Overview of Our Services
Caption First is proud and happy to be able to provide our customers
with a full range of CART and captioning services. We are
constantly looking for and developing new ways to provide our services.
We believe that you will not find anyone else who can offer you so many
high quality CART services.
Please click on the links for an overview of our services:
Service Information: Background
CART stands for Communication Access Realtime Translation.
The process of CART involves two main translation processes, the translation
of spoken English into machine shorthand and the translation of machine
shorthand into written English. The first translation process, the translation
of spoken English into machine shorthand, is done by the CART provider
with the aid of their steno machine. The best CART providers began as
court reporters and have worked for years honing their skills. It is Caption
First's policy to hire only the best CART providers available. The
second translation process, that of translating the machine shorthand
into written English is accomplished by a computer. Using specially written
software, the CART provider creates a “dictionary” of all the different
shorthand strokes they might use and their written English equivalent.
When the computer is translating, it compares the machine shorthand stroke,
or series of stokes, to entries in the dictionary. When a match is found,
the computer will display the written English equivalent of what the CART
provider has written. From the time a word is spoken until it is displayed
as text is less than two seconds.
One On One
This is our most popular service. The CART provider and one or two people
with hearing loss are the only viewers of the translation on the computer
screen. The client(s) normally view the text on the CART provider’s notebook
computer however an extra, external monitor may be used.
Overhead
This method is used for larger gatherings, such as meetings, seminars,
hearings, conventions, or classrooms. After the translation is complete,
it is displayed via an LCD projector or television monitors for everyone
to view.
Speaker Image
The ability to see the speaker's image with the captions directly underneath
is accomplished by mixing the camera video signal with the English text
captions in a special encoder box. Two or three lines of text are visible
at all times. The captioned speaker image is placed on one or several
TV monitors or is projected on one or more large screens. This method
of display is used at conventions, large gatherings, and schools. In addition
to a text file, a captioned videotape can be provided.
Internet CART - netCAPTION
Internet CART/netCAPTION is our newest technology. It requires the client
to have a computer with an internet browser. The voice connection is established
through a conference call. The CART Provider establishes a "meeting room"
on the Internet. After the voice and the "meeting room" are established,
the CART Provider hears and writes what is spoken. The steno is translated
into English text and sent to the "meeting room" on the Internet. The
consumer is able to access the same secure "meeting room" with a password
and read the translated English text virtually instantaneously.
Satellite/Broadcast
This method is similar to Speaker Image Captioning but allows for the
captioned video image to be viewed simultaneously at widely separated
locations. The captioned signal is transmitted via microwave, cable station
or satellite. This method of captioning is used for town meetings, distance
learning, teletrainings and television programs.
WEBCAST - netCAPTION Services
With the explosion of Internet broadcasting including general information,
seminars and news, Caption First is taking a proactive approach at making
this information accessible. By adding captioning to Webcasts, Caption
First is helping producers make their media event accessible to an audience
of over 26 million people with hearing loss in the United States alone.
Through two different methods, Caption First can make your Webcast accessible.
First, Caption First is able to merge the captioning signal with the broadcast
signal before it is sent to the World Wide Web, by using an encoder. The
technological set-up is very similar to that of broadcast captioning.
The difference is Caption First's speed and accuracy.
The second method is state-of-the-art technology that allows an "applet"
box to be injected in to the host's webpage. This applet allows for the
text to be displayed independently from the visual portion of the webcast.
The advantage of this method is that the text flows freely, matching the
audio with no buffering problems. In addition, users have the opportunity
to adjust the font attributes to meet their needs.
In both methods, a complete transcript is available at the conclusion
of the webcast.
[ overview ] [ office staff ]
[ one on one ] [ overhead ]
[ speaker image ] [ satellite/broadcast ]
[ internet ] [ webcast ]
[ encoders ] [ netCAPTION ]
[ Spanish Realtime ]
[ contact ] [ FAQs ]
[ home ]
 |
P.O. Box 1924,
Lombard, IL 60148
Nationally: 1.800.825.5234 or Internationally: 001.719.481.9835
Fax: 1.888.957.5234
E-mail: info@captionfirst.com |
|
