Automated captioning is also known as closed captioning or real-time translations. It is essentially where artificial intelligence software interprets the spoken word and translates this into written text. Automated captions are designed to overcome language barriers and increase the accessibility of content to those with hearing impairments. However, in the past, they have been notoriously inaccurate, especially when it comes to the awful closed captions that YouTube produces. This has put into question whether automated captioning is going to last. After all, what’s the point in having computer software translate something if its interpretation is nonsensical? Having said that, there is still good reason to believe that real-time translation is a valuable piece of technology which will stand the test of time. Keep reading to find out all the reasons why.
Ever-Improving Technology
Technology is constantly being innovated and improved. Look at the computers we use nowadays compared to the hardware we used twenty years ago. Not only are their systems quicker and easier to navigate but they’re also much more efficient and capable of handling vastly increased volumes of data. The same applies to real-time translations. The closed captions that YouTube introduced to their services a few years ago have already become outdated by comparison to other providers like Verbit’s automatic captioning software. These companies have developed even more sophisticated AI technology which can effectively and accurately transcribe content on-demand. The testimonials to their name are proof of this.
Reliance on Live Streaming
Following on from the coronavirus pandemic, people are relying on live streaming more than ever before. From business conference calls to home entertainment, we need this live content while we’re still mostly limited to our homes. However, the problem with live streaming is its poor audio quality, straining those who already are hard of hearing. That’s why automated captioning is still very important and relevant. We can improve the quality of live content by adding subtitles which smooth over the patchy sound quality. So, as the livestreaming industry continues to grow, we anticipate that the need for real-time translations will grow, too.
Professional Type Correctors
As we mentioned before, one of the main criticisms of automated captioning is the fact that in the past, it has been highly inaccurate and nonsensical. Despite how advanced artificial intelligence might be at the moment, it won’t be able to understand the nuances of human language any time soon. That’s why some real-time translation software providers have introduced professional type correctors into their packages. These are real people who are specialised in quickly and accurately auditing the captions that the AI produce, fixing any mistakes and ensuring that the sentences actually make sense. Professional type correctors working in tandem with automated captioning can help to overcome many of the issues associated with this software.
These are the main reasons why we believe that automated captioning is going to last. Though the technology was notoriously unreliable in the past, we strongly believe that with advancements in artificial intelligence and the use of professional type correctors, this will no longer be the case. Given the increase in demand for live content, it’s certainly looking likely.