Content localization is transforming your existing content or creating new content that is more understandable and acceptable in the geographic region where it will be consumed. Website content, marketing campaigns, broadcasting content, and HR documents are covered under content localization.

Cultural sensibilities, language differences, and other elements relevant to the targeted audiences are considered when curating content for localization. Content localization is vital because it allows the organization to understand the audience they intend to cater to and teaches them to speak the language of their audience

People in each geographic region talk about the same thing differently, even when speaking the same language. For example, Americans take a vacation, and the British go on a holiday, and if this eBook is written for British readers, it’d be titled “Content Localisation.”

Did you know that closed captions are mandated by law? One of the most important reasons to have closed captions is to make the content accessible to everyone, including deaf and hard of hearing viewers, students, and viewers who have English as a second language. In the early 90s, the Television Decoder Circuitry Act of 1990 bill was passed by U.S. congress allowing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to put the rules for the implementation of closed captioning. The Television Decoder Circuitry Act was a big step in enabling equal opportunity for those with hearing impairments. It was passed the same year as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Let’s look at all the major laws and regulations that you have to follow if you are a content producer and broadcaster in the US.

Preface

The world more interconnected now then it ever was, with technology sneaking into every part of our lives. Technology has made it easier to broadcast live content and share video from any part of the world, in an instant. However, the challenge arises in making the content accessible to everyone from live broadcasts to online videos, movies, work meetings, and virtual classrooms. Adding closed captions to the content is one way to make it more inclusive and accessible for everyone. This e-book will be your guide to how captioning bridges the gap, connects us and enable us to grow in the ever-changing technology landscape.

Captions make content accessible

Closed captions are the key to reaching more people, and it is a crucial tool to achieve video accessibility. According to the statistics published by National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), approximately 15% of American adults (37.5 million) aged 18 and over report some trouble in hearing, and about 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from using hearing aids. In the World Health Organizations’ report, Deafness and hearing loss, they stated that more than 5% of the world’s population experience hearing loss, and by 2050 nearly 2.5 billion people are projected to have some degree of hearing loss, and at least 700 million will require hearing rehabilitation.

With the growing population of deaf and hard of hearing individuals, adding closed captions to the videos make them accessible. Closed captions provide immersive experience for deaf and hard of hearing people by including the non-speech elements such as sound effects which are important to understand the video.