Title
Access for all = Training for all. Lessons learned from the Respeaking at Live Events research project
Conference name
Media for All 8
City
Country
Sweden
Date
18/06/2019
Abstract
Subtitling for the deaf and hard of hearing on UK television is regulated by Ofcom, which ensures that subtitle coverage is high and of good quality. In the live event setting, very good access also exists, but, without a similar regulatory body, the breadth and frequency of this access is not guaranteed. The Respeaking at Live Events research programme has explored how respeaking, a method of creating live subtitles through speech recognition, could be introduced into this setting to broaden the access provided. The training programme and resources that have been developed for its implementation will be presented here.
From the outset, the voices of all involved in running live events were at the heart of this study, including venue representatives, technicians, presenters, respeakers, and the audience themselves. Data was collected through focus groups and questionnaires; a training programme was developed to allow professional TV respeakers to transfer their skills into this new setting. Two series of research events and reception studies followed, allowing the programme to be refined, ensuring it was fit for purpose and applicable for a range of scenarios.
During this process of action research, it became clear that it was not only the respeakers who would need training to ensure that high quality subtitles would be provided; everyone involved in this access provision needed to become familiar with the process of respeaking and the technical and working set-up required. In particular, those presenting at events, be they Q&A sessions, presentations, or museum tours, needed specific training to work effectively with the respeakers and venue staff to ensure each event ran smoothly.
Examples from case-studies, subtitle analysis and audience feedback will be used to show how simple, yet effective training techniques can make a range of events accessible for a wider audience.
From the outset, the voices of all involved in running live events were at the heart of this study, including venue representatives, technicians, presenters, respeakers, and the audience themselves. Data was collected through focus groups and questionnaires; a training programme was developed to allow professional TV respeakers to transfer their skills into this new setting. Two series of research events and reception studies followed, allowing the programme to be refined, ensuring it was fit for purpose and applicable for a range of scenarios.
During this process of action research, it became clear that it was not only the respeakers who would need training to ensure that high quality subtitles would be provided; everyone involved in this access provision needed to become familiar with the process of respeaking and the technical and working set-up required. In particular, those presenting at events, be they Q&A sessions, presentations, or museum tours, needed specific training to work effectively with the respeakers and venue staff to ensure each event ran smoothly.
Examples from case-studies, subtitle analysis and audience feedback will be used to show how simple, yet effective training techniques can make a range of events accessible for a wider audience.