QUAD is thrilled to announce that they will be the first cinema in the UK to participate in a trial of WatchWord

Video created by Action Deafness

QUAD is thrilled to announce that they will be the first cinema in the UK to participate in a trial of WatchWord, a ground-breaking initiative aimed at enhancing the accessibility of film in Derby between Friday 19th January and Sunday 11th February 2024.

What is WatchWord?

WatchWord is a game-changer for D/deaf, deafened, and hard of hearing film- lovers. This cutting-edge closed captioning system uses smart glasses and Wi-Fi to open up the magic of the big screen experience to more people.

Come and immerse yourself in a film without struggling to follow what is being said. During the trial, you will be able to choose from many screenings of different films every day and sit wherever you like. The captions will be broadcast to smart glasses, and you will have the freedom to customise your experience by choosing the colour, size, and position for the captions to suit you perfectly.

This new addition to cinema accessibility has been developed by Built For Good with support from the UK Cinema Association and Innovate UK, which is part of UK Research and Innovation.

Trialling WatchWord at QUAD

If you’re as excited about the possibilities as we are and would like to be a part of this trial, please get in touch with our Box Office team via info@derbyquad.co.uk.

Please note that the glasses will be subject to availability and so, to help you get the best experience, we will reserve the smart glasses for you for the screening you wish to attend and make sure that a staff member is on hand to show you how to use them.

Your Feedback Matters

Your opinions matter to us! After your WatchWord-enabled screening, we will ask you to complete a brief survey. Your feedback will help us shape the future of accessibility at cinemas across the UK and beyond.

A Celebration of Accessibility

While WatchWord takes the spotlight during the trial period, our dedication to accessibility doesn’t stop there. You will still be able to attend our usual programme of open captioned films, and please don’t forget our Japan Foundation Season from 9th to 11th February which will be subtitled in English. You can find out more about our ongoing programme of accessible screenings here: https://www.derbyquad.co.uk/accessibility

Lights, Camera, Access!