Hey Deaf Kid

Deaf-accessible movie theaters

New technology is making it easier than ever for deaf and hard-of-hearing people to enjoy movies. Well, not all of it is actually new. The movie The Jackal in 1997 made use of Motion Picture Access (MoPix) technology, which displays three lines of reversed captions on a display in the back of the theater and projects it on reflective panels mounted in cupholders. Recently in Massachussetts, theaters with ten or more screens were required to have at least two outfitted with MoPix. The technology also aids blind movie-goers with a descriptive video technology that describes the scenes of the film.A new iPhone app is also making it easier for deaf moviegoers to find accessible cinemas. The CaptionFish app uses GPS to find theaters din the area with deaf-accessible screens. The app is also designed to show trailers of upcoming movies with accompanying captions, although some people are having trouble accessing this feature. The app can also get you the address and phone number for any local theater in your area.The time is coming when deaf viewers will be able to easily find the movies they want to see. Until then, these new technologies are a step in the right direction.