Subtitle glasses could help deaf, foreigners at the movies

Looking to expand the moviegoing experience as much as possible -- especially in this day and age of 103-inch plasmas -- a research team at the University Carlos III of Madrid has unveiled an upgrade for the problematic rear-window captioning system currently used by the deaf: a glasses-mounted subtitle screen. Featuring a three hour battery life and a 50 meter range, the little clippy-screen isn't as hard-core as some other enhanced vision devices we've seen, but there's something to be said for doing one job well. That range is pretty long though - no word yet on how the MPAA plans to deal with people sitting outside the the theater and reading the latest flicks for free.


[Via Xataka]

[Sgt Fanning @ Apr 19th 2007 4:57AM]

Maybe I'm wrong but I'd have thought that "deaf foreign movie goers" would be a rather small target market

[Sean @ Apr 19th 2007 5:32AM]

Sgt, Note the coma,

Anyway, This is fricken' brilliant. Whenever I visit my moms place I end up in an argument with my dad about how the closed captioning is annoying to him, but I point out that, well, my mother can not hear AT ALL, you jerk. Pisses me off. I hope they release a consumer version.

I would also assume that the EM shielding theaters have or are thinking about having will also block this.

[Tina @ Apr 27th 2007 8:21AM]

Have you asked your dad how annoying would it be to him if he couldn't have the sound on whenever he wished?!

[kikesantos @ Apr 19th 2007 5:56AM]

Sgt Fanning, in Spain almost all films are dubbed into Spanish, it's quite difficult to find a cinema with films in it's original languaje, so it's target market would be all deaf people. In fact, "deaf foreign movie goers" would be the only ones that wouldn't need the glasses, as film is already subtitled.

The same way, in the USA it would make sense for all people who are deaf and want to watch not subbed films.

[Stephanie @ Apr 19th 2007 8:47AM]

So, if the target audience is all deaf people, how does one market to them? Only via the Internet and print communications?

[SarahEmm @ Apr 19th 2007 10:43AM]

Stephanie, the same way you market to anyone else. Print, internet, television, etc. Radio is about the only form of advertising that wouldn't be as useful when targeting deaf/hard of hearing people.

[Boynamedsue @ Apr 19th 2007 12:09PM]

wow, stephanie... just...wow.

anyways. does anyone else think its an asshat move that apple is STILL ignoring deaf customers that want to take part in the shift to TV shows on itunes?

I think its time that the FCC actually got involved. You know... making something accessable to people who want to view something. Instead of just pandering to watchdog groups who want to make things inaccessible to everyone because it offends them.

[kadajawi @ Apr 19th 2007 12:05PM]

Doesn't the eye have to refocus all the time then? And what if they are showing Lawrence of Arabia (way over 3 hours long).

Yet, nice idea.

[Ate @ Apr 19th 2007 2:45PM]

Yes, there would be a lot of eyestrain, even in a short film. Constantly going back from the glasses to the screen would hurt even the strongest of eyes.

[Kathryn Hill @ Apr 24th 2007 11:20AM]

Thank you for covering assistive technology in this blog. It is very much appreciated.

Kathryn Hill, editor of STONE DEAF PILOTS - the deaf tech blog: www.stonedeafpilots.com

[DeafSpotMedia @ Jun 4th 2007 3:16PM]

One problem with this device is that it requires expensive upkeep. Also, minimum-wage employees are expected to keep the batteries charged and maintain this equipment? Honestly, so far the rear-window captioning system seems to be the best option out there right now. It's also the cheapest, so it's much less expensive to add units. If this expensive (and probably uncomfortable...and perhaps unsanitary) headgear is adopted, theaters would likely only carry a handful of units. However, with rear-window captioning, the units are cheap and battery-free (just a piece of transparent plexiglass mounted on a stand (that sits in the cupholder or on floor). Wireless technologies (like this headgear) are also more prone to interference, signal-lag, and of course theft.

www.DeafSpot.net - The Deaf Community's Home on the Internet

[Kirk Englehardt @ Nov 6th 2007 8:24AM]

For those who are interested in this invention - you may want to check out the original invention which was created at the Georgia Tech Research Institute in Atlanta. In fact, our wireless captioning system has been licensed and is expected to be in theaters in 2008.

For those who want more detail you can see view these news releases:

http://www.gtresearchnews.gatech.edu/reshor/rh-w07/rerc.html

and

http://gtresearchnews.gatech.edu/newsrelease/captioning.htm

Kirk Englehardt
Director of Communications
Georgia Tech Research Institute