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Can technology make a hearing-centric world more accessible?

Motion capture technology, closed captioning, and hearing aids

Motion capture technology, closed captioning, and hearing aids

Arielle Duhaime-Ross
is a freelance science journalist, podcast host, comics artist, and TV host.

Most humans live in a hearing-centric world, which means that the needs and preferences of people who are deaf or people who have some form of hearing loss are often overlooked. But some people are trying to change that — and they’re using technology to do it.

On this week’s episode of Top Shelf, you’ll see how Gallaudet University researchers are using motion capture technology and interactive apps to ensure that children who are deaf are exposed to language at an early age. Then, you’ll meet the owner of Digital Media Services — a company that does closed captioning for Hulu, Netflix, and even Nicki Minaj music videos. Finally, you’ll get a glimpse at the changes taking place in the world of hearing aids.

A world that's truly accessible is one that's adaptable — and inclusive

A world that’s truly accessible is one that’s adaptable — and inclusive. We aren’t there yet, but it’s still pretty amazing to see what can happen when technology and human creativity come together.

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