Multitone Electronics has launched the On-Q theatre subtitling system which allows individual audience members to view translations of opera librettos or synopses, or the hard of hearing to follow scripts of plays. On-Q was originally developed for the prestigious Euskalduna Palace theatre in Bilbao, Spain, where it has been seen as a factor in the growth in audiences for opera and foreign language productions. The On-Q system is a real-time, wireless-based mobile text subtitling system specifically aimed at the theatre and opera market. It consists of small text terminals which receive data from a central PC. On-Q offers synchronised subtitling in a range of languages simultaneously, allowing audiences and the hard of hearing to enjoy productions which may not be in their native language. The terminals are small, silent and lightweight and require minimal interaction by users to select their subtitling requirements. Automatic, subtle backlighting enables the text to be read in a dark auditorium, and as the terminals will only function on-site, theatres do not have to worry about theft, although a deposit system can further reduce risk.The On-Q system also improves customer safety by means of security message alert delivery to the screen which is of particular benefit to disabled theatregoers. Theatres can also use On-Q as a direct medium for unobtrusive advertising of interval refreshments or discounts on future performances.
