Closed-captioning accessibility system designed for deaf and hard-of-hearing cinemagoers
Gwyn Hall Cinema is proud to announce the introduction of WatchWord, an innovative always-on closed-captioning system designed to transform the cinema experience for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences. Gwyn Hall will be the first cinema in Wales to roll out this groundbreaking technology.
Watchword works by broadcasting closed captions, provided with a movie, over Wi-Fi to smart glasses. These glasses can be worn over prescription glasses and around cochlear implants. WatchWord allows our audiences to choose which films to attend based on their title, rather than a specific time slot.
While many films display open captions on the screen, WatchWord offers a discreet closed-captioning system, ensuring that only those wearing the glasses can see the captions. Unlike other forms of closed captioning, the use of smart glasses provides users with a superior line-of-sight viewing experience, so there’s no need to look away from the screen.
WatchWord has been designed to be easy to use. Once you’ve requested the glasses for your cinema visit, simply collect them from the box office staff, who will show you how they work.
The glasses are connected to a touch-screen controller (photo below). When you put them on, you’ll be greeted with a welcome message as scrolling text appears in the glasses.
During the adverts and trailers, you may notice there are no captions, this is because most adverts and trailers don’t yet include them.
While waiting for the movie to begin, it’s a good time to ensure the glasses sit comfortably on your nose. If they’re sliding down, simply remove them and adjust the nose piece, which is both sturdy and flexible.
Once you have the glasses comfortably positioned, sit back and enjoy the film. As it begins, the dialogue will appear projected on the lenses, allowing you to follow along and read the captions without missing any of the action.
Unlike on-screen captions, users have the flexibility to customise the text. You can adjust the size, colour, position, and focal distance to suit your preferences.
Using the hand-held controller, which works similarly to a smartphone, you can easily make these adjustments. Once you’ve set the text to your liking, the controller screen will go dark to avoid disturbing you or your fellow cinemagoers. If you wish to make further changes, simply touch the screen at any time, and it will reactivate.
Closed captions are displayed on personal devices smart glasses that WatchWord. Many of the films that cinemas screen can include closed captions. WatchWord extracts and broadcasts the captions to audiences wearing the glasses.
WatchWord accessibility solutions have been developed so that D/deaf, deafened, and hard of hearing people can attend any cinema screening, providing a greater choice of what to see and when to attend.
When you go to the cinema, you collect a pair of smart glasses, and a handheld controller which works like a smartphone. When you put the glasses on, you will see the dialogue appear through the glasses as captions. You can look at the screen whilst reading the captions.
The handheld controller allows you to change the size, position, colour, focal-length and brightness of the text.
There is a lanyard on the controller to make it easier for you to move around the venue.
Yes, the glasses can be worn over your own glasses and with hearing aids or a cochlear implant processor. You can adjust the nosepiece so that the glasses feel comfortable on your nose.
The glasses are free for you to use. You will need to book the glasses in advance when you purchase your cinema ticket.
Most films are available with closed captions, but a small number may not be. We recommend contacting the Box Office before booking to confirm caption availability for your chosen film.
If you have a question we have not included in this FAQ, please contact us [email protected]
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