Short definition
Live captioning is the real-time display of text transcriptions of spoken content during an event. It supports accessibility, cross-language understanding, and hearing-impaired attendees.
Detailed explanation
Live captioning relies on two methods: human stenographers (CART) or AI-powered automatic speech recognition (ASR). CART delivers the highest accuracy but is staff-intensive and costly. ASR systems have made significant quality gains in recent years and now suit many event formats.
Technically, captions are displayed either as part of the video signal — via closed captions or a graphic overlay in the video switcher — or as a separate feed on additional displays. At hybrid events, captions can also be integrated directly into the streaming platform. Combined with automatic translation, live captioning enables multilingual real-time transcription, an increasingly requested service at international corporate events.
Relevance in this field
Live captioning is a key tool for accessible, internationally oriented events. Growing legal accessibility requirements are making it increasingly standard at public and corporate events alike.
Practical example
At an international company's annual conference, AI-powered live captioning runs simultaneously in German and English. The transcription appears along the bottom of the LED wall and in the live stream; hearing-impaired attendees also get a tablet feed with enlarged text.
Related terms
Accessible events, live streaming, media control, video switcher