Captioning is a system developed to display text on a television or video screen via a line 21 encoder. Captioning can also be done over the Internet.

Click here for an example (Internet Explorer recommended)

Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) is the instant translation of the spoken word into English text using a stenotype machine, notebook computer and realtime software. The text appears on a computer monitor or other display. This technology is primarily used by people who are late deafened, oral deaf or hard of hearing. Culturally deaf individuals also make use of CART in certain situations. We have found in our many years of experience that many people prefer CART when the lecture or webcast is technical in nature.   CART allows the consumer to watch demonstrations or take notes and not lose any of the information.   Please keep in mind that CART is also often referred to as realtime captioning.

The Americans with Disabilities Act specifically recognized CART as an assistive technology which affords "effective communication access." Thus communication access more aptly describes a CART provider's role and distinguishes CART from realtime reporting in a traditional litigation setting.

Communication Access Realtime Translation is an evolving and maturing profession, and the available technology associated with CART is rapidly advancing.   Captions Unlimited is a pioneer in Internet CART and captioning.

Captions Unlimited and its team of writers around the nation provide on-site CART for all environments in Nevada and Northern California. We also provide CART and captioning services remotely, through the Internet, in any location around the world. If we can hear the content, and there is an Internet connection, our CART system will work seamlessly in any venue. We have captioned to places as far away as India, China, Istanbul and Russia.

• Graduations - Captions Unlimited is the nation's graduation ceremony captioning expert. We have captioned over 200 graduation ceremonies. We perform this service both on site and remotely using an encoder. The text is displayed all over the stadium and/or on the jumbotron. We have encoders available.
• Seminars - CART or captioning services can be provided at any seminar. Size of audience is not a factor. We have encoders and projectors available for on-site or remote seminars.
• Conventions - Have your convention captioned remotely or on-site. Transcripts can be made available to all participants. They can also be streamed over the Internet. Allow access to all members over the Internet even if they cannot attend in person.

  Click here for an example (Internet Explorer recommended)

• Gala Events - Awards ceremonies, inductions and other ceremonies can also be captioned.

Why use CART over a notetaker? Click for an example of streaming text (Internet Explorer recommended)

Education is more than just memorizing the formula -- it's learning about the analogy to baking a cake. It's not just knowing the name of a muscle -- it's sharing a story about a snowboard accident. It's all the things that make the cold, hard facts come to life, like muscles, skin and hair. Educators should give the student who is deaf a living, breathing education, not a skeleton. Students should be given the opportunity to learn discernment, making the decision about what information is important, and not leave that important step in learning to a notetaker who is only getting a fraction of the information.

Captions Unlimited has been providing CART services to students at universities in Nevada and around the country. The students' interests range from journalism and business, to psychology, chemistry, biology and genetics. We also specialize in medical and highly technical terminology.

This type of CART is so rewarding. We are able to give the students access to written transcripts at the end of the class. This enables them to have nearly verbatim notes of all lectures. We provide them with a special file that allows them to search for certain words without having to read the whole lecture. They can then copy and paste certain sentences into their own summary of lecture notes to help prepare for tests. These students LOVE this service.

How does this work? Our classroom services are provided on site and remotely. Click for an example of streaming text (Internet Explorer recommended)

Remote CART: It's easy. There are three essential items that help provide for a successful remote experience.

• Internet Connection
• Laptop
• Microphone

After the event is scheduled, the student clicks on an Internet hyperlink and is directed to a website where the text will be streamed simultaneously with the words spoken. The audio is sent in many different ways. Each classroom is different depending on size and configuration of the room. Audio can be sent over a telephone, utilizing a telephone coupler and a PA system or wireless microphone. Audio can also be sent over the Internet using Internet telephony. Simply download Skype, Yahoo or AOL Instant Messenger or Google Talk and plug an FM System into the computer. An Internet telephone call is made to the captioner. The captioner listens to the audio over the Internet while simultaneously streaming the words he/she hears back over the Internet to the student's computer. A transcript is then available for download within 24 hours.

Demand for transcription of webcasts, meetings and other brainstorming events is growing every day. Audio and video presentations featuring live news events, seminars, conventions, shareholder meetings, broadcast interviews, legislative meetings and the like are becoming evermore feasible over the Internet with today's lower bandwidth issues. Captions Unlimited can provide instant transcripts of any event.

• Timestamped transcripts - Producers utilize our instant timestamped transcript to cull down a four-hour event into 15 minutes of text.
• Synch the text with your media player. See a demo of a presentation using slides, video and captioning
• Stream the text over the Internet as the event is happening. Click for an example of streaming text (Internet Explorer recommended)
• Increase your searching capabilities.
• Utilize transcripts for training materials See a demo from the National Governors Association

A demonstration of our services can be set up in an instant.

Transcripts can be provided in rough draft minutes after the completion of an event. Roughly edited transcripts can be provided within 24 hours. Certified transcripts can also be provided if requested.