Summary of On television, how does closed captioning work?
Closed captioning aids hearing-impaired viewers, those in noisy environments, and language learners. It is embedded in the TV signal's line 21 data area within the vertical blanking interval. Since 1993, US TVs over 13 inches require built-in decoders, though set-top decoders exist for older models. Captions appear at the screen bottom, marked by "CC" in listings, and can be pre-recorded or added in real-time by skilled stenographers during live broadcasts.
Parts used in Closed Captioning:
- Television signal
- Special decoder (separate appliance)
- Built-in television decoder
- Set-top decoder
- Line 21 data area
- Vertical blanking interval
- Stenographer
- Special computer program
Closed captioning can be extremely helpful in at least three different situations:
- It has been a great boon to hearing-impaired television viewers.
- It can also be helpful in noisy environments. For example, a TV in a noisy airport terminal can display closed captioning and still be usable
- Some people use captions to learn English or learn to read.
Closed captioning is embedded in the television signal and becomes visible when you use a special decoder, either as a separate appliance or built into a television set. The decoder lets viewers see captions, usually at the bottom of the screen, that will tell them what is being said or heard on their favorite TV shows. Since 1993, television sets with screens of 13 inches or more that are sold in the United States must have built-in decoders, under the Television Decoder Circuitry Act. Set-top decoders are available, too, for older TV sets.
The captions are hidden in the line 21 data area found in the vertical blanking interval of the television signal. If you have read the article entitled How Television Works or the question on the V-chip, then you know about the blanking interval. It is the area of the television signal that tells the electron gun to shoot back up to the upper left corner of the screen to begin painting the next frame. Line 21 is the line in the vertical blanking interval that has been assigned to captioning (as well as time and V-chip information). Each frame of video can transmit two characters of captioning information (or special commands that control color, popups, etc.)
Many shows and commercials carry captions nowadays. Older programs made before captioning became widespread have captions added for their reruns. Captioned programs are marked in TV listings by “CC”. If you have a set with a decoder built in, you can turn on the captioning — check your set’s manual for the instructions.
Some shows are captioned in real time. That is, during a live broadcast of a special event or of a news program, captions appear just a few seconds behind the action to show what is being said. A stenographer listens to the broadcast and types the words into a special computer program that adds the captions to the television signal. The typists have to be skilled at dictation and spelling and they have to be very fast and accurate at typing.
For more Detail: On television, how does closed captioning work?
- Who benefits from closed captioning?
Hearing-impaired viewers, people in noisy environments, and those learning English or reading. - Where are captions hidden in the signal?
Captions are hidden in the line 21 data area found in the vertical blanking interval. - When did the law require built-in decoders?
Since 1993, under the Television Decoder Circuitry Act. - How does real-time captioning work?
A stenographer listens to the broadcast and types words into a special computer program that adds them to the signal. - What skill level do typists need for live captions?
They must be skilled at dictation and spelling and very fast and accurate at typing. - How can you identify captioned programs?
Captioned programs are marked in TV listings by CC. - Can older TVs use closed captioning?
Yes, set-top decoders are available for older TV sets. - Where do captions usually appear on the screen?
Captions usually appear at the bottom of the screen.
