Capture-It Unlimited, Inc.

Educational CART, which is also referred to as realtime captioning, is our most popular service and can be effective in almost any educational setting, from grade school to higher learning levels.  The CART provider's role is to facilitate communication between the student with a hearing loss, the instructor, and the student's classmates.  The CART provider accompanies the student to each class, who then writes on the steno machine what is being said by the instructor and the students, which is then sent to the laptop computer screen to be viewed and read instantly by the student.  This allows the student a comprehensive understanding of the classroom session and also allows the student the ability to fully participate in class! 

It is difficult to take notes during class and also to follow everything that is being said if you have a hearing loss.  With CART, the student can follow the class discussion by reading the text and is able to participate in the discussion.  The transcript of the class is also provided to the student at the conclusion of the class via a text file.  The student may then use these notes to review key points when studying for exams.

Sometimes it's not required for a CART provider to be on-site.  If the CART provider and the consumer are in different locations, even across the country, CART can easily be accomplished.  A microphone is needed for the speaker, and the consumer needs a computer with access to the Internet.  The audio is sent to the CART provider by way of a telephone line or through the computer to enable the CART provider to write the text of what is spoken.   The consumer will be provided the necessary information to make the connection and to view the streaming text on their computer virtually instantaneously. 

CART is not limited to the educational setting or to just one consumer.  CART is used for larger audiences as well.  This can be achieved by projecting the text onto a large screen via an LCD projector, by using a two-line LED sign, or by television monitor.  These methods work great for meetings, conventions, seminars, stadium events, graduations, and religious services.

Let's not forget about the arts!  A copy of the script for the play is received ahead of the scheduled play date.  The realtime captioner enters and formats the play into the realtime software on a laptop.   When the realtime captioner is at the location of the play, the computer with the prescripted play loaded on it is connected to an LED sign.  With the file of the play open, the text of the play is ready to be sent to the LED sign by the realtime captioner line-by-line simultaneously as the speakers perform the play.  Realtime captioning of theater is becoming increasingly popular as consumers realize how fulfilling cultural events can be when they are able to read the text and fully understand the play!