Audio description enhances the viewing experience for visually impaired individuals, providing a separate track of narration to fully understand and appreciate movies and TV shows.
Blind individuals should have a say in the creation process of audio descriptions to ensure more consistent, accurate, and inclusive representations of race and ethnicity.
Deep dives
The Power of Audio Description
Audio description is a valuable tool that enhances the viewing experience for visually impaired individuals. It provides a separate track of narration that describes the visual elements of movies and TV shows, allowing blind audiences to fully understand and appreciate the story. Audio descriptions can improve concentration, create inclusivity, and enhance conversations among friends and family.
Challenges and Improvement of Audio Description
Despite the growing availability of audio description, there are still challenges that need to be addressed. Inconsistencies in the quality and availability of descriptions on different platforms are prevalent. Some descriptions may be poorly mixed or even use artificial text-to-speech voices. Additionally, representations of race and ethnicity in descriptions vary, and blind individuals should have a say in the creation process. The involvement of blind individuals in creating audio descriptions could lead to more consistent, accurate, and inclusive descriptions.
The Need for a Comprehensive Approach
To fully leverage the benefits of audio description, there needs to be a comprehensive approach that includes collaboration between writers, directors, and description creators. By sharing scripts and working closely with describers, entertainment creators can ensure a more cohesive and inclusive viewing experience. The ultimate goal is to build an inclusive environment that elevates entertainment for everyone, regardless of their visual abilities.
Audio description allows you to enjoy a movie or TV show without the need for any visuals. But how do these narrators strike the right tone for a scene? How do the writers decide what needs to be described? And what’s in store for the future of described audio? In honor of Blindness Awareness Month, this is a brand new story about the world of Audio Description. Featuring AD Narrator Roy Samuleson and AD experts Thomas Reid and Melody Goodspeed.