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Descriptive Narration
Described Video (DVI or DVS) is an assistance technology located on the secondary audio track. A narrator provides vocal description of the visual action imparted by an actor's body language, unspoken acting, scene changes and other visual aspects within the natural pauses in the dialogue. The voice over narrator does not compete or walk over the program dialogue or sound effects, nor does it offer any assumptions, rather it describes what a sighted person would see. You can do it yourself.
A full mix consisting of the main program audio combined with the narrated descriptions is then accessible through most TV’s and VCR’s on the Secondary Audio Program (SAP). To access the described audio track the viewer sets up their television to play back the Secondary Audio Program as directed by the manufacturer through the audio set up menu.
How to Create Your Own Description of a Video Program/Movie
Your purpose in describing the program is to enable a vision-impaired person (VIP) to understand and appreciate the program. First of all, listen to the program without watching it. This will help you determine what parts of the program are accessible to a VIP and what will need to be described to make them accessible.
Then watch the program so you understand fully what it's about, and you can determine which visual elements and details are important to understanding and appreciating the program and which visual elements and details are not. Evaluate their relative importance on a simple four point scale:
- essential to understanding
- important to understanding
- helpful to appreciating
- not worth the trouble
Because a VIP all the information from the audio portion of the program, your description should compete or conflict with the audio as little as possible. So consider creating a brief introduction which you can insert before the program begins. The introduction can provide useful information which there may not be an opportunity to insert during the program. You may also want to add end notes after the program is over. The end notes can clarify aspects of the program, direct audience to more information, or provide production credits if these appear under important audio.
Now watch the program again and listen for opportunities when you can insert description without competing or conflicting unnecessarily with the audio. Leave the program timer or counter on the screen. Take notes on what you will say and when. Create your description of the visual elements and details which are most appropriate at this point and which will fit into the audio window you have. Remember your description will be heard, not read, so keep it as concise, clear, and easy to understand as possible.
After you've written the description for each opportunity, replay that portion of the program and read your description out loud to be sure it will fit. If your description is too long, edit it to make it more concise or eliminate the least important of the elements and details you've tried to include. When your notes are final and completely organized, replay the program one more time and read your revised description out loud until you're satisfied that the description will fit.
A Short Guideline for Good Describing
Ask yourself what someone who can't see needs to know to understand and appreciate the program.- Determine what needs to be described, and what doesn't need to be described - because it's apparent from the audio, or because it's not helpful.
- Understand and appreciate the program. So you can convey what needs to be described in a manner that helps someone who can't see understand and appreciate the show.
- Don't impose your opinion of the program's merit or content.
- Observe closely and accurately. So you can describe closely and accurately.
- Write (and speak) simply, clearly and concisely so it's easy to comprehend the first time it's heard.
- Respect the audio. By not talking over important dialogue or sound effects, unless it's absolutely necessary to convey essential information, and by not describing elements which are apparent from the audio.
- Disappear. Good description directs attention to the program, not to itself.
- Harmonize your delivery with the content of the program. Respond appropriately as a restrained but appreciative spectator.