Video Captions and how they Maximize Accessibility

Video content is quickly becoming one of the most popular forms of communication in the digital world. From marketing and training to customer support and education, videos are now a fundamental part of the corporate landscape. However, without proper accessibility features, such as video captions and subtitles, a significant portion of your audience may miss out on your message.

Video captions and subtitles are the text versions of spoken words that appear on-screen simultaneously as the audio is played. These features are designed to make videos more accessible to people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, as well as those who may not understand the language spoken in the video. In addition, video captions and subtitles can also be useful for people who prefer to watch videos with the sound off, such as in public places or in noisy environments.

Maximizing Accessibility

Captions are a crucial part of creating an inclusive and accessible business environment. With these features, people with hearing impairments can easily access the video content, which provides you the opportunity for deeper forms of communication. This also promotes diversity and ensures that your brand messaging is reaching a wider audience. Additionally, by providing video captions and subtitles, you are showing your commitment to accessibility and the welfare of your audience.

WCAG Compliance

‍Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a set of guidelines established by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to ensure that digital content is accessible to all users, including people with disabilities. Video captions and subtitles are one of the requirements specified in WCAG 2.1 for Level AA compliance. By adhering to these guidelines, your company can avoid lawsuits and legal issues, protect its reputation, and gain a competitive advantage in the market.

Effective Communication

Video captions and subtitles can also enhance the effectiveness of your video content. With captions and subtitles, you can convey your message more clearly, making it easier for viewers to understand and retain information. Additionally, video captions and subtitles can help viewers focus on the content by eliminating distractions and providing a more immersive experience.

In conclusion, captions and subtitles are essential in the modern day for your audience to fully engage with your video content. They ensure that everyone can access and benefit from your videos, including people with hearing impairments, people who speak different languages, and those who prefer to watch videos with the sound off. 

Viostream can help you manage captions better thanks to our free automatically generated captions, and our easy to use caption editor.

Get a taste of what Viostream can provide by signing up for a free Viostream account today.