A Communication Access Alternative

The System

C-Print is a speech-to-text (captioning) technology and service developed at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, a college of Rochester Institute of Technology. The system successfully is being used to provide communication access to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing in many programs around the country. In addition to educational environments, C-Print also can be used in business and community settings, and with individuals with other disabilities, such as those with a visual impairment or a learning disability.

Costs for using the C-Print system vary, depending on what equipment is used, the pay level and hours the captionist works, the service needs/demands, etc. Salaries typically are between those of a professional notetaker and an interpreter. A laptop computer is the primary piece of equipment used by C-Print captionists. C-Print can be a cost-effective service that a university, secondary school, business or organization may provide.

The Service

The basis of C-Print is printed text of spoken English displayed in real time, which is a proven and appropriate means of acquiring information for some individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. A trained operator, called a C-Print captionist, produces a text display of the spoken information in classroom or other settings. At the same time, one or more students read the display to access the information. A C-Print captionist includes as much information as possible, generally providing a meaning-for-meaning translation of the spoken English content. After class, the text can be provided in paper or electronic format for the student to use as notes.

The Technology

C-Print Pro software is specifically designed for providing C-Print speech-to-text services. It allows a captionist to input text using a keyboard abbreviation system. The abbreviation system is based on phonetics, or how words sound. Although spelling-based abbreviations might seem easier to learn, in practice, abbreviations based on how words sound are more instinctive because unlike traditional keyboard typing, a C-Print captionist processes information auditorily. Typing using abbreviations based on how words sound is an extension of the auditory process. In addition, problematic spelling is not an issue. The software also can accept input from automatic speech recognition applications.

C-Print Development & Training

Rochester Institute of Technology National Technical Institute for the Deaf 52 Lomb Memorial Drive Rochester, New York 14623-5604 585-475-7557 (Voice/TTY) 585-475-5949 (Fax) cprint@rit.edu http://cprint.rit.edu