Latest news with #GlobalAccessibilityAwarenessDay
CNET
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CNET
AI-Powered Closed Captions Could Open Up New Possibilities
Closed captions have become a staple of the TV- and movie-watching experience. For some, it's a way to decipher muddled dialogue. For others, like those who are deaf or hard of hearing, it's a critical accessibility tool. But captions aren't perfect, and tech companies and studios are increasingly looking to AI to change that. Captioning for TV shows and movies is largely still done by real people, who can help to ensure accuracy and preserve nuance. But there are challenges. Anyone who's watched a live event with closed captions knows on-screen text often lags, and there can be errors in the rush of the process. Scripted programming offers more time for accuracy and detail, but it can still be a labor-intensive process -- or, in the eyes of studios, a costly one. In September, Warner Bros. Discovery announced it's teaming up with Google Cloud to develop AI-powered closed captions, "coupled with human oversight for quality assurance." In a press release, the company said using AI in captioning lowered costs by up to 50%, and reduced the time it takes to caption a file up to 80%. Experts say this is a peek into the future. "Anybody that's not doing it is just waiting to be displaced," Joe Devon, a web accessibility advocate and co-founder of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, said of using AI in captioning. The quality of today's manual captions is "sort of all over the place, and it definitely needs to improve." As AI continues to transform our world, it's also reshaping how companies approach accessibility. Google's Expressive Captions feature, for instance, uses AI to better convey emotion and tone in videos. Apple added transcriptions for voice messages and memos in iOS 18, which double as ways to make audio content more accessible. Both Google and Apple have real-time captioning tools to help deaf or hard-of-hearing people access audio content on their devices, and Amazon added text-to-speech and captioning features to Alexa. Warner Bros. Discovery is teaming up with Google Cloud to roll out AI-powered captions. A human oversees the process. Google/Warner Bros. Discovery In the entertainment space, Amazon launched a feature in 2023 called Dialogue Boost in Prime Video, which uses AI to identify and enhance speech that might be hard to hear above background music and effects. The company also announced a pilot program in March that uses AI to dub movies and TV shows "that would not have been dubbed otherwise," it said in a blog post. And in a mark of just how collectively reliant viewers have become on captioning, Netflix in April rolled out a dialogue-only subtitles option for anyone who simply wants to understand what's being said in conversations, while leaving out sound descriptions. As AI continues to develop, and as we consume more content on screens both big and small, it's only a matter of time before more studios, networks and tech companies tap into AI's potential -- hopefully, while remembering why closed captions exist in the first place. Keeping accessibility at the forefront The development of closed captioning in the US began as an accessibility measure in the 1970s, ultimately making everything from live television broadcasts to movie blockbusters more equitable for a wider audience. But many viewers who aren't deaf or hard of hearing also prefer watching movies and TV shows with captions -- which are also commonly referred to as subtitles, even though that technically relates to language translation -- especially in cases where production dialogue is hard to decipher. Half of Americans say they usually watch content with subtitles, according to a 2024 survey by language learning site Preply, and 55% of total respondents said it's become harder to hear dialogue in movies and shows. Those habits aren't limited to older viewers; a 2023 YouGov survey found that 63% of adults under 30 prefer to watch TV with subtitles on -- compared to 30% of people aged 65 and older. "People, and also content creators, tend to assume captions are only for the deaf or hard of hearing community," said Ariel Simms, president and CEO of Disability Belongs. But captions can also make it easier for anyone to process and retain information. By speeding up the captioning process, AI can help make more content accessible, whether it's a TV show, movie or social media clip, Simms notes. But quality could suffer, especially in the early days. "We have a name for AI-generated captions in the disability community -- we call them 'craptions,'" Simms laughed. That's because automated captions still struggle with things like punctuation, grammar and proper names. The technology might not be able to pick up on different accents, dialects or patterns of speech the way a human would. Ideally, Simms said, companies that use AI to generate captions will still have a human onboard to maintain accuracy and quality. Studios and networks should also work directly with the disability community to ensure accessibility isn't compromised in the process. "I'm not sure we can ever take humans entirely out of the process," Simms said. "I do think the technology will continue to get better and better. But at the end of the day, if we're not partnering with the disability community, we're leaving out an incredibly important perspective on all of these accessibility tools." Studios like Warner Bros. Discovery and Amazon, for example, emphasize the role of humans in ensuring AI-powered captioning and dubbing is accurate. "You're going to lose your reputation if you allow AI slop to dominate your content," Devon said. "That's where the human is going to be in the loop." But given how rapidly the technology is developing, human involvement may not last forever, he predicts. "Studios and broadcasters will do whatever costs the least, that's for sure," Devon said. But, he added, "If technology empowers an assistive technology to do the job better, who is anyone to stand in the way of that?" The line between detailed and overwhelming It's not just TV and movies where AI is supercharging captioning. Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have implemented auto-caption features to help make more content accessible. These native captions often show up as plain text, but sometimes, creators opt for flashier displays in the editing process. One common "karaoke" style involves highlighting each individual word as it's being spoken, while using different colors for the text. But this more dynamic approach, while eye-catching, can compromise readability. People aren't able to read at their own pace, and all the colors and motion can be distracting. "There's no way to make 100% of the users happy with captions, but only a small percentage benefits from and prefers karaoke style," said Meryl K. Evans, an accessibility marketing consultant, who is deaf. She says she has to watch videos with dynamic captions multiple times to get the message. "The most accessible captions are boring. They let the video be the star." But there are ways to maintain simplicity while adding helpful context. Google's Expressive Captions feature uses AI to emphasize certain sounds and give viewers a better idea of what's happening on their phones. An excited "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" might appear in all caps, for instance, or a sports announcer's enthusiasm may be relayed by adding extra letters onscreen to say, "amaaazing shot!" Expressive Captions also labels sounds like applause, gasping and whistling. All on-screen text appears in black and white, so it's not distracting. Expressive Captions puts some words in all-caps to convey excitement. Google Accessibility was a primary focus when developing the feature, but Angana Ghosh, Android's director of product management, said the team was aware that users who aren't deaf or hard of hearing would benefit from using it, too. (Think of all the times you've been out in public without headphones but still wanted to follow what was happening in a video, for instance.) "When we develop for accessibility, we are actually building a much better product for everyone," Ghosh says. Still, some people might prefer more lively captions. In April, ad agency FCB Chicago debuted an AI-powered platform called Caption with Intention, which uses animation, color and variable typography to convey emotion, tone and pacing. Distinct text colors represent different characters' lines, and words are highlighted and synchronized to the actor's speech. Shifting type sizes and weight help to relay how loud someone is speaking, as well as their intonation. The open-source platform is available for studios, production companies and streaming platforms to implement. FCB partnered with the Chicago Hearing Society to develop and test captioning variations with people who are deaf and hard of hearing. Bruno Mazzotti, executive creative director at FCB Chicago, said his own experience being raised by two deaf parents also helped shape the platform. "Closed caption was very much a part of my life; it was a deciding factor of what we were going to watch as a family," Mazzotti said. "Having the privilege of hearing, I always could notice when things didn't work well," he noted, like when captions were lagging behind dialogue or when text got jumbled when multiple people were speaking at once. "The key objective was to bring more emotion, pacing, tone and speaker identity to people." Caption with Intention is a platform that uses animation, color and different typography to convey tone, emotion and pacing. Caption with Intention Eventually, Mazzotti said, the goal is to offer more customization options so viewers can adjust caption intensity. Still, that more animated approach might be too distracting for some viewers, and could make it harder for them to follow what's happening onscreen. It ultimately boils down to personal preference. "That's not to say that we should categorically reject such approaches," said Christian Vogler, director of the Technology Access Program at Gallaudet University. "But we need to carefully study them with deaf and hard of hearing viewers to ensure that they are a net benefit." No easy fix Despite its current drawbacks, AI could ultimately help to expand the availability of captioning and offer greater customization, Vogler said. YouTube's auto-captions are one example of how, despite a rough start, AI can make more video content accessible, especially as the technology improves over time. There could be a future in which captions are tailored to different reading levels and speeds. Non-speech information could become more descriptive, too, so that instead of generic labels like "SCARY MUSIC," you'll get more details that convey the mood. But the learning curve is steep. "AI captions still perform worse than the best of human captioners, especially if audio quality is compromised, which is very common in both TV and movies," Vogler said. Hallucinations could also serve up inaccurate captions that end up isolating deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers. That's why humans should remain part of the captioning process, he added. What will likely happen is that jobs will adapt, said Deborah Fels, director of the Inclusive Media and Design Centre at Toronto Metropolitan University. Human captioners will oversee the once-manual labor that AI will churn out, she predicts. "So now, we have a different kind of job that is needed in captioning," Fels said. "Humans are much better at finding errors and deciding how to correct them." And while AI for captioning is still a nascent technology that's limited to a handful of companies, that likely won't be the case for long. "They're all going in that direction," Fels said. "It's a matter of time -- and not that much time."
