When you see words displayed across the bottom of your screen, what term comes to mind? For some, they think of closed captions; others may call them subtitles. The two terms are often used interchangeably, but even though they have…
What is a TextDS File?
When it comes to making media accessible for low-vision consumers, there are several options to choose from. Audio description is a common solution, along with screen readers and other accessibility technology. But what happens when you want to combine these…
Happy 10th Birthday to the CVAA!
Ten years ago, on October 8th, 2010, President Barack Obama signed the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) into law, pushing forward another groundbreaking step in the realm of media and digital accessibility. The CVAA contains many telecommunications…
Automated Speech Recognition and Translation Engines
Since the dawn of media accessibility, the captions you’ve come to know and love have all been expertly crafted by professional captioners. Between a college education in their language of choice and years of additional training and practice, captioners bring…
Early Learning and Closed Captions
No matter where you turn, there always seems to be a debate about screen time for young children. Most research suggests that limiting screen time with children under the age of five is a smart idea, but that’s become increasingly…
Section 508 Compliance Checklist
Section 508 is an important amendment to the Rehabilitation Act that protects the rights of people with disabilities, requiring Federal agencies to ensure that their websites and electronic information technology is fully accessible to those who have disabilities. This also…
Standard vs. Expanded Description: When Do You Need It?
Here at Captionmax, one of our favorite services is Description (often called audio description or video description). Description is the act of adding a secondary audio track that describes actions, settings, and other visual details so that blind and low-vision…
Election 2020: Voting Accessibility and Accommodations
In what has already been a year no one will ever forget, 2020 isn’t letting up. With the presidential election right around the corner, how do accessibility practices come into play at the polls or in early voting from home? Let’s take a look.…
The Captionmax Picture Wall
With one facility looking out at vibrant downtown Minneapolis, MN, and another looking over the beautiful Verguo Mountains of Glendale, CA, Captionmax team members enjoy the sights and sounds of their very different office locations. But one feature that both…
Eight Benefits of Webinar Captioning
Hosting a webinar is a great way to build authority, trust, and relationships in the modern world of business, especially in the era of COVID-19. They’re flexible, budget-friendly, and can give you a lot of insight into your branding and…