Social media and accessibility

Last week, Google rolled out auto-captioning for YouTube videos. Now, if you are like me, most of your YouTube use is spent watching OK Go videos, laughing babies, or other viral wonders. But thanks to a new focus on social media at the museum, we are now posting some fun videos of our own. So, when I heard this story on NPR, I immediately went to see how our videos faired.

Needless to say, the auto captioning is not perfect. Far from it. In fact, its hilarious in some parts.

BUT - thanks to the auto-caption, I was able to quickly and effortlessly edit the file in wordpad and set it back up. So easy! The trouble with captions is not transcription. Yes, that takes some time, but not that much. Its getting the words on the video! Without proper software, this can seem daunting, especially to those of us with great intentions and zero skill. But YouTube is doing it for us!

As the partner of someone who has some hearing loss, I usually watch movies with captions on. I now find that it helps me follow the film, especially when actors have low voices, or the sound editing preferences the explosions over the dialogue. Hearing impairment doesn't mean deaf - but it encompasses the range of hearing issues - from constant tinnitis (which can make listening difficult) to acute problems like colds!

Captioning your social media videos is vital! Most museums don't have a film crew doing these clips. Its usually us and a flip camera, or maybe a phone. Its rough. So the sound is not so great. Captioning can help your audience really get your messages.

Captioning also helps with language. At the same time as this auto-captioning, YouTube also offers auto translation of captions! If your captions are up to snuff, the translation software (way better than the Altavista Babelfish of days gone by) will translate it into one of over 50 launguages. That is huge.

So, take a few minutes, look at your videos, and tweak your captions. You'll be surprised at what good it may do. And if you still don't believe that its important, check this thank you video from the California School for the Deaf in Fremont.