Live captions for outdoor events: how cities can make parades, festivals, and ceremonies accessible to everyone
Every summer, cities across the country host parades, fireworks shows, festivals, and outdoor ceremonies. A grandstand announcer calls out each float, marching band, and community group as they pass. But that speaker system only carries 2 to 3 blocks. Anyone watching from further down the route, sitting in a lawn chair around the corner, or standing across a noisy intersection hears nothing.
For attendees who are deaf or hard of hearing, the announcer was never accessible in the first place. Recap changes that for both groups: live captions and text-to-speech voiceover turn any outdoor event into one that every attendee can follow, from anywhere, on their own phone.