Comments on: A Brief History of Closed Captioning

By: Jennifer Bonfilio

Jennifer Bonfilio — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:05:21 +0000

Kelly,

You wrote: “Who is the steno-captioner to decide what words or sounds to show the people who need captions?”

As a stenocaptioner, I can tell you I happen to agree with you; however, captioning companies put policy in place to handle obscenities, and after the Janet Jackson Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction, the FCC (and the country) took a conservative turn and threatened to fine broadcasters.

It is, unfortunately, a very sensitive issue. Some people are extremely offended by certain words. It’s very unfortunate that we live in a society that feels so threatened by words.

Keep complaining!

Jennifer Bonfilio
http://www.njcaptions.com

By: HÃ¥kan

HÃ¥kan — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 07:21:31 +0000

In Sweden we don’t have this system at all (to my knowledge). We use “teletext” to text some Swedish programs, but foreign/english programs are always texted.

But what I don’t understand is why this CC technique has lived on to DVD’s? The DVD’s has a technique to text movies & TV programs in different languages, but yet some DVD ONLY have CC text (which means that people like me, can’t display them)? Can someone explain why it is like this? You would think that if you have the text saved in some digital format it would be easy to transfer it to another and create “real” DVD text?

By: Andy E Nystrom

Andy E Nystrom — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:50:56 +0000

Oh, and has anyone else noticed the irony that, as part of a spam prevention process, you have to quote hard to read, wavy-looking words below in order to post a comment? :)

By: Andy E Nystrom

Andy E Nystrom — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:47:24 +0000

Here in Canada, for a short while i watched a game show with the captioning on to increase my chances of understanding what’s being said, because i can process written French easier than spoken. For the Wonder Woman DVDs I took to turning on the captions when the cutesy robot introduced in season 2 spoke because I found its high-pitched accent hard to understand. While not deaf myself I used to work with deaf colleages, so I’m glad most DVDs these days have close-captioning/sub-titles.

By: SegaRolow

SegaRolow — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:55:14 +0000

Very good deal here. I use CC and the new SDH. About 95% of DVDS and shows are CC are SDH. The only thing now is. Block Buster and NetFlix still do not get it. With there watch now online deal. They do not put the CC are SDH on.. And yes they can do it. They just do not want to put the time into it. Sad deal if you ask me!!!!

By: Spottedfeather

Spottedfeather — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:22:09 +0000

EV, what’s your problem ? So what that the sound gets a little louder for a few seconds ? Deal with it. People are way too soft, nowdays.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:23:25 +0000

I agree that it would be great for those who can’t hear to be able to enjoy a movie in the theater, but the idea of streaming the captions to a personal device seems like it would defeat the purpose. I sometimes have trouble focusing on the picture when the words are right there at the bottom of the screen; I imagine glancing back and forth between the big screen and the captioning device would be tiresome after a while.

By: Seanette

Seanette — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 16:36:13 +0000

Yet another non-hearing-impaired person who uses captioning or subtitles (my husband got me going on that, and his hearing is normal too). Tremendously helpful when there’s a lot of background noise (onscreen or in the living room), actors are not enunciating clearly, etc.

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:47:05 +0000

I have to sleep with the tv on, but husband hates it, so I use CC when I turn the volume down for him. A fun way to watch South Park, since CC tells you exactly what Kenny is saying underneath the snow suit.

By: Fran

Fran — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:10:05 +0000

PartiallyDeflected – From your lips to an inventor’s ears.

My brother and his wife are both deaf and love movies. They’ve never been able to go to the theater to see a show. Until someone invents some type of ap like you describe, they will always have to wait for DVD–although nowadays they don’t have to wait as long…!!!