Captioning: Not Just for the General Session Anymore!

I don’t know if it’s my age (or just my love for clarity), but at some point, I turned on captioning for all my streaming services—and I’m never going back. Now, whenever captions aren’t an option, I feel like I’m missing something. Turns out, I’m not alone. More and more people I talk to feel the same way, and I think this is a big reason we’re seeing a push for captioning options at in-person events.

Here’s the thing: captioning isn’t just about accessibility in the traditional sense—it’s about making content easier to follow, process, and remember for everyone. And with all the cool technologies available (and some exciting ones on the horizon), captioning has become more affordable and accessible than ever.

So, let’s dive into some innovative ways you can bring captioning into your event spaces:

1. Automated Speech Recognition (ASR) Systems

If you’ve been in a video conference with live notes or auto-transcriptions, you already know how ASR works. This technology can easily be adapted for live events, offering a low-cost way to deliver a caption-like experience. Here’s how:

• Route the presenter’s microphone through an ASR-enabled platform.
• Display the transcriptions on a monitor in the room.
  For extra accuracy, invest a little time pre-loading a dictionary of industry-specific terms to ensure the captions align with your event’s content.

2. Pre-Configured Session Encoding

Looking for a hands-off approach? Use pre-configured hardware to schedule and deliver captions for all your sessions. This removes the need for an in-room technician and ensures captions are ready to go without hiccups. It’s reliable, efficient, and makes you look like a tech genius.

3. Multilingual Captioning on Personal Devices

Have a diverse audience? Make your event inclusive by offering multilingual captioning. Attendees can download an app on their devices to view real-time captions in their preferred language. This approach is scalable, cost-effective, and a fantastic way to cater to global attendees.

4. Augmented Reality (AR) Glasses

Want to really wow your attendees? Enter AR glasses. This emerging technology allows attendees to see captions overlaid directly in their field of vision. It’s discreet, personal, and eliminates the need for additional screen setups in the room. Bonus points for being futuristic and unforgettable!

5. Live Automatic Captioning with automatic speech recognition (ASR) software

While auto-captions have a lower accuracy rate compared to human-powered live captions, they are a great baseline option for increasing accessibility when professional captions are not an option!

Why Captioning is a Must for Your Event

Captioning isn’t just an accessibility feature anymore—it’s a strategic move to make your event content more engaging, inclusive, and memorable. Plus here’s a creative (and profitable) idea: turn your captioning monitors into branded sponsorship displays! Add a banner beneath the live text with the sponsor’s logo or message. Not only does this offset the tech costs, but it also gives your sponsors extra visibility. Win-win!

Ready to level up your event? Let’s make sure no one misses a word!