deaf

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  • Microsoft Teams sign language view

    Microsoft Teams makes it easier to host meetings using sign language

    Microsoft Teams now has a sign language view that helps people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

    Jon Fingas
    11.18.2022
  • Snapchat American Sign Language lens with alphabet

    Snapchat's latest lens helps you learn the American Sign Language alphabet

    Snapchat has unveiled a new lens that teaches you the American Sign Language alphabet.

    Jon Fingas
    04.05.2022
  • Businessman with disability talking on video call at office. Businessman on a wheelchair having a web conference on his computer at creative office desk.

    Disability organizations call on DOJ to finalize online accessibility rules

    In a letter published today, 181 disability organizations call for the Department of Justice to finalize rules for online accessibility.

    Cherlynn Low
    02.28.2022
  • Meta Portal used as video relay for deaf and hard of hearing

    Portal users can now bring sign language interpreters into video calls

    Meta Portal devices now serve as video relays for hard of hearing people who may need interpreters.

    Jon Fingas
    12.16.2021
  • NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 18: Brie Bella (L) and Nikki Bella speak to guest Tyler Cameron as they host SiriusXM Stitcher's The Bellas Podcast at SiriusXM Studios on November 18, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for SiriusXM)

    SiriusXM sued over lack of podcast transcripts for the hard of hearing

    SiriusXM is facing a lawsuit over the lack of podcast transcripts in its apps, including Pandora and Stitcher.

    Jon Fingas
    12.15.2021
  • A television screen displays messages during the first test of the Nationwide Emergency Alert System (EAS). This was the first test of the system designed to broadcast a nationwide message to the American public. (Photo by Kim Kulish/Corbis via Getty Images)

    FCC aims to make emergency alerts more accessible for the hard of hearing

    An FCC proposal would make the Emergency Alert System more accessible to people with hearing issues.

    Jon Fingas
    12.14.2021
  • An animation showing screenshots of closed captions from E3's livestream popping up one after another against a backdrop featuring the E3 logo in a graphically rendered factory-like space.

    E3 failed its deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers today

    If you were relying on the ESA's closed captions to make sense of what’s being unveiled at E3 today, you might have been very confused.

    Cherlynn Low
    06.14.2021
  • Fingerspelling.xyz

    This web app uses computer vision to teach you the ASL alphabet

    Fingerspelling.xyz is a web-based experience that takes advantage of computer vision software to make the process of learning the ASL alphabet fun and easy.

    Igor Bonifacic
    04.29.2021
  • Google Chrome Live Caption mock up

    Chrome can now caption all audio playing through the browser

    Google is bringing one of its most useful Android accessibility features to Chrome. The company announced today that its browser can now caption any audio and video you play in it.

    Cherlynn Low
    03.18.2021
  • Accessibility in 'The Last of Us Part II'

    Naughty Dog details the extensive accessibility in 'The Last of Us Part II'

    'The Last of Us Part II' will have accessibility on a level you likely haven't seen in any other game.

    Jon Fingas
    06.09.2020
  • Google

    Google Disability Support is more accessible with sign language specialists

    Google is now ready to offer live help for accessibility features regardless of your hearing. The search firm now offers Disability Support through American Sign Language, letting you troubleshoot through video chat if you're deaf or hard-of-hearing. Google reps can walk you through setting up Live Caption on your Pixel, for example.

    Jon Fingas
    12.04.2019
  • Huawei

    Huawei app uses AI to help deaf children read

    Deaf children face challenges learning to read. As their parents and teachers often don't know sign language, young ones can't always make the connection between words on the page and their own life experiences. Huawei aims to fix that with its StorySign app for Android. Point your phone at certain children's books and the app will use AI to translate individual words on the page to sign language performed by an avatar (created by Wallace and Gromit's Aardman Animations, no less). This not only helps children read, but can teach parents the sign language they'd need to tell the story later.

