What is Audio Description?

Audio description is the conversion of visual media into audible media, typically through the process of a person describing in detail something that can be seen but not perceived through the hearing or other senses. Some people simply prefer acoustic media, but others – such as those who are print dyslexic, visually impaired, or blind – rely on it. Without an acoustic version of text, photographs, maps, etc., many people get excluded from culturally, socially, and politically important conversations. Conceptually, audio description is similar to closed captioning for the deaf, in that an assistive technology (such as the UniDescription tool) provides equivalent media access to people who otherwise would find the original media source difficult or impossible to use.