Cinema Subtitle System for Hard of Hearing

Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2013/04/25 - Updated: 2024/05/16
Publication Type: Product Release, Update
Category Topic: Disability Product Investors - Academic Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Cinema subtitle caption system designed for the hard of hearing which is invisible to the general audience. Off-Screen Cinema Subtitle technology could make a real difference to deaf & hard of hearing people, the elderly, foreign students, or anyone who wanted to see captions during a movie.

Introduction

Inventor, Jack Ezra, of 3D Experience, UK, has come up with a Cinema Subtitle System for the hard of hearing which is invisible to the general audience.

Main Content

Subtitles, also known as captioning, are textual versions of the dialog or commentary in films, television programs, video games, and the like, usually displayed at the bottom of the screen. They can either be a form of written translation of a dialog in a foreign language, or a written rendering of the dialog in the same language, with or without added information to help viewers who are deaf and hard-of-hearing to follow the dialog, or people who cannot understand the spoken dialog or who have accent recognition problems.

With this new technology, subtitles appear on a special display just below the main movie screen, but the really impressive part is, the so called, "inconspicuous" display, looks dark grey, until you wear the special, lightweight glasses - and then, as if by magic, the subtitles appear.

There are other contenders that the cinema industry are considering, such as projector glasses or calculator sized displays which use the drinks holder to support them. Jack says "...he has concerns about the transfer of germs and particularly, ear and eye infections, when these units are passed from person to person, show after show. Then there is the high cost of the units themselves and what about breakages or theft. With my system, each pair of inexpensive, lightweight, glasses is hygienically packed just like 3D glasses."

Mr. Ezra is hoping that cinema chains will be interested in using his "Off-Screen Subtitle System" for all movie shows so customers who want subtitles, can watch new releases, while sitting along-side other customers, who don't want subtitles on the screen.

Jack hopes to raise the necessary funds so he can bring his technology to market as soon as possible. He also has plans to explore the idea of an additional "inconspicuous" display screen in the cinema showing sign language and also making the technology available to other venues such as pubs, clubs, schools, colleges and live theatre.

Jack is eager to build a cinema prototype for trials followed by full size Cinema systems, which would allow millions of people within any of the diverse deaf spectra around the world, to enjoy a fuller Cinema Experience. Our proof of concept "inconspicuous" display System has been proved to work perfectly in that nothing appears on a screen until you put the inexpensive, lightweight, glasses on.

The Importance of Accessible Text in Cellphone Messages in Film and TV Shows: For cellphone messages on film and TV screens, adopting larger fonts and high-contrast color schemes can significantly improve readability without detracting from the narrative.

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.