DIY Captioning

UF offers several software platforms that offer automatic captioning or transcriptioning functionality. Captioning appears embedded within the video while it plays, and transcriptioning may be available via a separate document, or may display outside of the video window.

Automated captioning does not meet ADA requirements for fully accessible videos because of lower accuracy rates.

Automatic transcripts and captions generated by Zoom and Stream are a great starting point for creating accessible content and can be edited for accuracy.

Zoom Captions

Zoom automatic audio transcripts will create a draft transcript that will need to be reviewed, edited, and enabled as closed-captioning.

For more information visit our Zoom Closed Captions and Live Transcription page.

Otter.ai Transcripts

What is Otter.ai?

Beginning Fall 2020, UF is conducting a pilot of Otter.ai, an automated, real-time speech-to-text transcription service that can be integrated into Zoom meetings. Otter.ai creates live transcripts that can be viewed during a meeting and later edited and shared. For detailed information, see What is Otter.

Who can use the service?

Otter.ai is currently under development in a closed pilot stage. Access can be requested through the Disability Resources Center. Pilot participant feedback is valuable and can be provided via the Microsoft Teams site Otter.ai Pilot.

Due to HIPAA regulations, members of the Health Science Colleges are not currently able to set up the Zoom integration. However, Zoom meeting transcriptions (as well as transcriptions from other apps such as Microsoft Teams and Google Meet) can still be made by using Otter.ai on the web or through the app.

For information about the use and features of Otter, please refer to the Getting Started Guide and Help Center.

Hangouts Meet Captions

Captions will only happen live. They are not available in the recorded version of the meeting.

1. Visit the G Suite page and select Hangouts Meet. If not already signed into Google, you may be prompted to log in using your Gatorlink username and password.
2. Join the meeting.
3. You will be asked to allow use of your microphone and cameras.
4. On the bottom right of the page click Turn Captions On.

Note: When you turn on captions, they will only be visible to you on your device. In order for other participants in the meeting to see captions, they will have to turn captions on as well.

More in-depth instructions are available here:
Hangouts Meet Accessibility
Use Captions in a Video Meeting

Microsoft Stream Captions

Microsoft Stream can automatically generate captions on the videos that you upload. To upload and enable auto-captions on your videos, perform the following steps:

1. Log into Microsoft Stream using your Gatorlink username and password.
2. Select the “Create” tab and select “Upload video.”
3. Use the Browse button or drag in a video to begin the uploading process.
4. In the “Details” panel, select the language being spoken in the video from the “Video Language” drop down (see image).
5. In the “Permissions” panel, verify that you have selected your desired visibility options.
6. In the “Options” panel, ensure that the “Autogenerate a caption file” checkbox is selected (see image).
7. Publish your video by selecting the “Publish” button once your video is uploaded.
8. Generating captions can take 1-2 times the length of your video. Your captions are ready when a Transcript tab is available next to your video player, and a “CC” (Closed Captions) button will also appear in your video player controls (see image).