportation
   In buses, trains, and subways, where noise from the surrounding environment can make it difficult to hear announcements, captions on display screens can help passengers receive crucial information about stops, transfers, and safety instructions.
6. Educational Settings
   In classrooms, lecture halls, and auditoriums, captions on presentations, videos, and slides can benefit students who are non-native speakers, have hearing difficulties, or prefer visual learning. Captions can enhance comprehension and retention of the material.
7. Public Events
   During conferences, seminars, workshops, and panel discussions, providing live captions on screens or through digital platforms enables participants to follow discussions more efficiently, even from a distance. It helps attendees engage fully in the event.
8. Digital Content in Public Spaces
   In malls, libraries, museums, and other public venues, digital displays and kiosks often provide information or entertainment. Captions allow visitors to engage with the content without audio, making it accessible to a broader range of people.

In all these scenarios, providing transcripts and captions goes beyond accessibility and benefits everyone in the public, including those who might not have identified as needing them initially. Captions enhance information access, engagement, and user experience in diverse settings and situations.

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