Taylor Dyer
April 29, 2023
Prime Video has introduced a new feature designed to help those who are hearing-impaired. It is called Dialogue Boost and has been initially launched for select Amazon Originals worldwide.
Research shows that about 900 million people will have a hearing impairment by 2050. This makes the need for advancements in technology and features tailored to those hard of hearing more essential than ever before.
In children, the main causes of hearing loss can be contributed to lack of immunization, according to the World Health Organization. For adults, a key contributing factor is listening to music too loudly.
Dialogue Boost allows users to hear dialogue over the background music and other special effects more clearly. While the feature is designed to benefit people who are hard of hearing, anyone can use it.
TikTok has made it feel natural to have subtitles on the screen, since people are used to scrolling through videos on the platform. A YouGov study showed more than 3/5 of viewers ages 18 to 25 actually preferred subtitles, including those who do not have a hearing impairment.
Some may wonder how this is different from closed captioning. For closed captioning, subtitles are added instead of adjusting the audio, so that people can read the words on the screen. Whereas for Dialogue Boost simply changes the volume of the spoken audio.
How the Feature Works
Using artificial intelligence, Dialogue Boost analyzes the original audio in a movie or series; using the information gathered, it determines which points may be hard to hear above the background music and effects.
Where to Find Dialogue Boost
To access Dialogue Boost, consumers must find the feature during playback. In other words, they must make a selection while the movie or series is playing. They can only make changes once they start the show or movie.
An audio and subtitles drop-down menu will eventually appear. There will be two options: English Dialogue Boost: Medium and English Dialogue Boost: High. The specific differences between these two options have not been given.
Where is it Available?
Any device that supports Prime Video will be able to access Dialogue Boost. This type of experience was previously only available to people with high-end theater systems, specialized audio equipment, or select smart TVs.
Currently, this new feature is only available for select Amazon Originals, such as Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Harlem, as well as movies including The Big Sick, Beautiful Boy, and Being the Ricardos. Amazon expects to expand access to additional titles later on this year.
Edited By: Yasmin
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