    Jon Fingas
    12.03.2018
  • Google

    Google Slides automatically captions your presentations

    If you want to caption a presentation for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, you typically have to do it yourself. Google might just save you that trouble -- it's launching an automatic closed captioning feature for Slides. Plug a microphone into your computer, hit a "CC" button and Slides will automatically caption your speech as you walk through the presentation. As the captions arrive in real-time, you don't have to worry about stopping on each slide to give your audience a chance to read.

    Jon Fingas
    10.08.2018
  • Uber

    Uber offers basic sign language tips so you can talk to deaf drivers

    Back in 2015, Uber added some features for drivers who were deaf and hard of hearing, including visual notifications of impending rides. Today, as a wrap-up for National Deaf Awareness Month, Uber has updated its main app to teach riders how to sign basic phrases like "hello" and "thank you" for drivers with hearing impairments.

    Rob LeFebvre
    09.29.2017
  • Getty Images for Lyft

    Lyft offers drivers 24/7 access to support services

    Today, Lyft announced a few new features for its driver support app that are meant to make the process of getting help simpler and easier to navigate. First, the Lyft Driver app will now include a button that will allow drivers to quickly connect with the company's new 24/7 over-the-phone support service. And Lyft is also rolling out phone and email support for Spanish-speaking drivers and adding Spanish-speaking team members to its on-call support team. Additionally, the company's online help center has been tweaked to make sure drivers' questions get answered more quickly.

  • Lyft

    Lyft requests will light up phones for deaf drivers

    Back in April, Lyft launched features that made its system easier to use by deaf drivers and those who are hard of hearing. Now, it's adding a couple more to celebrate National Deaf Awareness Month. Thanks to its partnership with the National Association of the Deaf, the ride-hailing firm has developed "flash-on request" for drivers. If they've activated the app's hard-of-hearing accessibility function, they'll get a powerful visual notification whenever a ride request comes in: their phone's screen and flashlight will both light up. When combined with the Amp emblem flashing the words "New Ride," it could lower the chances of a driver missing out on a request.

    Mariella Moon
    09.18.2017
  • Lyft

    Lyft's dashboard display helps drivers with hearing impairments

    Accessibility isn't just for those with a disability; inclusion benefits all of us. Adding a visual notification to an auditory one hurts nobody, and it allows people with a hearing impairment to participate in normal activities -- like driving for a ride-sharing company. Luckily, Lyft has just added two little tweaks to its system to empower drivers with a hearing impairment.

    Rob LeFebvre
    04.20.2017
  • America's Got Talent

    YouTube automates sound effect captions with AI

    YouTube has used algorithms to automatically caption speech for eight years now in an effort to make its billions of videos more accessible for the deaf and hard of hearing. While the feature was pretty rough at first, it has significantly improved it over time, getting "closer and closer to human transcription error rates," Google said in its developers blog. Since speech is just one part of the audio picture, though, YouTube has launched automatic sound effect captioning for the first time.

    Steve Dent
    03.24.2017
  • Getty

    FCC program that gives tech to deaf, blind Americans is permanent

    The FCC's iCanConnect program, which provides communication equipment to low-income deaf and blind Americans, is now permanent after four years in pilot form. Known formally as the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program, it offers $10 million a year to local providers of communication technology aimed at helping deaf and blind folks connect with family and friends, and live more independently.

    Jessica Conditt
    08.04.2016
  • Uber's driver app now serves the hearing impaired

    More often than not, most features released by Uber are designed for its customers, not drivers. Today, though, the ridesharing firm is making some changes to help a specific group of people behind the wheel: those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. These updates, planned in tandem with the National Association of the Deaf, lets drivers access an Uber Partner app that offers tools created particularly for the hearing impaired. For example, contractors are now able to modify their app to have the flashlight turn on when a trip's being requested, along with the existing audio notification. They can also set it so that riders receive a message directly on the Uber app, prompting them to enter a destination or to provide special instructions for a pick-up.

    Edgar Alvarez
    05.29.2015