Zoom: Enhanced Usability with Live Captioning and Customizable Display Names
Tufts announces two changes to improve the user experience with Zoom: Live Captioning and Customizable Display Name.
As Zoom is an essential tool for online teaching, learning, and working at Tufts, we continue to focus on enhancing it to improve security and meet the evolving needs of our community.
In February, we announced several security settings changes and tips (see Security@Tufts Tip sheet) for keeping your online meetings safe. Today, we are excited to share two changes that improve the user experience: Live Captioning and Customizable Display Name.
Live Captioning
Tufts has enabled Live Transcription/Closed captioning for all Zoom meetings. This service will enable hosts to turn on transcription and captioning for their meetings as needed using the CC button in the toolbar. The captions will show up at the bottom of the Zoom window, while a live transcript will show in a transcript window on the right. Learn more about Live Captioning.
NOTE: For privacy reasons, the "Save Captions" setting is intentionally set to "off" by default. Hosts have the option to go into their settings and change to "Save Captions" on if needed. However, we recommend that if you need to save a transcript of the meeting, you record the meeting via Zoomecord the meeting via Zoom which automatically creates a more accurate and secure transcript that more the live transcript.
Customizable Display Names
Your identity and name mean a lot to you and very often our legal name may not always be the one we go by. Therefore, Tufts has made it possible for you to update (and save) your Display Name and include your personal pronouns or other information as needed.
In the Zoom settings, there is a place for First Name, Last Name, and Display Name. First and Last name will remain static and are feeds from Tufts systems of record (SIS for students and the HR system for Faculty and Staff). The Display Name field can now be edited and saved in your Zoom settings and will persist whenever you join a Zoom meeting. You will continue to have the option to update/change your Display name during a given meeting as needed and the display name will go back to the one saved in your settings for future meetings. Learn more about your Account Profile and how Changing Your Display name.
If you are a faculty member or a staff member who supports faculty, you can access the Screensteps guides below for additional guidance.
- How do I access my Zoom profile and other settings?
- How do I change my Zoom display name and add pronouns?
- How do I rename myself when in a Zoom meeting?
- How do I add live transcription or manual closed-captioning to a Zoom meeting
- How can I access and share transcripts of Zoom recordings?
As Tufts continues to focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion for our community, we also strive to do so with the tools we provide. We hope these two changes will enable all participants to reflect their identity, broaden participation, and increase accessibility of content in our Zoom meetings.
If you have questions about using Zoom, please contact the 24/7 TTS Service desk by calling 617.627.3376 or emailing it@tufts.edu.