Live captioning quality white paper

Media Access Australia have released a white paper entitled Caption Quality: International approaches to standards and measurement. It focuses on issues surrounding the live captioning of TV programs, the difficulties in measuring live captioning quality effectively, and some of the solutions that have been proposed.

This paper is well worth reading. Page 27 of the white paper gives a good explanation of the speed differences between stenocaptioning (CART, STTR) and respeaking – currently a hot topic in the UK for deaf and hard of hearing consumers.

This is the first in what will be an ongoing series of white papers produced by MAA covering important and topical issues in access to information and media through technology. We see the white paper series as integral to MAA fulfilling its role as a catalyst for change and advocate of practical approaches to these issues. Since our creation in 2006 we have carved out a reputation as an independent, credible source of information and advice on a range of media access issues. This has not been achieved in isolation, with MAA acting as a form of lofty think tank or research institute, but through engagement with and understanding of the media industry, suppliers, technology experts, governments and ultimately, the consumers who are trying to use their products and services. As such, we have always taken a real-world view to expanding access. The issues are often complex and interweave policy desires, market-driven solutions, rapidly evolving technologies, costs and revenue opportunities, and understanding the needs and behaviours of audiences. Put bluntly, there are no simple, magic bullet solutions to most access issues.

– Alex Varley, Chief Executive Officer, Media Access Australia

Live captioning quality white paper 2014

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Article photo: Wim Gerbecks