Provide a Text Alternative for Live Audio-Only Content

Disabilities Affected: Hearing

Success Criterion: 1.2.9

Level: AAA

An alternative for time-based media that presents equivalent information for live audio-only content must be provided.

Why It Matters

For live audio-only content (like a live radio broadcast or audio-only conference call), users who are deaf or hard of hearing need a real-time text alternative to access the information. This is the live equivalent of providing a transcript for prerecorded audio.

Fixing the Issue

Provide a real-time text stream of the live audio content. This typically requires using live captioning services (CART) or potentially highly accurate ASR, displayed on the web page alongside or near the audio source. The text should update in near real-time as the audio progresses.

Good Code Example

(Conceptual) Embedding a live audio player alongside a live text stream:

Markup

<h2>Live Radio Broadcast</h2>
<div id="live-audio-player"></div>

<h3>Live Transcript</h3>
<div id="live-transcript-container" role="log" aria-live="polite" style="height: 200px; overflow-y: scroll; border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 5px;">
   <p>Connecting to live transcript...</p>
</div>

<script>
  // JavaScript would connect to a service (e.g., via WebSockets)
  // that pushes the live CART/ASR text into the
  // #live-transcript-container div in real-time.
  // const transcriptContainer = document.getElementById('live-transcript-container');
  // const socket = new WebSocket('wss://live-transcript-service.example.com');
  // socket.onmessage = function(event) {
  //    const newText = document.createElement('p');
  //    newText.textContent = event.data;
  //    transcriptContainer.appendChild(newText);
  //    transcriptContainer.scrollTop = transcriptContainer.scrollHeight; // Auto-scroll
  // };
</script>

Bad Code Example

Live audio stream with no text alternative:

Markup

<h2>Live Audio Conference Call</h2>
<div id="live-audio-player"></div>

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