Abstract
This paper aims to elucidate the realities of broadcast accessibility in TV viewing by focusing on differences in the first languages (sign language or spoken Japanese) of Deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers. For this analysis, the author conducted an interview-based study involving 25 Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in their 30s, 50s, and 70s living in the Tokyo Metropolitan area, Miyagi Prefecture, and Kumamoto Prefecture to examine how information provided through captioned and signed TV programs is understood and received by viewers.
These interviews revealed that while captioned broadcasts play an effective role, several issues were identified with regards to viewing experience, including the burden of following captioned text and the fatigue associated with it, as well as difficulties in accessing information when multiple on-screen displays overlap. Furthermore, structural issues were pointed out, such as time lags between the content of the video and the captions and the absence of captions in some local programs. Meanwhile, it was also indicated that the provision of information through sign language remains insufficient, which suggests that challenges will become apparent in situations requiring immediate provision of information, such as in the event of a disaster. Based on these findings, this study examines the current efforts to ensure information accessibility from both the perspectives of captioned and signed broadcasts, and explores the potential of emerging technologies, such as CG avatars.
