CART is a real-time captioning service that translates spoken language into written text using a stenotype machine, notebook computer, and specialized software. It is commonly used in live, unscripted events such as conferences, workshops, talkbacks, tours, and performances, both in-person and virtual. The captions produced are verbatim and can indicate speakers and non-speech sounds, providing full access to the content. The text can be displayed on an individual’s computer monitor, projected onto a screen, or combined with a video presentation to appear as captions. Due to the human element involved, there may be a slight delay in the captions appearing, but this also ensures a high level of accuracy. The human captioner’s involvement is what differentiates CART from automated captioning services, making it the most accurate method of real-time captioning.
Glossary Term