Overview
Businesses need to keep adjusting their strategies to efficiently cater to varied audiences and promote inclusion in the current digital context, where there is a drive to improve media access and digital accessibility.
Read More: Audio Description Services
However, audio description—an accessibility feature that improves the experience for those who are blind or visually impaired—is one component of accessibility that is sometimes disregarded. While many individuals might love a bucket of popcorn and a movie, others might require an audio description.
What is an audio description exactly?
To begin with, let’s define audio description. An extra audio track that provides a spoken descriptive narration of visual features in different media forms is called an audio description, often referred to as a video description. It is a crucial accessibility option that lets people who are blind or have other visual impairments enjoy visual experiences. A description of the visual content or items seen on screen is given through audio description.
Businesses may promote diversity and reach a wider audience by adding audio descriptions to their content. But those without vision impairments are not the only ones who can benefit from audio description. Many of the features and products we use on a daily basis now have changed from their initial design to improve accessibility. Take ramps, for example. They were originally designed to increase building accessibility. They may also be used to help with other heavy jobs like pushing strollers and hauling big baggage and transporting other heavy goods.
To improve the accessibility of diverse multimedia video material for those with hearing impairments, captions or subtitles are also produced. But captions have also shown to be among the simplest and least expensive solutions for getting over language problems in videos. Similar to this, audio description has been shown to offer a number of benefits to a far wider audience, some of which may not be immediately obvious, despite its main purpose being to aid the visually handicapped. We’ll go over a few of these advantages in this post, along with the reasons why companies ought to think about adding audio descriptions to their videos.
Different Audio Description Types
Three basic categories may be used to group audio descriptions: Real-Time, Standard, and Extended.
Typical Audio Descriptions
The most popular kind of audio description is this one, in which a narrator discusses the visual components of a media presentation on a different audio track. The conversation of the original material naturally stops at key points, and the descriptions are precisely timed to fit in between.
Longer Audio Descriptions
Extended audio explanations can go beyond the pauses that naturally occur in the audio files. This makes it possible to provide a longer and more thorough video explanation. When longer audio explanations are required, the original music or film may occasionally be momentarily halted. The video resumes when the description is finished.
Audio description in real time
Through the use of professional describers, real-time audio descriptions of live performances and events are made available to visually impaired people. This improves their involvement and comprehension of the live event. Please get in touch with us if you’re not sure what kind of video description service you might want for your visual material.
What Situations Require an Audio Description?
In a number of situations, audio or video description is necessary to adhere to accessibility rules and regulations. Broadcast television networks, for instance, are frequently required to include audio explanations for a specific proportion of their content. In a similar vein, in order to guarantee equitable access to their material, internet platforms and streaming services are progressively enforcing audio description standards. Businesses may show their commitment to inclusion and keep ahead of accessibility standards by proactively including audio descriptions.
What Makes an Audio Description Useful?
Businesses haven’t yet understood the numerous advantages of including an audio explanation into your video or other visual output. Let’s examine the justifications for firms thinking about including audio explanations in their visual material.
1. Reaching a wider audience
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 2.2 billion people worldwide are blind or visually impaired. Businesses may reach a hitherto unexplored audience and tap into this significant market segment by using audio description services. This increased reach contributes to the development of a devoted client base in addition to expanding the pool of potential customers. Businesses may set themselves apart from rivals and gain a reputation for social responsibility by offering an inclusive experience.
2. Encouraging inclusion and accessibility
In addition to being morally right, accessibility and inclusion are also wise economic decisions. Businesses demonstrate their commitment to accommodating people with partial blindness and visual impairments by using audio description. By removing obstacles, this inclusive strategy guarantees that a wider audience can access and enjoy the information. Businesses foster a favorable brand image and promote an inclusive society by ensuring that their resources are accessible to all. Furthermore, customers of today often choose businesses that place a high priority on diversity and accessibility.
3. Improving the viewing experience and user engagement for people with autism
People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) typically struggle to interpret social signals and on-screen expressions. A developmental disorder resulting from brain abnormalities, autism spectrum can produce a variety of visual problems. For such people, a secondary audio track that describes the primary visual components of the narrated movie might be helpful in addition to the main audio track.
Even for viewers without visual problems, the audio explanation offers another level of immersion. Audio description enhances the visual experience and provides a more realistic environment by explaining visual features including activities, facial emotions, and landscape.
4. Flexibility: this enables you to look away
People may interact with video information without having to see it visually thanks to audio description. People are increasingly preferring to watch movies, TV shows, live performances, and television programs with audio descriptions enabled in recent times. This gives consumers the freedom to interact with the video material while going about their regular lives—cooking, driving, or doing other tasks—just like they would with an audiobook.
5. Adhering to rules and regulations regarding accessibility
Accessibility rules and regulations have been adopted in several nations throughout the world, requiring businesses to ensure that their visual material is accessible to those with impairments. A company’s reputation may suffer and legal repercussions may arise from noncompliance with these regulations. Businesses can lower their risk of legal liability by ensuring they comply with online content accessibility guidelines and satisfy all accessibility requirements by using audio description. Making information accessible on your own is a proactive way to show that you are committed to diversity and accessibility standards compliance.
6. Improving internet exposure and SEO
To increase their online presence, firms must prioritize search engine optimization, or SEO. Certain pages and videos can also have their SEO rating raised by using an audio description. The audio description transcript is detectable by search engines like Google and YouTube, enabling the material to show up in pertinent search results.
Improved brand exposure and even sales can result from organic traffic sent to a company’s website or social media accounts by using audio description, which increases visibility. It’s recommended to think about working with a qualified descriptive video service provider if you need help with your wants. Our expertise lies in integrating audio description in the most optimal and productive way feasible, guaranteeing your viewers an excellent experience.
In a time when inclusion and accessibility are more important than ever, companies should understand how important it is to provide audio descriptions in their content. By doing this, companies guarantee compliance with several digital accessibility norms and regulations in addition to improving the accessibility of their contents.
Including audio description is not only a morally and practically sound choice, but it also has several advantages for companies. The benefits of audio description in today’s environment go beyond helping those who are visually impaired, as was originally intended.