Cisco Systems Inc. today added more accessibility features to its video call and collaboration platform Webex.

One of the platform’s most important features is its automated closed captions, which rely on artificial intelligence-powered natural language processing to accurately transcribe spoken English words into more than 100 languages. Cisco said it’s expanding this capability in a big way, with plans to add transcription for 13 additional spoken languages in coming weeks.

Cisco says the expansion of automated closed captions will benefit those who are hard of hearing or need language assistance, as well as regular users who are sitting in a quiet location and don’t want to disturb others around them. In addition, the feature is being decoupled from the Webex Assistant, meaning users won’t have to turn it on to benefit from a more accessible experience during video calls and presentations.

Another new capability that will arrive in February is called Optimize, which Cisco describes as a smart audio feature. Users can choose to improve their own voice’s and eliminate background noise when they’re sitting in noisy environments.

Cisco said Optimize, which works using proprietary audio intelligence, has the effect of bringing the speaker closer to the microphone, without their actually doing so. Similarly, users can optimize the voices of other speakers during a video call or presentation if they’re having trouble listening.

For customers who are using Webex to host large events such as webinars, Cisco says it will deliver an “enhanced interpretation experience.” Webex already supports both simultaneous and bi-directional, or delayed, interpretation in webinars with up to 10,000 participants, and soon it will add more efficient controls for hosts, allowing them to better manage the service once an event begins.

Before a meeting starts, hosts can create audio channels in 110 languages and assign interpreters to the appropriate channel. With the new update, hosts will be able to create new channels and add interpreters once an event has already begun, in case more attendees than expected join or if they forget to include a language.

For participants, they simply choose their preferred language and they’ll be added to the correct channel. Users can also balance the audio between the original speaker and the interpreter using a “sensitivity slider” to meet their preferences. Meanwhile, interpreters get more control too, with new features allowing them to switch direction and coordinate handoff to another interpreter.

One last new update will allow Webex users to customize their interface during meetings and webinars to focus on specific participants and presentations. To customize the stage view, it’ll be as easy as dragging a video thumbnail to the stage. Alternatively, hosts and co-hosts can also choose to sync the stage at certain times during an event and control what appears for every participant.

“The stage updates in real time, giving you more flexibility to create a tailored experience for participants,” Cisco explained. “When the stage isn’t synced, participants can customize their meeting view using our advanced layout controls so they choose what they want to focus on.”

Cisco said today’s updates are the result of Webex adopting a culture of “accessibility-first thinking” last year that began with the establishment of its Webex Accessibility Customer Advisory Council. Since then, Webex has made accessibility education and standard requirement for all of its designers, engineers and product management team members to ensure everyone understands how assistive technologies are used.

Image: Cisco