# Providing text based alternatives for live audio-only content

ID: G150

Technology: general

Type: Technique

## When to Use

All technologies that present live audio-only information

## Description

The objective of this technique is to allow users who cannot hear to be able to access real-time audio broadcasts. It is more difficult to create accurate real-time alternatives because there is little time to correct mistakes, to listen a second time or to consult someone to be sure the words are accurately reproduced. It is also harder to simplify or paraphrase information if it is flowing too quickly.

Real-time typing text entry techniques exist using stenographic and rapid typing technologies. Re-voicing speech-to-text (where a person listens to speech and then carefully re-voices it into a computer trained to their speech) is used today for telephone relay services and may be used in the future for captioning. Eventually speech-to-text with correction will be possible.

## Examples

- A radio station uses Web based captioning services to provide alternatives for live sporting events; the output from the service is incorporated in a viewport of the Web page which also includes a streaming audio control.

## Tests

### Procedure

1. Check that a procedure and policy is in place to ensure that text alternatives are delivered in real-time.
2. Check that procedure and policy are working by conducting a random sample to see if text alternatives appear.

### Expected Results

- Both #1 and #2 are true.

## Related Techniques

- G9