Captions are provided for all live audio content in synchronized media. (Level AA)
Intention of 1.2.4 Captions (Live)
Captions are text versions of the audio content, synchronized with the video. Providing captions for live 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.
This success criterion was intended to apply to broadcast of synchronized media. Users who have auditory difficulties benefit with live captions. For captions for prerecorded content look at 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded).
Who benefits with 1.2.4 Captions (Live)?
- 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 1.2.4 Captions (Live)
- G9: Creating captions for live synchronized media
- G93: Providing open (always visible) captions
- G87: Providing closed captions