Novel wireless handsets designed and developed by Cambridge Consultants have opened up Theatreland for the entire population, providing tailored real-time translations via subtitles to individual audience members while they watch.

AirScript has been launched by Show Translations in conjunction with the Shaftesbury Theatre, London, for performances of ‘Hairspray’.

It initially supports eight languages – including French, German, Spanish, Japanese and English - and is the world’s first closed caption system for theatre productions.

AirScript delivers subtitles from each show via personal handsets in real time in several languages simultaneously, allowing both non-native speaking audience members and those with hearing impairments to enjoy the production.

Unlike existing translation solutions available on the market, AirScript ensures that each and every performance is accessible to all.

A full colour, high resolution widescreen display and a high reliability wireless link delivers subtitles from the performance to personal handsets in real time, supporting both non-native speaking audience members and those who are deaf or have hearing impairments.

Cambridge Consultants has designed the handset to be easy to use and comfortable for all ages and abilities, with an ergonomic shape and no complex menus or controls to master.

Audience members simply select the language via a touch screen and then sit back. No other inputs are required.  Importantly, the speed of the subtitles is controlled by the stage prompt, thus ensuring the captions that appear on the AirScript handsets will always remain synchronised with the action on stage.

The handsets also incorporate an internal battery which can be recharged by stowing them into a supplied charging rack, giving theatres a convenient place to store the handsets while not in use.  Additionally, the batteries last the life of the handset, meaning that they do not need to be replaced.

“The initial concept had been extremely well formed by Show Translations”, commented David Bradshaw, Group Leader of the Software Technologies Group at Cambridge Consultants.

“But it was still a challenge to turn their concept into a viable product.  Wirelessly supporting potentially hundreds of devices simultaneously in a theatre was one of the main issues that we have had to overcome, but perhaps more important was ensuring that the handsets were universally accessible and non-distracting.

“They have to be very simple to use, and also comfortable for use by anyone.  As a result, a great deal of time was spent getting the ‘human factors’ right.”
Cambridge Consultants designed and developed the AirScript handsets in under nine months, including full production tooling, enabling Show Translations to bring the product to market very quickly.