Cornell University is testing an online, remote captioning system for deaf and hard of hearing students, which may reach into the high school sector. The move is geared to encourage more deaf students to study STEM topics.
Read More: Cornell Supports Deaf Students In STEM Field
Market-size figures from the US value speech-recognition, captioning and transcribing solutions at USD 16 billion per year, with a 21% CAGR in the educational and corporate sectors. This technology is one to watch, with cloud-computing driving market growth.
In the US, over 30,000 students with hearing issues use daily technologies like the internet, instant messaging, SMS texts, mobile- and video-phones to access mainstream lectures and to improve their educational experiences.
Classroom Captions In The US, UK, Australia
Live captioning (also known as CART) extends this support by redirecting stenographers’ rapid, real-time typing skills to educational and workplace purposes. In 2011, Australia mandated that all severely and profoundly deaf students should have this support at their local, mainstream high schools.
The Sound Advice team believes Ireland, a small country with a robust tech-sector, can feasibly build an online, remote captioning network for use by students with hearing issues and by EFL students, who feed into the tourism sector.
With CAO figures showing science courses to be luring third-level students – and the multinational tech expertise available – the big question is whether Ireland can follow Australia and the US, in providing sustainable classroom captioning solutions.
Further Reading
- * Australia To Take Classroom Captioning ‘National’
- Communication Technology Solutions – By Design
- TeachNet Blog: Closed Captions In The Classroom
- Deaf Student Uses Captions In An Operating Theatre
- Deaf Student Doctor Adds Perspective To Training
- ‘Disability Law News’ Blog Cites Sound Advice’s Advocacy
