Accessibility is improving on Instagram. The social network is rolling out an automatic captioning tool for videos.
People who are deaf or who have difficulty hearing well will now be able to enjoy Instagram more. The social network reported on March 1, 2022, by a tweet from his boss, Adam Mosseri, that a subtitling function is now available. Notable point, this one is automatic: there is nothing particular to do, except to activate the option.
” It’s taken a while, but we’re excited to share a new tool that empowers members of Deaf and hard of hearing communities. Videos on Instagram will now have auto-generated captions, where you have the option to disable or enable them writes Adam Mosseri.
Instagram turned to video, but this format was not ideal for people with hearing loss
Instagram is initially a social network that was content to offer the sharing of photos, on which it is possible to put filters to give them cachet. But over the years, the platform has expanded into video, with stories, a format used to share everyday moments, reels, a format tailored for entertainment, and live.
Behind the scenes, the tool offered by Instagram operates in several stages: it must first capture the Internet user’s voice via the microphone of the smartphone (which he is supposed to have accepted by accepting the conditions of use, when registration to Instagram), then enter what is said orally to be able to transcribe it in writing, before sending the result to those who watch the video.
Accessibility is a subject that often comes up in the digital world, because it is an issue of equality in order to benefit from products and services. Initiatives exist, as with the latest versions of iOS and Android – the management of Braille and voice dictation – but also in video games. There is still a lot to do, because it is a permanent job.
