Case Study: Rochester Institute of Technology improves accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing students with Microsoft Cognitive Services

Technology-focused university levels the playing field with AI for students who are deaf and hard of hearing

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) sought to provide better classroom accessibility for its large population of students who are deaf and hard of hearing. A lack of available interpreters and captionists limited the courses these students could take and created challenges for following lectures and taking notes. To overcome this, the university partnered with Microsoft to explore a solution using Microsoft Cognitive Services.

Microsoft, specifically its Translator and Custom Speech Service, provided the underlying technology for a custom speech recognition solution. The system transcribes lectures in real-time, correctly interpreting technical terms by learning from pre-loaded class materials. This solution helped RIT expand course offerings, improved learning for all students, and even aided non-native English speakers. It has set the stage for creating more accessible educational tools and experiences.

Rochester Institute of Technology

Brian Trager

CAT Associate Director and Information Sciences Associate Professor