Learning Center

Closed Caption Television: Today and Tomorrow

This article, written in 1980 by Barry Jay Cronin, Ph.D., was prepared for the Symposium on Research and Utilization of Educational Media for Teaching the Deaf. For many years an annual media symposium was held at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. This paper provides a general background on the history of closed captioning and how it has evolved to that point. As Dr. Cronin states, "No technology can remain static and be successful for long." Also explains what Line 21 is, and describes the closed-captioning process.

Closed Captioned Television: Educational and Sociological Implications for Hearing Impaired Learners

Written in 1981 by Doris C. Caldwell, Special Assistant to the President of the National Captioning Institute (NCI) and former Coordinator of Programming for the Hearing Impaired at PBS, Ms. Caldwell points out that deaf children and adults improve their reading skills and broaden their vocabulary by reading captions. Having closed captions available to this segment of the population enables deaf audiences to experience what their hearing counterparts have enjoyed all along. To quote a letter sent to NCI: "I was thrilled. I have never voted because I could not hear to understand what the candidates were promising. The more NCI close captions, the more I will become interested in politics."

Media Services and Captioned Films

Written in the early '70s by Dr. Malcolm J. Norwood, this article reviews the restructuring made within the program. Discusses the first demonstration of closed captioning.

Videodisc Update

The Media Development Project for the Hearing Impaired (MDPHI) has been involved in the design and production of "videodisc" programs since December 1978. In this 1980 paper, George Propp, Gwen Nugent, and Casey Stone examine the use of videodiscs to promote education. The disc is designed to be used with an educational/industrial player for individualized use, much like a book. A student can view the materials at his or her own pace in a sequence either predetermined by the teacher or selected by the user. Discs would include teachers' guides, quizzes, and various exercises. Includes studies on the use of the discs by students.

Real Time Closed Captioned Television as an Educational Tool

Written by Martin H. Block and Marc Okrand, Ph.D. for the 1983 Symposium on Research and Utilization of Educational Media for Teaching the Deaf American Annals of the Deaf. Covers the topic of real-time, or live, captioning which provides an opportunity and motivation to improve reading skills. Examines how this technology offers a new approach to providing access to classroom lectures and discussions. Reviews equipment needed as well as the sociological and educational implications surrounding the use of this type of captioning.

Utilizing Captioned Films for Teaching Communication Skills

Captioning at WGBH TV: A Paper Presented at the 1978 Symposium on Research and Utilization of Educational Media for Teaching the Deaf

Author Sharon Earley participated in the first captioning of "The Captioned ABC News" and in 1977 became the director of all caption center activities for the Caption Center at WGBH-TV. She overviews the debut of captioned news, overall development of captioning at WGBH, and captioning refinements that continued to be made in 1978. To quote Earley: "That the deaf community wanted television news to be captioned was no surprise to anyone. Dr. Malcolm Norwood had been aware of this longstanding need for years. But until 1973, it had seemed impossible."

Line 21: Closed Captioning of Television Programs

David Sillman was Manager of Engineering Planning at the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) where his prime responsibility was development of closed-captioning technology. He overviews the events leading to the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare's (HEW) interest in funding the development of such technology. PBS has contracted for the development of a commercial decoder suitable for mass production that could be used by the general public for the reception of closed-captioned television programs. After many years of experimental and preparatory work, it appears that the necessary combination of a closed-captioned transmission system, programming, and a practical home caption decoder can be brought together in the fall of 1979. To quote Sillman: "Let us hope this will signal the end of the exclusion of the hearing impaired from this significant part of our social and cultural life."

Captioning for Deaf People: An Historical Overview

A presentation given at Gallaudet University in 1988 by Dr. Malcolm J. Norwood. Reviews the history of captioning, including the signing of Public Law 85-905 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Captioned Films for the Deaf

Originally published in 1976 in “Exceptional Children,” Malcolm J. Norwood, Chief of Captioned Films and Telecommunications, writes of efforts to have FCC authorize use of a closed captioning device.

Captioned Films for the Deaf: Brief

Remarks prepared for the hearing before a Special Subcommittee of the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, United States Senate on S. 2511, a bill to provide for an increased program of Captioned Films for the Deaf. August 7, 1962.

Malcolm J. Norwood

Compared to the historical "fathers" of innumerable inventions who pushed for the mainstream acceptance of innovative devices, Malcolm J. Norwood (known affectionately as "Mac") stands out in the deaf and hard of hearing community as "the father of closed captioning." His is listed as one of the "great deaf Americans" in a book about the 77 greatest achievers in the community.

Captioned Films in Science

Written by Connie S. Nagy (Illinois School for the Deaf) in 1981, the article overviews the value of captioned films as a teaching aid in the science classroom.

Kentucky Teachers Know Captioned Media is Essential

Genny Lyman relates how Kentucky School for the Deaf teachers used captioned media

The Closed Captioning Process

Reviews the transcript, formatting, time coding, checking and revision, and encoding steps