The majority of people who took part in the first subtitles glasses trial in UK cinemas have said they prefer ‘open captioned’ screenings over the wearable technology.
63 cinemagoers at Derby QUAD tried out the glasses – from tech company Built for Good – from 19 January to 11 February, with a third trial currently underway at ODEON Milton Keynes Stadium following one at Chesterfield which concluded earlier this month.
The WatchWord glasses are the outcome of the UK Cinema Association’s Technology Challenge Fund, launched in 2018 in partnership with the Royal National Institute for Deaf people (RNID) who pulled out of the initiative in May 2022 citing “little progress” in captioned cinema.
The UKCA confirmed earlier this month that WatchWord’s developers, Built for Good – the company behind the subtitles glasses in place at the National Theatre – took over the project following the outbreak of coronavirus in 2020.
In data shared with this website on Friday, a survey of people who tried out the subtitles glasses in Derby found 41 per cent preferred open captions (where the text is ‘burned into’ the film) over WatchWord.
While it’s not known how the remaining 59 per cent is split across a scale ranging from agree to strongly disagree, Built for Good confirmed to Liam O’Dell that the preference for open captions was the “prevailing view”.
However, more than 80 per cent of respondents said they strongly agreed they would rather use the subtitles glasses instead of not attending a screening at all, should an open captioned screening not be available at a time which was appropriate for them.
Almost three quarters (74 per cent) strongly agreed they would like to wear the glasses again at other screenings, and people said they would visit the cinema three times as often if the glasses were readily available.
A Built for Good spokesperson said: “This doesn’t mean that they will stop attending open captioned screenings, but means that they will be able to see a wider range of films at times that suit them and fit in with their other commitments, basing their cinema attendance on the films they want to see, rather that the times that they can attend.
“Of course, some people haven’t liked the glasses and don’t want to use them again, which is to be expected. Closed captions should always be offered alongside rather than instead of open captioned screenings, but the goal of the project is to provide more choice.
“There is a lot of work still to do, of course, and we won’t stop in our pursuit of a better audience experience, but for the people who get on well with the glasses, we are pleased that WatchWord will offer something which they tell us they feel that they miss out on.”
Two thirds of survey respondents were 60 or over (53 per cent were 60 to 69-years old, with 13 per cent aged 70 or over), with 20-29 year olds and 50-59 year olds making up 13 per cent each, and 7 per cent aged 30 to 39.
Three quarters of people either disagreed or strongly disagreed that the glasses caused headaches, dizziness or tiredness, with the same percentage (74 per cent) strongly agreeing they could read the captions easily without eye strain.
53 per cent and 63 per cent agreed or strongly agreed the glasses were comfortable on their nose and ears respectively.
In feedback shared with this website, one participant said: “I think it will be good to be able to watch a film with friends and family where they don’t need subtitles on the screen, and I can use the glasses, plus there will be far more choices of film.”
Another added: “I am looking forward to having more access to cinema and being able to go when I want, rather than wait for a subtitled screening.”
A third individual described the glasses as a “real game-changer”.
“There is a place for both these glasses and open captions – choice is something Deaf people haven’t had before. I would use them again even though they felt heavy.
“I’m trying the glasses again & I will wear my contact lenses rather than glasses. I REALLY hope the QUAD gets these WatchWord glasses for filmgoers in the not too distant future, they really are great. I think you can tell how pleased I am,” they said.
Images: WatchWord.cc/Built for Good.
Liam O'Dell 