Why are captions so popular in the non-deaf or hard-of-hearing population?

Why are captions so popular in the non-deaf or hard-of-hearing population?

Did you know, according to a study by Verizon Media, 80% of people who use captions are not deaf or hard of hearing? Another similar study conducted by Ofcom (the Office of Communications), the United Kingdom’s regulatory body for broadcasting, found that 7.5 million people in the UK (18% of the population) use closed captions or subtitles, as they are called in the UK. However, of that 705 million, only 1.5 million were (d)Deaf or hard of hearing. This implies that 805 television viewers who used closed captions are not (d)Deaf or hard of hearing.

Surprising! Right?

Let us discuss some more facts before we dwell on the reasons.

Captioning % expected by consumers based on content type –

Image credit: Verizon Media

Why are captions famous among abled audiences?

In a nutshell, the answer to this question was answered in the Ofcom study, where people admitted that captions/subtitles are generally very effective in making programs understood.

Studies have also proved that adding captions or subtitles to videos improves memory, comprehension, and attention to videos for audiences across ages, from children to adults. Closed captions have benefitted everyone, from students to moviegoers, even if they are not (d)Deaf or hard of hearing.

Who are the not hard of hearing users using closed captions –

  • Viewers who use English as a second language hugely benefit from using closed captions. Adding captions allows them to improve their English language comprehension and fully understand the content.
  • Students who are not hard of hearing are another set of users who use captions as frequently as their (d)Deaf or hard-of-hearing counterparts. Captions have helped students to focus, retain information, and understand the academic material.
  • Ardent movie watchers love having closed captions while indulging in the movie of their choice. Closed captions have helped people understand different accents. Redditors have confessed to having closed captions switched on all the time. They even agreed that they couldn’t enjoy any video without subtitles.
  • Remember the Verizon media statistic which said every 1 in 3 people has captions in a public setting? People love watching videos while traveling, sitting in a park, or library, and having closed captions allows them to enjoy the content without creating a nuisance for others.
  • These are just a few reasons why many viewers prefer closed captions even if they are not (d)Deaf or hard of hearing. Not to mention, sometimes having closed captions is too much fun; remember the Stranger Things season 4 finale?

  • Image credit:Netflix

  • Whatever the reason, closed captions are a tool that is leveraged by more than those who require them for accessibility.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Vishnu Beri
(blog author)

Share:

More Posts

Let’s lead you into the future

At Digital Nirvana, we believe that knowledge is the key to unlocking your organization's true potential. Contact us today to learn more about how our solutions can help you achieve your goals.

Contact Us

Digital Nirvana delivers knowledge management solutions, business process automation, and AI-based workflows that empower organizations to create, share, and mine actionable insights from electronic media.

Request Demo

Solutions

  • Media Enrichment
  • Learning Management
  • Investment Research
  • Data Intelligence

Products

  • MonitorIQ
  • MetadataIQ
  • MediaServicesIQ
  • TranceIQ
  • Privacy Policy

Contact Us

  • Contact Us

Phone: +1 (510) 226-9000
Support Phone No. : +1 (510) 292-4440
Support Email : support@staging.digital-nirvana.com

  • Careers

Locations:
Fremont, USA
Hyderabad, India
Coimbatore, India

Scroll to Top
Close

Required skill set:

  • Exceptional audio sensitivity – ability to understand spoken English/Other languages in different accents across the globe.
  • Good comprehension skills.
  • Proven research skills and fact-checking using Internet-based search engines.
  • Broad cultural knowledge and wide range of interests.
  • Technically proficient in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel.
  • Ability to multi-task and work in a deadline-driven environment.
  • Good knowledge of computers and Internet.
  • Proficiency in relevant subtitling software is a plus.
Apply Now
Close

Required skill set:

  • Editing verbatim transcription of earnings calls. Earnings call is a teleconference, or precisely a webcast, in which a public company discusses the financial results of a reporting period via the internet.
  • The call typically runs from 30-60mins and consists of two parts; the Management Portion and the Q&A session.
  • Minimum 1+ Years as Editor/Proof Reader.
  • Ability to work under pressure with interruptions and challenging deadlines.
  • Team-oriented, collaborative and have a positive attitude.
  • Ability to multi-task and work in a deadline-driven environment.
Apply Now
Close

Required skill set:

  • 7+ years of related experience with computers, technical troubleshooting, and providing customer service.
  • Must have 6+ years of Linux/Unix OS experience, with a focus on administering Linux technologies.
  • Must have working knowledge in AWS or other Cloud computing.
  • Working knowledge of virtualized infrastructure environments (VMware, Nutanix AHV, Hyper-V, etc.).
  • Must have understanding of broadcast signals and transport methods.
  • Strong understanding of audio video streaming and encoding technologies (FFmpeg, MediaInfo, AVISynth and ffprobe.
  • Experience with Broadcast tools like Adobe Cloud, Adobe Premier, Avid Composer, Nexus, Interplay, and other Media products a plus.
  • Should have working knowledge and experience in DevOps tools such as Ansible, Jenkins, Docker, and GitHub
  • Ability to work under pressure with interruptions and challenging deadlines.
  • Team-oriented, collaborative and have a positive attitude.
  • Ability to multi-task and work in a deadline-driven environment.
Apply Now
Close

Required skill set:

  • 2+ years of related experience with computers, technical troubleshooting, and providing customer service in a call center environment.
  • Knowledge of broadcast signals and system preferred.
  • Previous CRM experience preferred.
  • Strong communication skills required.
  • Experience using Saleforce, Google Suite, and other basic computer related skills.
  • Basic Linux Skills preferred.
  • Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks and adapt to change.
  • Must show aptitude and desire to learn new skills on the job.
  • Ability to work under pressure with interruptions and challenging deadlines.
  • Team-oriented, collaborative and have a positive attitude.
  • Strong customer-service orientation with ability to be courteous and helpful.
Apply Now