Way back in 2011 I wrote about the Difference Engine.
It’s a simple but effective way of adding captions to live performances created by Coventry based Talking Birds.
In short, a laptop runs the software and over a local wireless network it allows any device with a web browser to view subtitles.
i.e your mobile phone, tablet or laptop.
A really simple idea to an age old problem for anyone who wouldn’t be able to hear what was being said.
It’s intended for live performance but the simplicity of the system means it could be easily and cheaply re-purposed to anything.
School assembly? Conference? Training Courses? Museum? Art Gallery?
I could go on and on…
If it has a script that needs to be followed it wouldn’t take much to plug it into this.
So many events are run without any thought for the deaf and hard of hearing purely because adding that sort of thing is normally expensive.
With this system you need a laptop. That’s it.
Anyone that needs to use the system can use a device they’ll likely have already. You could hook the laptop up to a screen or projector you’d probably be using at the event anyway too.
Talking Birds have been working hard to improve the system but as with most small organisations like this they struggle for funding.
I honestly think they could really make a difference if they can get to the next level.
So I need your help.
They have reached the finals of this years Tech4Good Awards.
To be in with a chance of winning the “People’s Award” they need votes.
http://www.tech4goodawards.com/vote-now/
Enter your email address
Click on the Talking Birds image
Put something in the “where you found us” box (maybe mention me!)
Click the button to submit the vote.
That’s it!
It’ll then give you some options for sharing on social media…If you do that too that would be cool.
If you could take two minutes from your time to do that I’d be ever so grateful!
Latest posts by Andy Parkes (see all)
- Dishley parkrun, Loughborough - August 1, 2023
- Woodgate Valley Country Park parkrun - July 22, 2023
- Abbey Park parkrun - June 8, 2023
2 thoughts on “The Difference Engine–Help Needed!”