GalaPro, the company behind the live caption app for Broadway shows, is now testing out smart glasses at Shubert theaters. The glasses, with technology developed by Epson, have caption capability and are designed to add another live text option beyond looking down at the GalaPro app on a phone. With the glasses, the captions are meant to sit at the edge of the stage in the eye of the viewer. The text can be adjusted for size and brightness. Targeted users include audience members who are deaf or hard of hearing as well as anyone who may benefit from reading the dialogue. The captions can also be translated into another language, so that non-English speakers can understand the show.
The plan is to continue testing out the glasses with industry members as well as members of organizations such as the Hearing Loss Association Of America and the Association for Late Deafened Adults. Part of the research seeks to determine how many people would choose to use the glasses rather than the existing app or I-Caption devices. Another question is whether the Shubert Organization or the productions themselves would buy several pairs of glasses, which retail between $700 and $1200.
The live captions through the glasses rely on a pre-loaded script from the show as well as GalaPro’s voice-recognition software. That software allows the app or the captions to change with any variations in script during the live show.
The GalaPro app is currently available in 34 Broadway theaters, according to the company.
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