Introduction
Zoom is a versatile video conferencing tool that unifies cloud video conferencing, simple online meetings, group messaging, and a software-defined conference room solution into one easy-to-use platform. You can host and join Zoom video conferences from your computer, tablet, or smartphone.
The Zoom Help Center has full instructions on using Zoom. The instructions below are specific to Virginia Tech. To see other Zoom topics, please see Video Conferencing - Holding Zoom Conferences on a PC or Mobile Device.
This article details how to utilize Accessibility Settings within Zoom
Zoom has features that let those with health conditions or impairments, attend, and participate in Zoom Meetings. For more, see Accessibility Features on Zoom and Changing settings in the Zoom desktop client or mobile app.
Contents
Instructions
Zoom Closed Captioning and Live Transcription
Zoom has free automatic speech recognition (ASR) closed captioning and live transcription for meetings.
- Only Hosts can enable Zoom closed captions and live transcripts.
- All participants can view closed captions and live transcripts.
- Hosts can control whether to display closed captions only or a live transcript.
- Hosts can disable live transcript download.
- Participants can choose to show or hide closed captions.
- Closed captions and live transcripts are not saved to Zoom recordings on the Zoom cloud or in My Media in Canvas.
See also:
- Managing manual captions
- Captioning Services request form
- Request live captioning 48 hours in advance
- Rush requests for live captioning processed only if there's a captionist available
- 5 business days default turnaround time for post-production captioning
- Accessible Technologies - Closed Captioning
Enabling Closed Caption and Live Transcript in Settings
Hosts control closed captioning settings at the account level. The below settings are enabled by default, but hosts can disable them.
Go to the Virginia Tech Zoom Portal and log in. Click Settings then In Meeting (Advanced).
- Under Full transcript, enable Allow viewing of full transcript in the in-meeting side panel.
- If live transcription is disabled, participants will only see closed captions at the bottom of the screen.
- Under Save Captions, enable Allow participants to save fully closed captions or transcripts.
- If saving transcripts is disabled, participants won't see the button to download them.
- If saving transcripts is disabled, participants won't see the button to download them.
Starting Closed Captions and Live Transcripts
- During the meeting click Show Captions.
- Set the caption language and click Save.
- If you want to assign someone in the meeting to type captions:
- Click on the arrow next to the Hide Captions button, hover over Set up manual captioner, and click On.
- Click on Assign a participant to type or I will type.
- If you choose to assign a participant to type, the participants window will pop up. Locate the participant who will be typing the captions and click More, then Assign to Type Closed Captions.
- If you want to assign someone in the meeting to type captions:
- Closed captions will be available to turn on at the bottom of the screen for all participants.
- To show and download a live transcript, click the arrow next to Hide Captions, then click on View Full Transcript.
- To hide the transcript, click on the arrow next to the Hide Captions button then click on Close Full Transcript.
- To show and download a live transcript, click the arrow next to Hide Captions, then click on View Full Transcript.
Viewing Closed Captions and Live Transcripts
Hosts must enable closed captions for participants to enable captions and view transcripts. Closed captions will appear at the bottom of the screen.
- To show captions, click Show Captions.
- To show and download a live transcript, click the arrow next to Hide Captions, then click on View Full Transcript.
- To download the transcript, at the bottom of the transcript pane click Save Transcript. Hosts may disable this feature.
- To hide the transcript, click on the arrow next to the Hide Captions button then click on Close Full Transcript.
American Sign Language Interpretation
If American Sign Language interpretation is specifically requested, please refer to the list of regional or state resource listings.
Also see: Accessible Technologies: Closed Captioning
Transcripts of Recordings
Meetings saved to the Zoom cloud appear in My Media in Canvas. Zoom cloud recordings are removed after 30 days. So, we suggest you caption any recordings in My Media.
- To enable and manage meeting transcription in Zoom, see Audio transcription for cloud recordings.
Keyboard Shortcuts
For a list of Windows and Mac keyboard shortcuts available during Zoom Meetings:
- See Hot keys and keyboard shortcuts.
- See the Zoom client under Settings -> Accessibility.
Always Show Meeting Controls
You can prevent the meeting control bar at the bottom of meeting screens from auto-hiding.
- Open and log into the Zoom client.
- Click on the gear to pull up Settings.
- You'll see the General Settings. Check the box for Always show meeting controls.
Playing a Sound When Participants Join or Leave Meetings
You can configure your account to enable sounds to play when people join or leave your meetings.
- Log into the Virginia Tech Zoom Portal.
- Click Settings from the left menu.
- Under In Meeting (Basic), click the toggle next to Sound notification when someone joins or leaves. Choose whether the sound will be heard by everyone or host and co-hosts only.
Getting Help
For instructions on resolving common issues with Zoom, see: Video Conferencing - Troubleshooting Zoom.
- Go to 4Help, log in with your Virginia Tech Username (PID) and password, and click Get Help.
- Call 540-231-4357.
For problems using Zoom, contact Zoom Support:
- Search Zoom documentation in the Zoom Help Center.
- Chat live (24-7) with Zoom support. Go to Zoom Video Communications Technical Support and click Chatbot.
- Call Zoom support (24-7) at 888-799-9666 ext 2.
- Check the status of Zoom services.