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Technique G150:Providing text based alternatives for live audio-only content

About this Technique

This technique relates to 1.2.9 Audio-only (Live) (Sufficient).

This technique applies to all technologies that present live audio-only information.

Techniques are examples of ways to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). They are not required to meet WCAG. Content can satisfy the normative requirements of WCAG even if it does not use any of the documented techniques. See About WCAG Techniques.

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.
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