The Goldbox Blog

How to make your video content more accessible

Exciting innovations in video accessibility are transforming our video-watching experience. Discover how you can optimize your content for a much wider audience.

2nd March, 2023

Written by Ben Collison

Video content has become an essential part of our daily lives, transforming how we entertain, educate, and communicate. As technology advances, we are witnessing exciting innovations that make video content more accessible to a broader audience.

In this blog, we will explore the amazing accessibility improvements in video content that are revolutionizing our interaction with this powerful medium.

Closed captions and subtitles

Closed captions and subtitles have long been used to assist individuals with hearing impairments. Thanks to advancements in automatic speech recognition (ASR) and natural language processing (NLP), generating captions has become more accurate and effortless.

Now, AI-powered algorithms can automatically transcribe and sync captions, making videos accessible to a global audience.

Audio descriptions

Video accessibility goes beyond captions by making visual elements understandable to people with visual impairments.

Audio description, also known as video description, narrates the visual details in a video, including actions, facial expressions, and scene changes. This narration enables individuals with visual impairments to fully enjoy and comprehend the content.

Sign language interpretation

Sign language is the primary means of communication for many in the deaf community. To cater to this audience, video content creators are incorporating sign language interpretation into their videos.

Dedicated sign language interpreters can appear on screen alongside the video or through picture-in-picture (PiP) overlays, ensuring a seamless experience for deaf viewers.

Multilingual subtitles and dubbing

With the global reach of video content, multilingual accessibility is crucial. Advanced technologies now allow for the automatic translation of subtitles into multiple languages.

Users can choose their preferred language, making it easier for non-native speakers to understand and enjoy the content.

Additionally, dubbing services replace the original audio with a translated version, further expanding the accessibility of video content.

User-controlled accessibility features

Recognizing that accessibility needs vary among individuals, video platforms empower users by providing control over accessibility features.

Users can customize closed captions, adjust font sizes, change contrast settings, and modify playback speeds. These user-controlled options offer a personalized viewing experience, accommodating diverse accessibility requirements and preferences.

Transcripts and searchable video content

Transcripts provide text representations of video content, making it accessible to those who prefer reading or have limited access to audio-visual media.

Moreover, searchable video content enables users to quickly find specific information within videos. Accurate transcripts and search functionalities enhance the discoverability and accessibility of video content.

In conclusion,

Exciting innovations in video accessibility are transforming our video-watching experience.

Through closed captions, audio description, sign language interpretation, multilingual options, user-controlled features, and enhanced user interfaces, video creators are ensuring their content reaches a wider audience, including individuals with disabilities.

As technology advances, we can look forward to further breakthroughs in video accessibility, creating a more inclusive and accessible digital landscape for everyone.

Images Credit:
<a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/electronic-accessibility-abstract-concept-vector-illustration-accessibility-websites-electronic-device-disabled-people-communication-technology-adjustable-web-pages-abstract-metaphor_12469706.htm#query=accessibility&position=1&from_view=search&track=country_rows_v1">Image by vectorjuice</a> on Freepik