Subtitling theatre in real time with Vip script web application

A real time subtitling application Vip script, developed in collaboration with Vipnet will be premiering this Dubrovnik Summer Festival.

A real time subtitling application Vip script, developed in collaboration with Vipnet will be premiering this Dubrovnik Summer Festival. Using a real time event driven server side application Vip script feeds subtitles to a web interface. Foreign tourists and hearing impaired people use it on their mobile devices to better enjoy and understand shows they are watching.

Vip script is designed to break down the communication barrier, helping foreign tourists and hearing impaired people understand what is going on on the stage by feeding them realtime subtitles in two languages (so far).

Based on reliable web technologies like HTML5, CSS and Java script, Vip script is a server-side event-driven Node.js real time web application. All of the subtitles are stored in a MongoDB database that enables its real time functioning.

Vipscript web application
Vipscript web application

Design is responsive, so whatever mobile device you happen to point at dsf.vip.hr during the show, visuals will stay as good looking as we made them. If, by some strange misfortune, you happen to be without a device, Vipnet will provide you with a free rental for the duration of the performance.

So far, only two most in demand shows at Dubrovnik Summer Festival are subbed by Vip script. That is Medea and Equinox.

Both are performered in Croatian, so the subtitles will be in English and contemporary Croatian. If the audiences like this innovative approach and idea in general, more shows can be covered next year, in more languages. We made it scalable, no worries.

Dubrovacke ljetne igre / Dubrovnik Summer Festival web app
Dubrovacke ljetne igre / Dubrovnik Summer Festival web app

Best thing about this inspiring collaboration with people from Vipnet is being able to try and contribute in the field that is not very technical, like theatre. Or, as someone overheard our creative lead and product manager, Antun say:

Every creative field can definitely profit with some well designed user experiences, so why not improve and innovate in the one that focuses on human experience and feelings, like theatre. It’s very challenging, but that’s what we like about our jobs.

Thank you Vipnet, it was a blast. We hope that audience will enjoy in the app, as much as we did envisioning and building it.

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