Captions added to Google+ Hangouts

Google's flagship social network, Google+, has made a breakthrough with the launch of Hangout Captions. The app will allow people who are Deaf or hearing impaired to access live transcription services while using the video chat feature on the social network.

Hangout Captions will display real-time text updates from professional transcribers of conversations that take place in Google+ Hangouts. Google+ Hangouts is the video chat feature of social network Google+ which allows up to ten people to communicate through streamed video. The Hangout Captions app also allows users to type text versions of the conversation for friends who are Deaf or hearing impaired, providing captions for the conversation in real-time.

Announced on the Google+ profile of Naomi Black, a member of Google's Accessibility team, the app works with real-time streaming text service StreamText.

The Hangouts feature allows groups to take part in conversation via video. The main advantage of the captions addition is Deaf or hearing impaired users being able to talk to their friends without having to ask them to instant message.

This follows a number of accessibility improvements to the social network, including adding closed caption support for videos uploaded to Google+, announced earlier in June.

Access iQ™ is an initiative of Media Access Australia, Australia's only independent not-for-profit organisation who advocates for equal access to media and technology for users of all abilities. The original article, Captions added to Google+ Hangouts is republished with their permission.