Audio description is an oral and literary art form which creates access to the visual world through language. The visual is made verbal through innovative use of words to communicate visual events, either in real time or pre-recorded. Audio description has diverse applications and is relevant to a growing range of industries, For example, audio description adds an additional narration track for bl
ind and visually-impaired users to visual media, including television, film and DVDs, dance, opera and the visual arts. It consists of a narrator talking through the presentation, describing what is happening on the screen during natural pauses in dialogue or between critical sound elements and inserting narrative that translates the visual images into descriptive words, thereby reaching millions of people who otherwise lack full access to television and film. Audio-described tours (or universally-described tours that include augmentation of existing recorded programmes) are used to provide access to visitors who are blind or have low vision at tourist attractions, museums and visual art exhibitions. Real time audio description of theatre and live sporting events is also becoming increasingly popular, particularly at soccer and rugby stadiums, and is also becoming popular at tourist attractions and game reserves. Apart from entertainment, audio description also plays a major part in making educational and medical facilities accessible for the blind and visually impaired, as well as providing access to public service announcements and other life saving information.
