If you can read this, your browser captions are broken

The author discusses the inadequacy of current interaction between custom controls and HTML video elements, particularly concerning captions. As an editor of WebVTT specification and Chair of Timed Text Working Group, they share their experiences with captioning and subtitling from childhood to present day. They highlight issues arising when native controls are used alongside custom ones, such as overlaying captions. The author then outlines possible solutions using CSS or JavaScript, including modifying the cue's line property in real-time. However, they also report encountering bugs with Chrome and Safari while implementing these techniques. They propose that a way to inform browsers about custom controls is needed for better interaction with native captions. The author invites feedback from users on how to improve web video captioning when using custom controls with native captions.