WCAG SC 1.2.4 focuses on providing captions for all live audio content in synchronized media.
To ensure all live audio content in synchronized media is accessible by providing real-time captions and to continuously monitor and maintain the quality of live captions, ensuring that the translation process remains synchronized with the participants' speech as much as possible.
Ensure Accuracy: While automated captions are helpful, consider using human captions such as CART captioning, for better accuracy and reliability. Aim to capture all spoken words, mention speaker’s identity, and include additional live cues like background music or sounds.
Live-streams: YouTube offers free live captioning services for live streams. To use this feature, enable the "Live chat" and "Closed captions" options when setting up a live stream. (YouTube's automated captions can be a starting point, but it's advisable to have a human caption-er for better accuracy, especially for important events).
Dialogues and Meetings: Platforms like OBS Studio and Zoom support live captioning integration. OBS Studio, combined with YouTube or Twitch, can provide a robust solution for live streaming with captions. Zoom offers live captioning services during webinars and meetings, either through third-party services or by assigning a participant to type captions.
CART Captioning: CART, short for Communication Access Real time Translation, is a service where trained captioners convert spoken words into real-time captions for participants at events, meetings, or any social gathering.
Example: A university holds a live webinar on mental health.
The university uses an app that rapidly translates and offers subtitles. While the subtitles offer textual conversion of all characters' speech, they neglect to include the dramatic background soundtrack intended to create a tense atmosphere for the audience. Consequently, individuals with hearing impairments may struggle to fully grasp the situation.
The university employs an app that also processes additional vocal cues into a textual version. Currently, when the dramatic background music is activated, the captions will provide a description such as "dramatic background music," enabling hard-of-hearing individuals to comprehend the situation beyond just the characters' speech.