Frequently asked questions

  • Closed captions are displayed on personal devices like the smart glasses that WatchWord uses.

    Many movies include closed captions. WatchWord extracts and broadcasts these captions to audiences wearing the smart glasses.

    In theatre, WatchWord Live listens to the performer’s dialogue to time the broadcast of captions to the smart glasses.

  • WatchWord has been developed so that D/deaf, deafened, and hard of hearing people, and people for whom English is not their first language, can access entertainment in cinemas and theatres.

    WatchWord allows venues to increase the proportion of accessible cinema screenings and theatre performances, providing users with a greater choice of what to see and when to attend.

  • When you go to the cinema or the theatre, you collect a pair of smart glasses, and a handheld controller (which works like a smartphone).

    When you put the glasses on, you will see the dialogue appear through the glasses as captions. You can look at the screen or the stage whilst simultaneously reading the captions.

    The handheld controller allows you to change the size, position, colour, focal-length and brightness of the text.

    There is a lanyard on the controller to make it easier for you to move around the venue.

  • Yes, the glasses can be worn over your own glasses and with hearing aids or a cochlear implant processor.

    You can adjust the nosepiece so that the glasses feel more comfortable on your nose.

  • The glasses are usually free for you to use. If your cinema has WatchWord or your theatre has WatchWord Live, you simply add them to your booking, either online or by contacting the venue.

  • The cost of providing WatchWord and WatchWord Live system depends on your venue’s specific needs.

    WatchWord can be bought for permanent installation or hired for film festivals or single productions.

    Contact us for further information and to discuss your requirements.

  • You can hire WatchWord on a short term basis, for example for a film festival or single production.

    Contact us to discuss your event’s accessibility needs.

  • Click on the button at the bottom of this page to find out which cinemas and theatres provide WatchWord.

  • In cinemas, WatchWord can display captions in multiple languages when they are included with the film.

    In theatres, captions are available in up to 2 languages.

  • If you have a question we have not included in this FAQ, please click on the button below to contact us.

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