ARABIC SUBTITLES FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING AND ARABIC SIGN LANGUAGE: A RECEPTION STUDY USING A VIRTUAL 360-DEGREE VIDEO

Abstract

The rapid advancement of immersive media technologies, such as virtual reality and 360º video, has opened new possibilities across various sectors, including entertainment, education, and culture. However, due to the relatively recent emergence of these technologies, research on their accessibility remains limited. Given that one of the primary objectives of audiovisual translation studies is to enhance content accessibility, it is essential to establish preliminary guidelines for ensuring accessibility in immersive media. This reception study aims to evaluate different subtitling for the deaf and hard-of-hearing and sign language presentation modes designed for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences in 360-degree environments. To achieve this, a 360-degree video was created with three subtitling for the deaf and hard-of-hearing modes for character identification: (1) Fixed subtitles, (2) 120-degree color-coded subtitles, and (3) Between-speakers subtitles. Additionally, two sign language presentation modes were tested: (1) 2D Overlay and (2) 360-degree positioning. Finally, Icons were also incorporated to indicate background sound effects. Feedback on preference and immersion was gathered from 7 participants. Results indicate that participants prioritized the consistent placement of subtitling for the deaf and hard-of-hearing and sign language within the video, regardless of the mode, as readability was their main concern. Notably, the "between-speakers" subtitling for the deaf and hard-of-hearing mode was the most preferred, though participants expressed this preference indirectly. Additionally, participants showed interest in an "always-visible" mode, where subtitling for the deaf and hard-of-hearing and sign language elements follow the user's head movements. The use of icons to represent background sounds was also met with very positive feedback. Moreover, the study highlighted differences between deaf and hard-of-hearing participants in their preferences for SDH, SL, and icons. While deaf participants preferred SL and icons over SDH, hard-of-hearing participants valued both SL and SDH equally. Hard-of-hearing participants also expressed higher interest in reducing visual clutter to enhance comprehension. Keywords: Audio-Visual Translation, Accessibility, Subtitling for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, Sign Language, Virtual Reality, 360-Degree video.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	HBKU College of Humanities and Social Science