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Feds readying movie theater regulations for blind and deaf patrons
The Hill ^ | 9/15/2013 | Julian Hattem

Posted on 09/15/2013 10:47:43 PM PDT by kingattax

The Obama administration is nearing completion of a proposal to require that movie theaters offer technology so blind and deaf people can go to the cinema.

The draft rule, which is part of a decades-long effort by advocates for people with disabilities, would likely require thousands of movie theaters across the country to offer devices that display closed captioning and provide audio narration of what’s happening onscreen.

Disability associations say that the new regulation will make sure that blind and deaf people can appreciate the latest blockbuster just like everyone else.

But theater owners worry that a federal mandate will force small, rural and struggling theaters to close given the costs associated with the rule.

“These theaters can barely stay in existence and often need community support to break even,” the trade group wrote in a comment to the Justice Department’s 2010 precursor to the upcoming proposal. “To require them to install expensive closed captioning technology at this time is an undue financial burden that may result in these theaters closing.”

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


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To: kingattax

There’s nothing holding them back from going.


21 posted on 09/15/2013 11:50:46 PM PDT by wastedyears (One nation, under wub. Saints Row IV)
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To: Bob
"With something like google glasses for the closed captioning and wireless headphones for the blind, you wouldn’t see or hear anything that you don’t today."

I have studied the writing of screenplays, and a screenplay - by definition - is a story written with an emphasis on visual images. I am sorry, but you just cannot do a movie for blind people. Right now, blind people can go to a movie and hear the sound track, but you cannot make a blind person SEE a movie.
22 posted on 09/15/2013 11:52:40 PM PDT by Steve_Seattle
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To: fhayek; Jeff Chandler

This wuz a funny thread.

you meant to post to Jeff Chandler


23 posted on 09/16/2013 12:27:25 AM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously, you won't live through it anyway)
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To: kingattax

Excellent. Now if they’d only make arrangements for dead patrons, the roster of attendees would be complete.


24 posted on 09/16/2013 1:57:56 AM PDT by Jack Hammer (American)
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>> Disability associations say that the new regulation will make sure that blind and deaf people can appreciate the latest blockbuster just like everyone else

That’s an impossibility, Julian.

I think it’s great that we collectively strive to improve the lives of the disadvantaged, but to make law about the things stated in the article??? That’s asinine, and an unnecessary burden on the cinema industry in this case.


25 posted on 09/16/2013 2:17:07 AM PDT by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: kingattax
Sure the pool chairs for the handicapped worked so well the expensive chairs I have seen at motels and hotels are all covered collecting dust. The price now for going to the movies is out of this world haven't been to a movie in years.This addition will only raise the price more. will wait till the movie is on tv or netflex or hulu thank you.
26 posted on 09/16/2013 2:47:59 AM PDT by bikerman (Obama! if his lips are moving he's lying.)
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To: kingattax

Similar rules have been in place for broadcast television for years. Closed captioning and descriptive video service.

However, broadcast uses the public airwaves, so the FCC has jusrisdiction to dictate terms of use.

What authority does the government have to dictate what a private movie producer and a private movie theater must do? It is Bob Dole’s ADA.


27 posted on 09/16/2013 2:52:56 AM PDT by Yo-Yo
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To: Steve_Seattle

“but you cannot make a blind person SEE a movie.”

I always wondered if the blind took mind altering controlled substances, would they “see” stuff? Hallucinate? Would be hard to describe what you’ve never seen.


28 posted on 09/16/2013 3:05:07 AM PDT by Artie (We are surrounded by MORONS)
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To: kingattax
...regulations for blind and deaf patrons

GREAT!

Now, in accordance with the 1995 law that ALL regulations passed BY Congress MUST apply to Congress & Staff, this new regulation will FIRST be enacted to cover the totally BLIND & DEAF Congress BEFORE it is applied anywhere else.

Implementation of the Congressional portion of this will be handled by the Tea Party.

29 posted on 09/16/2013 4:00:29 AM PDT by BwanaNdege ("Life is short. It's even shorter if you suggest going out for pizza on your anniversary" Peter Egan)
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To: kingattax

Then, the only thing missing would be voter registration at the concession stand.


30 posted on 09/16/2013 4:24:12 AM PDT by moovova
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To: moovova

concession stand...that might be moochelle’s next target


31 posted on 09/16/2013 4:25:41 AM PDT by kingattax (America needs more real Americans.)
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To: kingattax

Seems far better to simply have the studios prepare and make available for download from the Internet such audio augmentation for the blind.

As to the deaf, I imagine something similar could be worked out that could be downloaded to glasses. Far better if you’ve such a handicap to own and take such a system in to the theater on your own than to reuse equipment from the theater—yuck!

And better economics all around, I’m sure.


32 posted on 09/16/2013 4:34:43 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: kingattax

Everyone should read Kurt Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron”, or see the excellent short film “2081” based on the story. It is a perfect depiction of the liberal notion of “fairness”.


33 posted on 09/16/2013 4:43:37 AM PDT by motor_racer (Who will bell the cat?)
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To: Yo-Yo
What authority does the government have to dictate what a private movie producer and a private movie theater must do?

You're joking, right?


34 posted on 09/16/2013 6:11:11 AM PDT by Count of Monte Fisto (The foundation of modern society is the denial of reality.)
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To: Arthur McGowan

Well this will certainly put a knife in an already ailing business.


35 posted on 09/16/2013 7:34:15 AM PDT by Chickensoup (...We didn't love freedom enough... Solzhenitsyn.)
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To: Jonty30

If the deaf are wearing special goggles, that wouldn’t be so bag. It’s not as though that would affect me, but it would put smaller theatres at a disadvantage, because they couldn’t afford this technology.

_________________

They wouldn’t be at a disadvantage. They would just have to close.


36 posted on 09/16/2013 7:35:45 AM PDT by Chickensoup (...We didn't love freedom enough... Solzhenitsyn.)
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To: rawcatslyentist

37 posted on 09/16/2013 7:37:04 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Steve_Seattle

That’s a whole ‘nother aspect to it. Technology can only do so much. Maybe someday, visual images can be fed directly into the brain. There may be research going on but, AFAIK, such a thing is years, if not, decades away from widespread use. What a breakthrough that would be for the blind.


38 posted on 09/16/2013 7:46:52 AM PDT by Bob
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To: kingattax

No extra beet or vodka rations without an executive waver.


39 posted on 09/16/2013 8:14:43 AM PDT by rawcatslyentist (Jeremiah 50:32 "The arrogant one will stumble and fall ; / ?)
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To: kingattax

Just let the blind people bring their seeing-eye dogs to the movies, then the dogs can whisper to them what is going on.


40 posted on 09/16/2013 10:08:58 AM PDT by Boogieman
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