Sunday, January 15, 2012

Looking At Video Production Enhancements For the Visually Impaired

http://descriptivevideoproductions.com
There are video production enhancements available for the visually impaired created for movies and television programs by companies such as Descriptive Video Productions in Toronto. The process began nearly 30 years ago and is now more widely available for people who cannot see or have difficulty with their vision. Descriptive video came about after closed captioning was created for the hearing impaired. Narration is offered today on several broadcast shows. PBS, CBS, and Fox all offer regular programming using this method.

The process starts with a narrator. The narrator will offer descriptions of the action in the program or film during pauses in dialogue of the characters. Descriptive video has been refined and now can make a film or program richer in content for visually impaired people. The narrator will describe scenery, actions, facial expressions and any other key detail that may be important to the viewer.

Timing the number of seconds between pause in the dialogue refines the narration process today. The times are then recorded so the narrator can determine the best way to explain what is going on. The process makes the narration seem natural rather than forced. The script for narration is created,revised, and edited. Then it is recorded on an audio track and formatted back into the film or show to be broadcast on an alternate channel.

Knowing what to explain at each break requires the skills of a professional narrator. He or she can come from any career or industry background though a steady, clear, and pleasant speaking voice is critical. The describer may practice the explanations of various programs the same as an actor may practice a scene several times .To receive the descriptive video the user must follow several key steps in adjusting the TV set. On older analog sets with stereo and on digital converter boxes the second audio program feature is selected for descriptive video. For newer digital sets and alternative channel is selected from the remote. An individual who is visually impaired normally can locate the right buttons on a remote quickly after some practice.

While almost any show or recording can benefit from video production that included narration, there are expenses and costs involved in the process.   Movie goers may be able to hear the narration at several major theaters across the country. The movie goer that is visually impaired will use a set of headphones for the narration.

Video production that includes descriptive narration is a technical process like any other part of making a film or an episode of a favorite program. Though it involves several steps it is widely available on several popular TV networks. Video production that adds narration gives those with vision challenges a way of listening to a richer and more enjoyable experience.  Click here for more details.

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