1	Audio Description Illinois A workshop presented by Tom Peters for the Alliance Library System April 2007
2	Introductions Workshop Facilitator: Tom Peters Attendees: Channy Lyons helped develop the workshop outline.
3	Why Are We Here? To learn how to be audio describers To see better, and to better describe what we see To learn some guidelines and key elements of audio description To practice writing audio descriptions Because the ISL now requires audio description for the digital imaging projects it funds.
4	What is Audio Description? A narrative technique that makes visual images more accessible to blind and low-vision people by producing written and audible descriptions of primarily non-verbal visual information.
5	What is Audio Description? Three Steps: Look Write Record
6	What is Audio Description? Or Five Steps: Look Look again carefully Write Edit carefully Record
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8	Where & When is AD Used? Videos and DVDs Live theater and opera Television shows Museum exhibits Websites of all types Web conferences and other live online events Digital libraries
9	Modes of Audio Description Live and spontaneous (live performing arts, sporting events, etc.) Planned and pre-recorded (what we will learn today)
10	Recording Options Recording of a human reading the written audio description Synthetic, computer-generated text-to-speech (TTS)
11	Value of Audio Descripton Provides access to non-verbal visual information to blind and low-vision individuals Expands the potential user population for a website Increases the accessibility of your digital images Improves the experience for everyone
12	Some Examples Illinois Alive website: http://www.illinoisalive.info Ann Tolton Havana Chautauqua Meeting Emma Abbott
13	Ann Tolton Audio Description Listen to this description of this portrait of Ann Tolton. Try to form a picture of her in your mind.
14	Ann Tolton Digital Image
15	Havana Chautauqua AD Listen to this description of an outdoor scene. Try to form an image of it in your mind.
16	Havana Chautauqua Image
17	Emma Abbott AD Here is a description of the actress Emma Abbott in one of her dramatic roles.
18	Emma Abbott Image
19	History of Audio Description Developed in the early 1980s Margaret Pfanstiehl is credited with inventing AD She was an opera singer who began losing her sight She and her husband partnered with WGBH in Boston
20	Principles and Tips Keep is short (< 60 seconds, < 150 words) Don’t describe everything in the image What are the essential aspects? What is the overall essence of the image? Say what you see as an active seer Use economical, vivid language Avoid abstractions (beautiful, handsome)
21	How to Describe a Face?
22	How to Describe a Face?
23	How to Describe a Face?
24	How to Describe a Face?
25	How to Describe a Face? Shape Complexion Color Make-up Forehead Hair Eyes (including eyebrows? Lashes?) Mouth (lips, teeth) Nose Ears
26	8 Guiding Principles Be Objective Identify What’s Important in the Image Use Imaginatively Drawn Phrases, Comparisons, and Metaphors Be Concise and Precise Use Rich and Varied Language Write to Be Read Outloud Use the Present Tense Be Aware of the Obvious
27	Practice in Pairs
28	Discuss the Pair Descriptions
29	Key Elements of Images
30	Key Elements of Images Photographic style (B&W, color, sepia) Orientation and focus Interior or exterior shot? Perspective (aerial photo?) Time period People (posed, clothing, facial features) Objects Aesthetics (light, shadow, ambiance)
31	Key Elements of an Image
32	Strategies for Writing AD Structure General to specific Move “logically” through the image Style Use current language, not old-time language Length 30 to 60 seconds (100 to 150 words)
33	Questions and Issues Provide speculative interpretations of indistinct or unclear elements of the image? Should you research background info about the image and its elements? Should AD concentrate solely on the self-evident visual information?
34	Practice Round Individually
35	Discuss Individual Descriptions How are they similar? How are they different?
36	AD on Illinois Alive An early photograph of the massive, rectangular, three-story building situated across the street from the main town square in Quincy. It is a white building with a slightly pitched roof. Many large, tall, small-paned windows are evenly spaced throughout the front and one visible side of the building. On the face of the building, between the first and second floors, are murals of two teams of horses plus the words POPE & BALDWIN in all capital letters. Also centered above the main entrance, between the second and third floors, are the words AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS, again in all capital letters, but with a different, sans serif font. In front of the building stand numerous men with their horses, wagons, and buggies. They are not organized as for a group photograph, but are all standing still, facing the photographer dozens of yards away, clearly aware that a photograph is being taken of the building. Across the dirt street from the building, and evidently surrounding the city square, is a five-rail wooden fence. The bases of several large trees in front of the building are surrounded by vertical slats of lumber to prevent damage from errant wagons and animals.
37	Recording Options Natural human voice Synthetic Text-to-Speech
38	Natural Narration
39	Text-to-Speech Female
40	Text-to-Speech Male
41	Recording Options Recording of a human reading your written description recording equipment and an audio technician Audacity software on a PC Use synthetic speech software to generate a text-to-speech recording
42	TTS Processing Options Send your written descriptions to Tom Peters, who will use NeoSpeech to create the synthetic narrations. Load NeoSpeech on a PC at your location and create your own synthetic narrations.
43	Metadata Matters MaRC Records ContentDM Tagging
44	Assessing Usage and Impact Web server logs Surveys
45	Next Steps Write 10-12 audio descriptions for images in your digital imaging project ADinLibs@yahoogroups.com Follow-up phone consultations Online meetings for small groups
46	Contact Information Tom Peters TAP Information Services 1000 SW 23rd Street Blue Springs, MO 64015 phone: 816-228-6406 email: tapinformation@yahoo.com web: www.tapinformation.com Skype: tapeters4466 Gizmo: TomPeters4466
47	Websites and Bibliography Audio Description Illinois http://www.alsaudioillinois.net Illinois Alive http://www.illinoisalive.info/ Audio Description International http://www.adinternational.org/ Peters, Tom, and Bell, Lori. 2006. Audio Description Adds Value to Digital Images. Computers in Libraries 26 (4): 26-28.