By Richard Parker
CART, or Communication Access Realtime Translation services, encompass a number of services and tools that make it possible for speech to be conveyed to those who are deaf or hard of hearing as and when it is happening, rather than restricting or delaying their ability to view digital content, and making accessibility an afterthought.
CART services have been utilized since the early days of live television but, due to the rise in live online resources and remote events significance of CART services has rapidly grown beyond linear television. Digital classes, seminars, presentations, launches and other experiences all require the same care and attention to be given to accessibility as events that take place in the ‘real world’, and CART services should be any organizers first port of call. Read more below.
What are CART Services?
In simpler terms, modern CART services complete the tasks that would have once been the job of a highly experienced real-time captioner. Prior to the introduction of machine learning based software, the assignment of transcribing live speech – which may sometimes have demanded a remarkable rate of 250 words to be typed each minute – proved to be incredibly taxing, and meant that viewers in need of access would have to deal with plenty of typos and errors. In spite of these issues, it was – and remains – a crucial service.
These days, AI and machine learning are integral to any real time captioning service; advanced software can ensure that the strongest level of accessibility can always be achieved with minimal costs, delays, or mistakes. A contemporary CART service can ensure speed and accuracy in equal measure, creating a better experience for viewers and improving your brand’s reputation among viewers in need of access. Just as a shop cannot hope to function without implementing even the very basic accessibility features, digital content cannot be expected to thrive or realize its full potential if CART services are not implemented from the first.
Why Are CART Services So in Demand?
It is only in recent years that live digital content has taken over. While companies may once have invested all of their efforts into creating more traditional advertisements that enabled us to pre-record, edit, and caption content before it ever reached the viewer, the trend is now falling toward live events, meetings, launches and broadcasts instead.
Similarly, educational resources can be offered to great effect online. Live courses, seminars, conferences, training sessions and lectures can be broadcasted to geographically disparate audiences, and ensure that everyone with an internet connection has the opportunity to join in.
With all these factors coming into play at once, the role of CART services rapidly evolved beyond linear, live television. An overwhelming majority of companies have now reached a point at which investing into the most efficient and accurate CART services is essential – not only to ensuring that the content they create is always accessible, but also to preserving their brand’s reputation.
In essence, more and more avenues for reaching out to growing markets are now being explored, and keeping up with the demands of a more remote environment for work and education means investing more into digital accessibility.
Recognising the importance of digital accessibility – and ensuring that it occurs in real-time, and not after the fact – will demonstrate an awareness of those who approach your digital content with different requirements, and in addition to ensuring that you reach the broadest audience possible, will reflect well on your brand.
Richard Parker is a freelance writer and author at TalentCulture.com and Readwrite. He covers industry-specific topics such as SEO, small business solutions, entrepreneurship, content marketing, WordPress development, and web design. You can connect with him at Linkedin and Google +.
