There is a gap between the information barrier-free environment and the needs of the hearing impaired
How to break through barriers to let the hearing impaired "see the sound"
Our reporter Zhao Chenxi
Intern Ling Yi
Young and beautiful appearance, fluent expression, if it is not for the cochlear implant on the ear, it is difficult to find that Li Ke is a hearing-impaired.
Twenty-four years ago, Li Ke, one and a half years old, was diagnosed with a first-degree disability with bare-ear hearing. After rehabilitation training and wearing cochlear implants in both ears, Li Ke was able to communicate normally with healthy people. The world is almost silent.
According to the second national sample survey of persons with disabilities, there are 27.8 million hearing disabilities in my country, of which 20.04 million are single hearing disabilities.
Due to the unobvious disability characteristics and the lack of information barrier-free infrastructure, the hearing-impaired people often encounter inconvenience and embarrassment in daily life.
Li Ke said that from the physical appearance, they are different from the physically disabled who can be identified at a glance. Hearing disabilities are often more hidden, which makes them look like ordinary people.
However, once you encounter a problem and need to communicate with people, the hearing impairment is like a "glass wall", blocking the transmission of sound and the acquisition of information.
The development of Internet technology has provided great convenience for the hearing disabled to better integrate into the society. However, a reporter from the Rule of Law Daily found that in this fast-developing Internet era, the information accessibility needs of the hearing disabled are still difficult to meet.
Hearing impaired people need exclusive "blind track"
"Family members download audiobooks, we can chat video together, there are subtitles prompt, no longer afraid of not being able to hear what they are saying."
"Hello everyone, I am a hearing impaired... I have made a lot of progress when talking to my parents. After all, I didn't speak much in college. I am really grateful that I have audio books to accompany me now.
...
There are some comments from the hearing-impaired in the "Audiobook" App comment area in the app store.
After downloading and using it, the reporter found that, as these comments said, with the help of this App, the hearing-impaired can communicate with others more conveniently.
Shichengchuan, the founder of Audiobook, is also a hearing-impaired.
In 2016, after graduating from university for only one year, he established Audiobook Technology dedicated to enabling the hearing impaired and hearing people to communicate efficiently through artificial intelligence technology.
Speaking of the original intention of setting up the company, Shi Chengchuan said that he hopes to use what he has learned to do things within his capacity for the hearing impaired. “The public facilities in cities rarely consider the needs of the hearing impaired. Blind tracks are used by the visually impaired. The ramp is prepared for the handicapped, so what are the barrier-free facilities for the hearing impaired? I want to change this situation and create a "blind track" exclusively for the hearing impaired."
This communication software specially designed for the hearing-impaired includes two sections: barrier-free communication and speech rehabilitation. The speech recognition technology used can help the hearing-impaired to obtain the voice information of people within 4 meters, TV, computer, speakers and other speakers.
In Li Ke's view, one of the most practical functions of this App is the real-time subtitle function. The software can convert the received voice into text. "We can not only rely on this feature to communicate on-site, but also listen to it through voice-to-text. 'To some programs without subtitles'.
"In addition to the audiobook, which is designed for the hearing impaired, apps such as WeChat, Dingding, and Feishu all have the function of converting speech to text, and the accuracy is very high. With these software, we can interact with others in our work and life. There are basically no obstacles when communicating.” Li Ke said that after installing these apps on his mobile phone, it was as if he had put on his “ears”.
Live webcast without subtitles becomes "mime"
Internet technology is indispensable in helping the hearing-impaired obtain information.
But it is undeniable that there are still some Internet products that ignore the feelings of the hearing-impaired, making this group less free to walk in the Internet world.
Li Ke found out that some courses were not equipped with subtitles while conducting online learning on some websites.
Although you wear a cochlear implant, you can only hear part of the sound, so the learning effect is greatly reduced. "It is conceivable that for those hearing impaired people who do not have the conditions to implant a cochlear implant, this kind of'silent' course is only Let them choose to give up".
For many hearing-impaired people, the current hot webcast has also become a "mime" for unknown reasons.
Reporters found on multiple short video platforms that some short videos of movies and TV series are all equipped with subtitles after editing, but on live channels, there are often only the voice of the anchor without subtitles.
When a user asks a question to an anchor in text, most anchors will answer it verbally, and only a small number of anchors will hold up signs that contain reminders and informative content.
"The live broadcast is real-time and it is difficult to add subtitles, which we can understand. However, we still hope that some influential live broadcast rooms can be equipped with real-time voice-to-text tools so that the hearing impaired can participate and enjoy The fun of webcasting." Li Ke said.
Li Ke said frankly that, in fact, she hopes that all software and programs can popularize subtitles. After all, for their group, this is "the few" ways to obtain information.
Promote the popularization of sign language translation
On June 28, the "National Universal Sign Language Digital Promotion Center" and "National Universal Braille Research and Promotion Center" jointly established by the China Disabled Persons’ Federation and the National Language Commission were formally established, which will strengthen the standardization and informatization of sign language braille during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period. , Standardization construction, vigorously promote the national common sign language and national common braille, provide barrier-free language services for the hearing and visually disabled, and improve their ability and level to overcome disabilities, learn cultural skills, and integrate into society.
A very important reason for promoting the national universal sign language is that for many hearing impaired people, sign language is the most direct and accurate way for them to obtain information.
The Regulations on the Construction of Barrier-Free Environments, which came into effect on August 1, 2012, clearly stipulate that television stations established by people's governments at or above the municipal level with districts should create conditions to provide subtitles when broadcasting TV programs and broadcast at least once a week. Sign language news program.
However, this regulation is difficult to implement in reality.
Li Ke discovered that, with the exception of a few TV stations such as CCTV who will be equipped with sign language interpreters when they broadcast news, many TV stations have failed to "broadcast sign language news programs at least once a week."
"Although today's news programs are basically equipped with subtitles, subtitles cannot completely replace sign language. For example, for those with poor eyesight or the elderly, it is also very difficult to read subtitles. At this time, Sign language is very necessary.” Li Ke said that news programs equipped with sign language interpreters should be fixed as a system, so that more hearing-disabled people can get fresh information in time and maintain close contact with society.
Upgrade the government service hall
As a hearing impaired, Beijing resident Chen Chen opened a small shop with the help of his family. Although the business can be managed by his family, he must go to the scene to handle the license application.
In the past, Chen Chen had to be accompanied by his family or friends during the handling process. Sometimes he needed to use a mobile phone or pen and paper to communicate during the handling process. Even a simple matter, due to communication difficulties, often takes a long time and effort. .
But what makes Chen Chen happy is that such distress has been resolved in the near future.
A few days ago, when Chen Chen went to do business, he noticed that there was a computer-sized LCD display on the special group service counter in the service hall. The staff informed that it was a remote sign language interpreter. Next, Chen Chen "said" the business he wanted to handle to the machine in sign language. After the machine performed accurate translation, the staff took Chen Chen to the barrier-free love window to handle the business.
To his surprise, the staff who handled the business there could communicate with him in sign language very fluently.
The reporter learned that starting from November 2019, the Beijing Municipal Service Hall has begun to start barrier-free renovations one after another.
According to the information disclosed by the Beijing Municipal Service Administration, as of the end of 2020, 462 government service halls in Beijing have basically completed barrier-free renovation.