Audiodescription

Audiodescription, also known as video description or descriptive video service, is an accessibility feature that provides narration of key visual elements in media content. It was developed to help people who are blind or visually impaired access visual information such as films, television shows, theater performances, and museum exhibits. The service involves a narrator describing important visual details during natural pauses in dialogue or audio, including characters' actions, facial expressions, body language, scene changes, and other essential visual elements. Audiodescription is widely available in many countries, often as a secondary audio track that can be activated through television settings or streaming platforms. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission mandates that major television networks provide a certain amount of primetime programming with audiodescription. This accessibility feature has been expanded beyond traditional media to include live theater performances, museum tours, and online content. As technology continues to evolve, new methods of delivering audiodescription are being developed, including smartphone apps and real-time description services that make visual content more accessible to a wider audience.