WatchWord Live for Theatre
Revolutionising Accessibility for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Theatre Audiences
Arden Theatre Philadelphia - Ajay Suresh
WatchWord Live: Revolutionising Accessibility for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Theatre Audiences
WatchWord Live is an 'always on' line-of-sight, closed captioning system designed to increase accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing theatre-goers.
Our new technology uses artificial intelligence to significantly reduce the time it takes to prepare the caption script from days to hours. Captions are broadcast to augmented reality ‘smart’ glasses, which can be worn over prescription glasses and around cochlear implants.
WatchWord Live can provide closed captions for over 90% of theatre performances, giving audiences much greater flexibility in choosing which to attend. Rather than being limited to specific open-captioned shows, audiences can select performances based on their preferences, such as title, day, or time.
While traditional open captions are displayed on screens near the stage for all to see, WatchWord Live provides a discreet alternative—only those wearing the glasses can view the captions.
WatchWord Live touch-screen controller
Using WatchWord Live: A Simple Guide
Using WatchWord Live is easy and intuitive. After booking or requesting WatchWord (also known as the smart caption glasses) for your theatre visit, you’ll collect them from a theatre representative. They will explain how they function and ensure you’re ready to use them.
The glasses are connected via a cable to a touch-screen controller (image above), which also functions as a battery. Once you’ve put the glasses on, you’ll see scrolling text appear.
When you take your seat in the theatre, you might notice the glasses aren’t displaying subtitles yet—don’t worry. The captions will begin as soon as the performance starts.
Take this time to adjust the glasses for comfort. If they’re slipping down your nose, simply remove them and pinch the nosepiece to reshape it. The nose piece is both sturdy and flexible, allowing you to adjust it to your needs. Once the glasses are securely and comfortably positioned, sit back and enjoy the show. As the performance begins, captions will appear, ensuring you don’t miss a moment.
One of the advantages of WatchWord Live compared to open captions is customisation. Using the touch-screen controller (which operates like a smartphone), you can adjust the text’s size, colour, position, and focal distance to suit your preferences. After making your changes, the controller’s screen will automatically dim to avoid disrupting your or your neighbours’ enjoyment of the performance. If you need to make further adjustments, simply touch the screen to reactivate it.
We hope WatchWord Live will soon be available in every theatre. For now, the Arden Theatre in Philidelphia is the only venue in the world offering this transformative system, improving accessibility and welcoming new audiences to experience the magic of theatre.
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because of this technology, I can continue doing something I love.”
What are Closed Captions?
Many theatres already provide so-called ‘open-caption’ performances, where captions are either integrated into the production design, or more commonly, shown on screens on or near the stage. This form of captioning is described as ‘open’ because everyone can see and read them.
Closed captions are displayed on personal devices such as smart-phones, or on smart glasses such as the ones WatchWord uses, so only people wearing the glasses can see them.
Unlike cinemas, where descriptive captions are included with the movie, the live theatre environment is more complicated. Our groundbreaking technology uses AI to generate captions which are then broadcast to anyone wearing the glasses.
