Closed captioning services are an important feature of any television show, whether on network television or cable programming. The words on the bottom of the screen are a way in which many people see what is being said on the television. Today, it is becoming increasingly important to include it in your media and video streaming. These services do not diminish the quality of your media in any way; they are the perfect way to add accessibility to those who would otherwise be unable to enjoy your media.
A Service for the Hearing Impaired
This service is the most obvious for the hearing impaired. With almost 10 percent of the population suffering from 100 percent hearing impairment and another majority having some type of hearing problem, it makes sense to include closed captioning services for these individuals. In many cases, it is required by law, but it is slowly becoming the norm in streaming media and video as well.
English as a Second Language
There are a large number of people in the United States who do not speak English as their first language. For them, understanding fast-paced video can be difficult, if not frustrating. Rather than making them feel left out, you can include closed captioning services in your media or video streaming to allow them to fully take part in the American culture. Not only is it a nice way to make them feel included, it also helps them experience the English language in real-time, helping them get a better grasp if they are trying to learn it.
Crowded Rooms
There are many places in which even those who aren’t hearing impaired can experience difficulty hearing the television due to the noise level in the room. If you are trying to get a message across or are showing a video to a large business client, you can include closed captioning services so no one misses out on the message, promotion or video.
Closed captioning services have many uses other than their original intended use of providing a way for the hearing impaired to enjoy television. Media or any type of video streaming can take advantage of the benefit and provide not only a service for the hearing impaired but also those to whom English is not their first language or even just to use in a crowded room.