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Qatar Tribune
UDST holds film fest to mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day
Tribune News Network Doha The University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) organised a special film festival in celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), bringing together students and faculty members for a gathering of storytelling and inclusion. The event, held on UDST campus, featured a curated lineup of short films that shed light on real-life experiences and challenges related to accessibility and inclusion. The festival aimed to raise awareness and promote a culture of empowerment and equality through the art of cinema. Audience members were invited to take part in the experience by casting their votes for their favorite films. Dr Salem Al-Naemi, president of UDST, stated: 'We believe education must be inclusive and accessible to all. Through this festival, we are highlighting the importance of creating educational and social environments that embrace diversity and uphold the values of human dignity. UDST remains committed to promoting a culture of inclusion across all aspects of university life.' The event aligns with UDST's ongoing efforts to raise community awareness about global issues and reinforce its role as a leading educational institution driving positive change through purposeful educational and creative platforms. The festival also created a dynamic environment for dialogue and brought important accessibility topics to the forefront.
Express Tribune
19-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Apple launches accessibility features for people with sight and hearing impairment
Listen to article Apple has unveiled a suite of new accessibility features include live captions, upgraded braille support, personal voice replication, and new screen magnifier options designed for people with vision or hearing impairments on Wednesday, before Global Accessibility Awareness Day. In a significant shift, developers will now be required to include "nutrition labels" for accessibility in their app listings, showing support for features like voiceover, large text or voice control. Apple's senior director of global accessibility policy, Sarah Herrlinger, said the labelling initiative would help developers better understand how to build inclusive tools. 'It gives them a real opportunity to understand what it means to be accessible,' Herrlinger said. A highlight of the update is the new personal voice feature, which allows users to replicate their own voice using just 10 recorded phrases. The data remains on-device and encrypted unless backed up to iCloud. The screen magnifier, now available on Macs and iPhones, lets users zoom in on presentations or whiteboards, with adjustable settings for contrast, colour and brightness. The braille features include note-taking, mathematical input using Nemeth braille, and improved compatibility with devices. Apple also introduced 'Live Listen,' which allows AirPods to enhance audio in lecture halls or public settings. The update complements a previously released feature that turns AirPods into hearing aids. Herrlinger rejected the suggestion that Apple's accessibility tools come at a cost, despite the brand's premium pricing. 'All of this is available to you right out of the box at no additional charge,' she said. She added that users found it more economical to have multiple accessibility tools built into a single device rather than purchasing separate aids. Vision Australia's head of corporate affairs, Chris Edwards, who is blind and has a seeing eye dog, appreciate companies for ensuring the accessibility features were inbuilt into products and operating systems. 'I would imagine the interpretation of images through the new features will make these more accessible for everyone. Being able to interpret images live is a key next step to change people's lives,' he said. 'The new accessibility features looks particularly good for students in classrooms. I think it also highlights that braille is still a very important format.' The announcement comes just as Apple's main rival, Google, rolls out similar AI-powered accessibility tools on Android. Apple's updates will be released later this year.
Business Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Ascott, CapitaLand Hope Foundation partner Save the Children to help beneficiaries in Thailand, UK
[SINGAPORE] Ascott, the wholly owned lodging business unit of CapitaLand Investment (CLI), and CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF) on Saturday (May 19) announced that they have partnered non-profit organisation Save the Children for a S$400,000 initiative to help about 160 children and youths with disabilities in Thailand and the UK. Through two programmes, the donation will support the overseas beneficiaries in obtaining more social, educational and economic opportunities. The initiative is funded by CHF – the philanthropic arm of CapitaLand Group – under its CapitaLand AccessAble Programme, which aims to support persons with disabilities by enhancing their independent living skills and fostering social engagement. Tan Seng Chai, executive director of CHF and senior adviser at CLI, said: 'The collaboration between Ascott and Save the Children also creates meaningful opportunities for Ascott staff to contribute directly, from identifying accessibility barriers to co-developing practical solutions.' In Thailand, Ascott and Save the Children will develop a tailored skills curriculum for 60 visually impaired youths. It focuses on workplace readiness, teaching skills such as communication, teamwork and problem-solving. At the end of the programme, around half of the beneficiaries are expected to secure employment with Dots Coffee, a social enterprise operated entirely by individuals with visual impairment. The rest will continue to receive job placement support. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Guillaume Rachou, executive director of Save the Children Thailand, said: 'This initiative is not just about preparing youth for jobs; it is about changing perceptions and creating a more inclusive society.' Meanwhile, in the UK, the funds will go towards the Sheffield Community Bus Project, which caters to around 100 children with special educational needs and disabilities as well as their families, who live below the poverty line. The project features a bus that delivers workshops and essential services, enabling the children to access social and educational opportunities in their communities. The S$400,000 initiative was announced at a special concert held in Bangkok, in celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, which was observed two days prior. The concert featured orchestral and mime performances by artists with disabilities. Ascott's partnership with Save the Children expands the business unit's efforts to enhance disability inclusion under the Ascott Cares sustainability framework. Beh Siew Kim, who is chief financial and sustainability officer of lodging at CLI, Ascott managing director for Japan and Korea, and board director of CHF, said: 'This initiative also complements our broader collaboration with SG Enable – Singapore's focal agency for disability and inclusion – to enhance disability inclusion across physical spaces, programmes, hiring, digital platforms and training.'
