This process allows for audio description without recording an audio track. Instead, a text file that contains descriptions is read aloud by a computer program in time with the video. This type of audio description is cheaper to produce but is only available on some media players.

Text Based Description

This process is when the audio description is included in the primary audio track and cannot be removed. For example, an instructional video for cooking a meal has integrated description.

Integrated Description

This process is when the audio description is included in an optional audio track and has to be manually activated. For example, audio descriptions for most motion pictures on DVD or a streaming service are provided as separate audio files.

Separate Audio Files

- Integrated Description
- Separate Audio Files
- Text Based Description

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Audio Description is the process of narrating certain actions or details that are normally seen visually, such as what a character is wearing. This process is often provided with films, television shows, stage plays, museums to accommodate people with visual impairments. It is often provided via an alternate audio track on a DVD or a handheld audio player.

Audio Description

Spina, C. (2021). Audio Descriptions. Library Technology Reports, 57(3), 17.

Audio Descriptions

Often, audio description technology in cinemas is low quality and staff may not know how to use it. Additionally, the process for making an audio description track is expensive. For example, screening a 30-minute episode for a test audience in order to verify translations costs as much as $52,000. This expense means that many film and television producers opt not to record an audio description track.

Challenges in Making Audio Description Accessible

Types of Audio Description

Unlike captions, which aims to objectively transcribe all speech and relevant actions, the process of creating audio descriptions is much more subjective and creative. When creating an audio description, one has to decide which visual details are relevant and how to describe them. These descriptions also have to fit within the spaces and pauses of the standard audio track.

Challenges in Creating Audio Descriptions

As a result of a settlement agreement between Netflix and the American Council of the Blind in 2016, the streaming service now includes audio descriptions for many of its titles. While Netflix makes description tracks for their own original programming, other studios can create their own and send them to the service. As of February 18th of 2022, over 1,800 titles on the service offered audio description in English.

Increasing Availability of Audio Descriptions on Netflix

Many films and television shows receive audio description tracks years after their release date, and some may never get an audio description track. This keeps blind or visually impaired people separate from their peers, who can see the film when it comes out.

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