Audio Description (AD): Audio description is the verbal narration of non-verbal content (e.g., settings, gestures) inserted between dialogue in various media. By providing “radio-quality pictures,” it is often described as being to the blind what closed captioning is to the Deaf.  Already its reach is quite broad:  in the U.S. alone, there are over 225 mainstream cinemas offering AD and Amazon.com offers nearly 150 videos with audio description. There are hundreds of programs (and many more movies) televised each week with AD via the SAP feature, and AD is offered for many live theater and dance performances, as well as accompanying museum exhibits.

It is anticipated that as this technology becomes more mainstream (e.g., allowing sighted “viewers,” who may be driving or in another room preparing dinner, to follow their favorite programs) and as the U.S. population ages, the prevalence and uses of AD will grow tremendously.  Evidence also exists that the benefits of AD extend beyond blind people to people with learning disabilities, people learning English as a second language, and many others, including sighted viewers. This topic is central to concerns of visual anthropology. 

I am particular interested in how this technology mediates visual culture for a non-visual audience: 

·       How does one translate such content?

·       From the point of view of blind consumers, what constitutes “good” description?

·       What is culturally salient in the visual field?

·       Is race important to describe?

To hear/see a sample, visit:

http://adinternational.org/ADIsamples.html

For more information, see also: http://ncam.wgbh.org/

Return to Dr. Gerber's homepage

Return to Anthropology homepage