Skip to main content
  • Accessibility
  • Headlines
  • Coronavirus-News
  • Get-Hooked
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Parasports
  • Ask Bhavna
  • NHBrandView
  • Independent Living
  • Lifestyle
  • NH Videos
×
Newz Hook – Changing Attitudes towards Disability Logo
  • Stories
  • Videos
  • Inclusive
  • NH Voice
  • Login
COVID-19 Notification by Government in Accessible Format

Accessibility Tools

Text Size:

Contrast Scheme:

  • C
  • C

Reset

  • Home
  • Technology
  • Microsoft introduces real-time captions, translations to Skype, PowerPoint

Microsoft introduces real-time captions, translations to Skype, PowerPoint

Technology December 17, 2018
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Microsoft is all set to become inclusive. They are going to introduce live captioning and subtitles to their products Skype and PowerPoint. The news was announced on World Disability Day on 3 December. This latest move that is powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) by the technology giant is lauded and appreciated by deaf people. Those who do not understand certain languages will also benefit by this new subtitling option.

People with and without disabilities from across the globe lauded Microsoft’s efforts to move towards inclusion.

Got to see @RITNTID use of @Microsoft captioning in action this morning. The smile on my face will take days to wipe off. The partnership with their technical and cultural expertise has been fundamental to development of these features so far. Exciting week!- Jenny Lay Flurrie, Chief Accessibility Officer, Microsoft

This is not the first time that technology giants are coming forward with accessibility features. Apple’s iOS has numerous exclusive features for deaf and blind people and those with autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Reportedly, this new live caption and subtitles from Microsoft will support 12 spoken languages.

“Exciting! Microsoft to release real-time captioning capabilities in PowerPoint. 90% of the team have disabilities! & they piloted w/Rochester Institute of Technology researchers, among the best Deaf & hard of hearing assistive technology scholars. #A11Y”, tweeted Cynthia Bennett.

Eventhough this new move is welcome, it also raises many questions and concerns amongst deaf community.

“There is no doubt that subtitles assist us. But I don’t know how practical this is going to be. Subtitle recognition during real time chats is not going to be practical. I use closed captioning for Netflix and it is great because it is already pre-scripted. It is also helpful for people who are not deaf because you can understand a foreign language better. But conversations are always random. How can that be captioned? So having subtitles on Skype is just impossible to imagine, especially the accents”, says Atharv Beloskar, a deaf student from Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai.

This new feature of Microsoft is all set to roll out by January 2019. It will be supported in PowerPoint on Windows 10, PowerPoint for Mac, and PowerPoint Online.

ALSO READ: Artificial Intelligence makes a huge impact in lives of disabled people

Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today

We need your continued support to enable us work towards Changing Attitudes towards Disability. Help us in our attempt to share the voices of people with disabilities that enable them to participate in the society on an equal footing!

Contribute to Newz Hook

NH Videos

Healing pain through art - Dr. Anubha Mahajan, Founder Chronic Pain India

Contribue to Newz Hook |Disability news. Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today.

Newsletter

 Subscribe to our Newsletter

Want to feature disability stories or share disability news with the disabled community? Write to:

editor@newzhook.com

Newz Hook - Accessible News

Download App Now!

Videos

View More

Get-hooked

Understanding Fragile X syndrome

Get-hooked

#WonderWoman - Acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal shows incredible will in the face of repeated odds

Parasports

Decide what you want in life & go all out to get it, believes para sportsperson Pooja Agarwal

Technology

#TechThursdays – Kibo XS, world’s 1st intelligent personalised scanning & reading companion

Newz Hook Logo

About Newz Hook

Newz Hook | Disability News - media site focusing on Disability Stories and Changing Attitudes towards Disability globally. We highlight disability news, offer inclusive solutions and create accessible collaborations. Our focus is to have Inclusion Champions from across the globe who will share disability stories and news.
Lets come together to change attitudes towards disability!

Newz Hook is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Follow us on:

Related Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Partner with Newz Hook
  • Embed Newz Hook Timeline
  • Affiliate disclosure
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Contribute to Newz Hook

Our Awards

Zero Project Award Winner 2018
Back To Top
© 2019 All Right Reserved. Inclusive News India Private Limited.

Ask Bhavna

All fields are mandatory unless specified as optional.