What about technology? Subtitles for the deaf

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – In an era where streaming services and digital content dominate our screens, closed captioning has become a must-have feature for many viewers. However, finding, activating and adjusting these settings can often be a frustrating experience. Recognizing this, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is introducing new regulations aimed at making closed captioning more accessible and usable across platforms, including cable television, streaming services and set-top boxes.

Closed captions, once associated primarily with the hearing impaired, have seen their use grow across a wider demographic. A recent study found that around half of all TV viewers now use closed captions. This growth can be attributed to several factors:

● Aging society: As the average age of television viewers increases, the incidence of age-related hearing loss also increases.

● TV sound below standard: In the pursuit of slimmer TV designs, manufacturers often compromise on speaker quality, resulting in muffled dialogue.

● Sound effects: The trend of emphasizing sound effects in films and TV shows often drowns out the dialogue, making it difficult to understand what the actors are saying.

To address these challenges, a new FCC order directs manufacturers of TVs, streaming devices and set-top boxes to make captioning settings more user-friendly. The goal is to give viewers more control over how captions are displayed.

The most important changes include:

● Easy access: Subtitle settings must be “easily accessible,” meaning they can be easily found in your device menu.

● Customization options: Viewers should be able to customize the appearance of captions, including font size, color, and style.

● Consistency: Subtitle settings should be consistent across platforms and devices, eliminating the need for constant changes.

While these changes will undoubtedly benefit the 48 million Americans who are deaf or hard of hearing, they will also improve the viewing experience for a much broader audience. Whether you have difficulty understanding garbled dialogue, are watching a foreign movie, or simply prefer closed captioning, the FCC’s new rules are designed to make closed captioning a smoother and more enjoyable experience for everyone.

The FCC has not yet announced a specific date for when these rule changes will go into effect. However, the responsibility for implementing and complying with the new rules falls on manufacturers. As such, viewers can expect improvements in caption availability in the near future.