Closed captioning on Zoom is an often-overlooked feature that can be extremely helpful for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. By turning on closed captioning, you can see all the audio being broadcast in a meeting as text.
This can help you follow along and participate more fully in the conversation. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of closed captioning on Zoom and how to turn it on.
Why Is Closed Captioning Helpful?
Closed captioning can be an invaluable tool for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. It allows them to follow along with conversations and participate more fully in meetings.
In addition, closed captioning can also be helpful for individuals who are not fluent in English or who have difficulty understanding spoken English. If you have ever been in a meeting where someone is speaking in a foreign language, you know how difficult it can be to follow along without closed captioning.
How to Use Closed Captioning with Zoom?
There are a few different ways to turn on closed captioning on Zoom. The first way is to go into the settings menu and select “Closed Captioning.” Once you have done this, you will see a list of options for closed captioning.
The second way to turn on closed captioning is to click the “CC” button at the bottom of the screen during a meeting. This will bring up the closed captioning menu.
Once you have turned on closed captioning, you can adjust the font size, color, and background color to make it more readable. You can also choose to have the closed-captioning text appear on your screen automatically or only when someone is speaking.
If you are having difficulty understanding the speaker, you can also click the “CC” button and choose to have the speaker’s name appear next to their dialogue. This can be helpful in understanding who is saying what.
Does Zoom Closed Captioning Work Well?
Closed captioning on Zoom can be a great tool. The captions can provide a written record of what is being said, which can be helpful for following along with the conversation.
Additionally, closed captioning can help to make meetings more accessible for those with hearing impairments.
However, Zoom’s closed captioning feature is not perfect. The captions can be inaccurate, and they may not always show up in real-time. Additionally, the font size and color of the captions can be difficult to read.
For these reasons, it is important to consider whether closed captioning will be beneficial for your needs before relying on it during a Zoom meeting.
Is Closed Captioning Mandatory?
While closed captioning is not currently mandatory, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that all public places be accessible to individuals with disabilities. This includes closed captioning for events that are open to the public.
If you are hosting an event that is open to the public, you should strongly consider providing closed captioning. It is a simple way to make your event more inclusive and accessible to all.
What Different Types of Closed Captioning Are There?
There are four main types of closed captioning: live, pre-recorded, real-time, and post-production. Live captioning is used for events that are happening in real-time, such as a newscast or a live sporting event.
Pre-recorded captioning is used for videos or shows that have already been recorded, such as a movie or TV show. Real-time captioning is similar to live captioning, but it is done using computer software instead of a human captioner.
Post-production captioning is done after a video or show has been recorded, and it is often used for movies and TV shows. Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the best type of captioning for a particular situation will depend on the needs of the audience.
How It Can Affect Your Business?
As more and more businesses move online, the need for effective communication tools is greater than ever. Zoom is one of the most popular video conferencing platforms, and its closed captioning feature can be a valuable asset for companies.
Closed captioning provides a transcript of the audio in a video, which can be helpful for employees who are hard of hearing or who speak English as a second language. It can also be useful for employees who need to reference the transcript later.
In addition, closed captioning can help to make your business more inclusive and accessible to a wider range of employees. As the workforce becomes increasingly diverse, it’s important to make sure that your business is accommodating to all employees.
By embracing Zoom’s features like closed captioning, you can show your employees that you’re committed to creating an inclusive environment. Ultimately, this can help to improve employee satisfaction and retention.