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December 30, 2005
High-tech aids bring movies to wider audience
Showcase Cinemas at Springdale and Western Hills recently adopted new high-tech aids that allow both deaf and blind patrons to enjoy recent movies. One auditorium in each theater this year was equipped with Rear Window Captioning, which entails a small Plexiglas rearview mirror sitting in a cup holder and reflects written dialogue projected on the back of the theater.
Brian Callaghan, director of corporate communications for National Amusements, owner of the Showcase Cinemas, said a person sitting on either side of someone using RWC would not be able to see the mirrored captions.
Both theaters also now offer DVS Theatrical descriptive narration, which allows blind patrons to listen to detailed accounts of what is happening on screen right down to facial expressions. The narration is beamed to wireless headphones. (Listen to a sample of descriptive narration at ncam.wgbh.org/richmedia/media/lionking.)
"I just find the descriptions are so colorful and so closely match the mood of the movie," said Callaghan. "If it's a comedy, for instance, it sounds upbeat. If it's a period drama, the language is that much more rich and descriptive."
Both systems were developed by the Media Access Group at WGBH in Boston; more details, including theaters in other states equipped with the systems, is available online at mopix.org.
AMC Newport on the Levee and Rave West Chester both offer assisted-listening devices, which amplify the soundtrack for hearing-impaired viewers.
By Margaret A. McGurk
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051230/LIFE/512300384
Posted by 4HL on December 30, 2005 1:06 PM
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