Captions are provided for all prerecorded audio content in synchronized media, except when the media is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such. (Level A)
Intention of 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded)
Captions are text versions of the audio content, synchronized with the video. Providing captions for pre-recorded video content enables people with hard of hearing and deaf to perceive the non visual content. Captions in general provide the audio content of the video but providing non-verbal content that is important for the user should know have to be included. Eg: Applause for the speakers speech. Captions should also include the name of the person talking along with the conversation.
Captions can be either closed or open. Closed captions can be turned on or off, whereas open captions are always visible.
It is well aware that at the present time there may be difficulty in creating captions for time-sensitive material and this may result in the author being faced with the choice of delaying the information until captions are available, or publishing time-sensitive content that is inaccessible to the deaf, at least for the interval until captions are available. Over time, the tools for captioning as well as building the captioning into the delivery process can shorten or eliminate such delays.
An exception for providing captions for synchronized media is when the media itself is an alternate for text on the page.
Who benefits with 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded)?
- Persons with deaf or hard of hearing.
- Persons whose primary language is not the spoken language on the video.
- People who watches the video on a noisy environment.
WCAG 2.0 Techniques for 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded)
- G93: Providing open (always visible) captions
- G87: Providing closed captions using any readily available media format that has a video player