ATV
Closed Captioning
"STANDARD" STYLE
The captions in the segment which was viewed by all participants first, were in a style that we defined as the "standard" or "default" style. This style incorporated the features that we felt produced the most readable captions and which would test well with consumers: "medium" size, Helvetica font, white captions on a black window, presented in the "pop-on" style. These captions were not dramatically different from current captions, but did feature a different font (although it was still a sans serif font), proportional spacing, and mixed-case characters.
After viewing this segment, the participants were asked first to rate the overall appearance of the captions on a scale of 1 to 10, and then asked to focus on each feature--size, font, spacing, color, and window--and rate each on the same 1 to 10 scale. (Results from this clip were incorporated and used for comparison in relevant sections of the report.)
For subsequent clips, the participants were directed to focus on one or two particular features.
|
"Standard" Caption Features
|
All
|
Deaf
|
HoH
|
Hearing
|
Men
|
Women
|
Under 50
|
Over 50
|
No PC
|
|
Overall
|
7.8
|
7.9
|
8.7
|
7.1
|
7.4
|
8.0
|
7.9
|
7.6
|
8.0
|
|
Size
|
7.9
|
8.1
|
8.7
|
7.2
|
7.3
|
8.3
|
7.6
|
8.2
|
8.1
|
|
Font
|
8.0
|
7.5
|
8.8
|
8.1
|
7.5
|
8.4
|
8.1
|
7.9
|
8.9
|
|
Spacing
|
7.1
|
6.7
|
7.0
|
7.5
|
6.1
|
7.7
|
7.1
|
7.0
|
8.0
|
|
Color
|
7.6
|
8.4
|
7.8
|
6.7
|
7.2
|
7.9
|
7.3
|
8.0
|
7.9
|
|
Window
|
7.3
|
7.3
|
8.2
|
6.9
|
6.9
|
7.6
|
7.7
|
6.9
|
8.6
|
"STANDARD" (Figure 1)
Most participants found the captions easy to read. However, many
felt that the letters were a little too close together. This could
be a result of the mixed case quality of these captions which
differ from today's upper case closed captions. Some also found
the white captions against the black window to be too
bright.
Easy to read. But maybe the letters were a little too close together. I like it that it used no unnecessary part of the screen.
I like the black background. No matter what it makes the captions easy to read.
It didn't allow my eyes to look at the whole screen. Easily readable. Nothing was grabbing my attention. The lettering being with in the black area was what I was focused on.
I like the good contrast but this is a little too glaring
I didn't like the mixed case. The letters were too squat and too thick. It looks like a print for children.
It's too bright, too white. The size is very readable. The window style made you focus on the words.
I could read everything. But the black backing bothered me.
It's comfortable to read, clear and straightforward. It's nice that they were somewhat big. I'm not sure I needed the window.
The color was a little harsh.
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