Deaf or hearing impaired

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Closed captions at Hoyts Broadway. What’s it like?

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The new closed caption sessions at Hoyts Broadway in Sydney have been running for a couple of weeks now. As Media Access Australia’s cinema project manager, I thought it was a good time to pop into the cinema to talk to staff and trial the system for myself.

After making my way past the mesmerising Ben & Jerry’s ice cream store at the front of the complex, I enquired about the system at the ticket counter. The staff member, although helpful, wasn’t too sure of what I was asking about but had no hesitation in calling the manager to assist me. This was the only blip in my experience at the cinema.

Location manager Daniel Wlodarczyk had all the answers I needed and rightly pointed out that the service was quite new and procedures were still being tested and finalised across all areas of the cinema.


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How to find accessible media

Finding captioned video

Searching for captioned videos on iTunes

The iTunes store has a small but growing number of close captioned movies and TV shows that you can rent or buy. You can also search for closed captioned educational video content through iTunes U. You can watch these videos on your computer using iTunes, or on the iPhone, iPod touch  or iPod classic.


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Latest Skype app supports video calls on WiFi and 3G

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People who are Deaf or hearing impaired can now use the latest version of Skype for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch to communicate using sign language via Skype-to-Skype video calls on WiFi and 3G.

Skype for iPhone 3.0 works on the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod touch (fourth generation) running the operating system iOS 4 or above. Owners of the iPod touch (third generation) or iPad can still receive video calls but cannot make video calls as there is no inbuilt camera. Making video calls from the iPhone 3GS can also be cumbersome without a forward facing camera.

The update opens up more options for people who are Deaf or hearing impaired, providing an alternative to FaceTime. FaceTime provides video chat only to iPhone 4 owners, and only when connected to WiFi.

Digital media and technology: 

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Gaming

As the popularity of video games continues to soar, so too does the interest in accessible gaming for the estimated 20% of gamers with a disability. There are mainstream options and accessible alternatives available which provide growing numbers of gamers with disabilities access to the cultural, social and recreational benefits that gaming provides.

Digital media and technology: 

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What’s new this week with accessible cinema?

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Following on from the commencement of closed captioned sessions at some cinemas last week, this week sees the increase of open captioned sessions and the introduction of audio description.

Increase of open captions

As a temporary measure while we wait for new closed caption equipment to be finalised, the following cinemas will begin six sessions per week of open captioned movies:

Event Cinemas Parramatta

Event Cinemas Glendale

Hoyts Erina


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