A wearable captioning system developed at the Georgia Tech Research Institute, which relies on mobile wireless technology, will allow people with hearing problems to receive information presented audibly in movie theaters, museums, government meetings, sports arenas, transit stations, churches, etc. Because the system can transmit multiple text streams, it may also be used for language translation. Also, the system could transmit optional information that a hearing person might want, such as statistics at a sporting event.

In the captioning system software called COMMplements™, captions are sent by a venue’s transmitter via standard wireless technology to a receiver device, such as PDAs and laptop computers, which also displays captions.

Wireless-enabled devices can serve as receivers and displays, or patrons can use a micro display that plugs into a PDA and attaches to their glasses or is worn on a headband. The screen of the micro display appears to float several feet away, giving users relaxed viewing of text seemingly overlaid on their visual field.

Captions can be pre-recorded or text can be generated in real time with a shorthand typing method such as CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation).

Via PhysOrg and eurekalert.