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February 1999
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February 1999
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by: Pete Moore
Pete Moore writes for Tapping Technology from his window on the world of history, politics and modern culture at the Frederick United Cerebral Palsy Center. Mr. Moore is a graduate of Gallaudet College, and a frequent flyer with all types of assistive technology. Comments for Mr. Moore may be addressed to him via UCP of Frederick, MD, or via Tapping Technology at mdtap@clark.net.
How do you think deaf and hard of hearing people watch TV or see a movie? It used to be that someone stood next to a TV set and just signed what was being said, but it would be tiring for the person who was signing everything. Closed Captioning, abbreviated "CC" appeared on the screen, and with only a flick of a button on your remote control (if the TV has a built in captioning device) you receive captions. All models are not equipped this way. Old models (prior to 1984) require a decoder box to receive captioning. This is what I would call something old updated with something new.
In 1895 (!) motion pictures came out and the public was amazed by this new invention of Edison. Early in this century somebody thought this was a new form of entertainment. Actors and actresses who normally worked on stage were now able to be in the movies. Since there was no sound for the audiences to hear, words were put on the screen so that people could follow the story. There was usually an organist who plays the organ that sets the mood for the movies.
Deaf people were enjoying this new form of entertainment, because they can follow the movies and read what's up on the screen. This form is called open caption where everyone is seeing what the actors and actresses are saying while pantomiming the actions that's also part of the movies. Celebrities such as Douglas Fairbanks Sr., Lon Chaney Sr., Mary Pickford, Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin, Valentino and Tom Mix (who was a childhood pal of my uncle in Dubois, Pa.) became international stars.
After Al Jolson made the first "talkie" with "The Jazz Singer" in 1927, deaf and hard of hearing could no longer enjoy going to the movies. In the 1970's closed captioning was invented. But it was hard to see because white letters didn't always appear against a dark background and are not always typed out word for word. Plus it was alway on PBS and late at night.
Most networks were skeptical of this new form. So only a few shows were closed captioned. (Which means a person needed a device hooked up to the tv set to receive the captioning.) Closed captioning became accepted when the networks realized that there was a larger audience available to them, and so about 95% of what we watch today is closed captioned.Only afew commercials are not closed captioned. In fact, a law was passed,called the Television Circuitry Decoder Act, which stated that anythingsold or manufactured for the American market must contain the chip which allows the use of captioning.
'Till next time. Adios Amigos!!!
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