Audio Description
- Syna Khanna
- Oct 7, 2024
- 2 min read
Audio Description Described: Current Standards, Future Innovations, Larger Implications
Brief Summary:
"Audio Description Described: Current Standards, Future Innovations, Larger Implications" by Georgina Kleege discusses how audio descriptions aid in the understanding of visual content in media, such as TV series and movies, for blind and visually impaired persons. She makes the point that audio descriptions may be more imaginative and vivid, and that they frequently fall short of capturing the experience entirely. Kleege also looks at how enhancing these descriptors might improve media and make it more inclusive and beneficial for everybody.
One Takeaway:
The importance of acknowledging accessibility not only as a moral or legal requirement, but also as a chance for innovative and inclusive design is one of the most significant takeaways from this reading. By keeping accessibility features like audio descriptions in mind, more thoughtful and interesting content for a variety of audiences can be produced.
Real-World Connection:
Kleege's points about audio descriptions makes me think of how Netflix has embraced accessibility by providing thorough audio descriptions for a large number of its original movies and series.
Burning Question:
What are the most effective ways to foster cooperation between artists, accessibility specialists, and communities of people with visual impairments?
Ways of Seeing Art: Exploring the Link Between Art and Audio Description
Brief Summary:
"Ways of Seeing Art" discusses how blind and visually impaired people can appreciate and comprehend art with the use of audio descriptions. The reading says that these explanations must convey more than just the visual aspects of the artwork—but they also need to convey the ideas and feelings that inspired it. The reading also emphasizes how crucial it is for audio describers and artists to collaborate so that the descriptions accurately convey the idea of the artwork.
One Takeaway:
One key takeaway I have is that audio descriptions should be more than just a straightforward rundown of the artwork's content—rather they should be imaginative.
Real-World Connection:
This reminds me of the audio guides available at some museums and sites. These audio guides often explain the setting and the feelings behind it. As the reading suggests, this enables visitors to appreciate art on a deeper level.
Burning Question:
How can we involve blind and visually impaired people more in the process of developing audio descriptions so that the descriptions accurately represent their needs and desires?