The Guardian
18-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Apple to launch new accessibility features for people with vision or hearing impairments
Apple has announced a broad range of new accessibility features for iOS focused on people with vision or hearing impairments, with the company downplaying the notion that the price of Apple hardware means accessibility comes at a cost. On Wednesday, before Global Accessibility Awareness Day on Thursday 15 May, Apple announced new accessibility features to launch on iOS later this year, including live captions, personal voice replication, improved tools for reading, braille reader improvements and 'nutrition labels' in the app store. In these labels, developers will be required to list what accessibility features their app has, which may include voiceover, voice control or large text. Apple's senior director of global accessibility policy and initiatives, Sarah Herrlinger, told Guardian Australia that the nutrition labels would hopefully encourage developers to enable more accessibility options in the future. '[It] gives them a real opportunity to understand what it means to be accessible and why they should do it and then build on that,' she said. 'By doing it this way, we're also giving them the opportunity to grow into it; maybe there are a couple of the features that they already are doing really well, and they get an opportunity to highlight those as they learn about the other ones and start to build those.' The company also improved its magnifier app, bringing it to Mac and allowing users to use the camera or an attached iPhone to zoom in on screens or whiteboards in lectures to be able to read presentations – with adjustable brightness, contrast, colours and settings that make it easier to see texts and images. New braille features include note-taking with a braille screen input or a compatible braille device, and allow for calculation using Nemeth braille, a standard braille code used for maths and science. The new personal voice feature that can recreate a user's voice using just 10 phrases is an improvement over the existing model, which requires 150 phrases and for users to wait overnight for the model to be ready to use. Apple said this voice replication would be password-coded and remain on the device unless backed up to iCloud, where it would be encrypted, reducing the risk of someone's voice being used without their permission. Herrlinger said that as artificial intelligence advancements were made at Apple, the accessibility team was looking at how to integrate them into their work. 'We've actually been deeply working with our AI team for many years on features. And so as new opportunities arise, we always make sure that we're staying as cutting-edge as we can to build the best tech we can,' she said. Google's Android system has some similar accessibility features, including live captions, a braille reader and magnifier, and announced new AI-supported features this week. Live Listen, Apple's live captions feature, also allows users to get improved audio through their AirPods in places such as lecture theatres. In addition to live captions in this update, Apple also recently launched a feature allowing people with hearing loss to use AirPods as hearing aids. Apple's hardware often comes at a premium in the smartphone market. But Herrlinger rejected the idea that Apple's accessibility options come at a price, arguing the company was building them into its operating system for free. 'It is available to you right out of the box at no additional charge,' she said. 'And our goal is to build in a wide array of accessibility features, because we also know that every person's experience in the world is unique and so different people will use different accessibility features to support them, whether that be strictly around one disability or maybe multiple disabilities that they have.' Herrlinger noted that customers had said having multiple functions available on a principal device was more economical. 'Now they're all just built into a single device that is the same cost to everyone,' she said. 'So in our mind, it's more about that democratisation of accessibility within the operating system.' Vision Australia's head of corporate affairs, Chris Edwards, who is blind and has a seeing eye dog, applauded companies for ensuring the accessibility features were inbuilt into products and operating systems. 'I would imagine the interpretation of images through the new features will make these more accessible for everyone. Being able to interpret images live is a key next step to change people's lives,' he said. 'The new accessibility features looks particularly good for students in classrooms. I think it also highlights that braille is still a very important format.'
