Open captions and subtitles have come a long way in their evolution. Previously, they primarily served people with hearing impairments or those watching videos in another language. However, today their role has significantly expanded. They have become an integral part of video content, providing accessibility and enhancing understanding for a broad audience. Now, open captions and subtitles not only assist people with various needs but also improve content perception, increasing its appeal and enriching viewers' emotional experience. These are special elements embedded in video content and displayed on screen simultaneously with audio or video material.

The Role of Open Captions

Open captions are textual elements directly embedded in video content and displayed on screen simultaneously with audio or video material. These captions are visible immediately upon playback and cannot be hidden or turned off by the viewer. Open captions are an integral part of video and are integrated during its creation process. Typically, they are displayed at the bottom of the screen, but their placement can be adjusted according to user preference. This format ensures content accessibility for all viewers, including those who do not speak the video's language or have hearing impairments. Open captions play a crucial role in improving the accessibility and understanding of video content, making it easier to comprehend and appealing to a diverse audience.

Open captions are designed for all users and enable not only understanding of textual content but also the conveyance of:

• Sound effects. Open captions can display sounds of nature, musical segments, or emotions to enhance the video's atmosphere. For example, a whisper may be accompanied appropriately to create a sense of intimacy and secrecy.
• Intonation. Open captions can reproduce voice intonation to convey the emotional tone of speech. For instance, captions may use different fonts, sizes, and colors of text.
• Emotional expressions. Open captions can include emoticons, icons, or animations to convey characters' emotional states or the overall mood of the video. For example, subtitles with ":)", ":(", or "!" can help convey feelings of joy, sadness, or surprise.
• Text animations. Open captions can utilize animated text or special effects to create a dynamic and engaging visual experience. For instance, text may appear or disappear slowly, mimicking movement or changes in sound.

Thus, open captions in videos can play a crucial role in conveying sounds and emotions, enhancing the viewer's visual and audiovisual experience, and making content more engaging and emotionally rich.

The Purpose of Subtitles

Subtitles are textual information displayed on screen simultaneously with playing video or audio. The main goal is to help viewers understand words or expressions spoken on screen, especially if they are in an unfamiliar language or have hearing impairments.

Subtitles are utilized in various situations:

• Accessibility for the Hard of Hearing. Subtitles provide access to video content for individuals with hearing impairments, allowing them to read a textual interpretation of audio information. Studies conducted by the University of Michigan and Gallaudet University have shown that reading subtitles in childhood enhances reading skills, improves communication levels, and increases life satisfaction.
• Enhancement of Content Understanding. In a study conducted by the BBC as part of "The Reading Experiment" project, it was found that using open subtitles helps viewers better understand the content of a program and enhances the perception of dialogues and plotlines. This is particularly important for content with accents or complex pronunciation. Even for viewers who speak the original language, subtitles aid in better understanding spoken words or expressing thoughts. Research from the University of Georgia has shown that the use of open subtitles in educational videos enhances content understanding and contributes to easier information retention. This is especially useful for educational videos where conveying information is key.
• Learning. Double subtitles can be a useful tool for learning foreign languages. They help expand vocabulary, practice grammar, and explore other cultures. For example, students can become familiar with expressions and idioms from conversational speech.nhancement of Viewer Engagement. Netflix conducted research on the impact of open subtitles on viewing experiences. The company found that they help viewers immerse themselves more deeply in the plot and understand complex dialogues, especially in shows with fast-paced conversations or complex themes. And the results of a study by the University of Rhode Island showed that this extends the viewing time. Subtitles increase viewer engagement, especially when the audio quality is low or the sound is turned off.
• Expanding the Target Audience. Providing content in different languages with subtitles helps attract new viewers from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, thereby monetizing the channel. On social media, subtitled content often attracts more attention from users because it allows them to quickly understand the video content, even when the sound is muted. Using subtitles can also improve the SEO metrics of videos, as the text can be indexed by search engines, increasing its discoverability and attracting new audiences.

Thus, the significance of subtitles lies in ensuring accessibility and understanding of video content for a wide audience, as well as their use for educational and language learning purposes.

Conclusions

Open captions and subtitles play a key role in ensuring accessibility and enhancing the attractiveness of video content. Their use not only expands the audience and improves content understanding but also contributes to social integration and the exchange of cultural values. In the future, with the increase in multilingual content and platform diversity, the role of open captions and subtitles will continue to grow, making video accessible and understandable for all.