Accessible scenic arts and Virtual Reality: A pilot study with aged people about user preferences when reading subtitles in immersive environments

The technological advancements in virtual reality and other forms of immersive content such as 360o video are triggering the concept of liveness in the scenic arts, and deserve in-depth consideration in audiovisual translation studies. The reception of subtitles in this new VR-based media needs to be studied. In the specific field of media accessibility, accessibility in immersive media much research needs to be done. This article explores the preferences of two subtitle options: Subtitles for the D/deaf and hard-of-hearing and Easy-to-Read in a 360o video of Romeo and Juliette the opera, played at the Gran Teatre del Liceu during the 2017/2018 season. A pilot study was prepared and conducted with the aim of determining which subtitling options are preferred by users aged between 50 and 79.