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The Enhancing Audio Description II project seeks to explore the potential of sound design practices and spatial audio to provide accessible film and television experiences for visually impaired audiences. It fuses audio technology and creativity to widen the notion of media accessibility and increase the quality and quantity of provision, providing cutting edge techniques to the UK cultural sector.

Binaural listening test room


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Enhancing Audio Description II: implementing accessible, personalised and inclusive film and television experiences for visually impaired audiences, is a project that proposes a new paradigm in accessible experiences, in which there is not an overreliance on a narrator's spoken word, as in traditional Audio Description practices. Instead it utilises new accessibility features that include: the addition of sound effects, the spatialisation of dialogue and sounding objects, and first-person narration, to provide accessible experiences that are seamlessly integrated to the soundtrack of a film or television programme. These techniques are integrated into film and television workflows from the development phase up to final delivery.

The project builds up from previous research which demonstrated the success of these methods, and explores them even further, by concentrating on the conveyance of cinematographic elements through sound, the exploration of the intricacies of using first-person narration across different genres and different cast sizes, as well as exploring how spatialisation techniques can be adapted for multi-listener scenarios for a variety of loudspeaker formats. The exploration of these methods will be conducted with an end-user centred approach, in which visually impaired audiences are consulted from the design process up to delivery. Furthermore, the project explores the creation of guidelines that will allow the incorporation of these methods to professional broadcasting pipelines and film workflows, by collaborating with a Project Advisory Panel representative of the different roles in film and television as well as end users.

Newsletter

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    Blog

    The artist, Michelle Duxbury, in her studio. Wearing a black dress she is sat to the right of the image holding a large embroidery hoop with green thread attached. She is a white woman with ginger hair and bright red lipstick. On a desk behind her is a large white microscope. The room is white with grey floors and has a small white cabinet against the back wall.

    DARCI Ep.11

    In this episode Mariana interviewed Michelle Duxbury, who challenges traditional art hierarchies by exploring identity, body & landscape through embroidery, film & installation, as a disabled/neurodivergent, and multidisciplinary artist from a working-class background. Find out more.


    Headshot of Ana.

    DARCI Ep.10

    In this episode Mariana interviewed Ana Tamayo, whose research focuses on audiovisual translation and accessibility in different modalities, and specifically on media accessibility and minoritised languages, mostly Basque and sign languages. Find out more.


    ‘The logo of the Mix Room podcast with Mariana's face.’

    The Mix Room Interview

    The EAD methods featured in The Mix Room with Genelec podcast. Find out more.


    Photo of Jonathan Penny.

    DARCI Ep.09

    In this episode Mariana interviewed Jonathan Penny, who currently oversees the delivery of subtitles, audio description and signed content for Channel 4's linear and on-demand platforms. Find out more.


    ‘The photo of the event with people in the panel and the audience.’

    Women In Research Talk 2024

    Mariana's talk titled 'On Roses and More... reflections on inclusion in sound design practices' for the Women in Research Network now is available online. In her presentation she shared insights from her personal journey of inclusion and exclusion, alongside our innovative EAD research. Find out more.


    Photo of Elle.

    DARCI Ep.08

    In this episode Mariana interviewed Elle Chante, a UK based musician exploring the reality of complex mental health and disability into her work. Find out more.


    Tilley, Sam and Hutch (from left to right) at York Univeristy.

    DARCI Ep.07

    In this episode Mariana interviewed Dr. Samantha Moore an animator and researcher with an interest in documentary, science and art, practice as research. Find out more.


    ‘Kulnaree headshot.’

    DARCI Ep.06

    In this episode Mariana interviewed Dr. Kulnaree Sueroj, who has recently graduated with a PhD from the School of Arts and Creative Technologies at the University of York. Find out more.


    ‘Photo of the hall.’

    Removing Barriers: Symposium on Disability and Accessibility in the Creative Sector

    On the 18th of May 2024 the Enhancing Audio Description team headed to Edinburgh to host a one-day symposium at Dovecot Studios focused on discussions and reflections on accessibility in relation to different creative areas, including music, dance and filmmaking. Find out more.


    Photo of Amelia.

    DARCI Ep.05

    In this episode, Mariana interviewed Amelia Cavallo, a blind, USA-born theatre practitioner, academic, and workshop facilitator who works as a multidisciplinary performer, musical director, lecturer, and consultant on access and audio description. Find out more.


    Monika sitting by the table.

    Introducing Dr Monika Zabrocka

    In this post, Dr Monika Zabrocka, a visiting researcher in the School of Arts and Creative Technologies (University of York) summarises her work and how it is connected to our EAD project. Find out more.


    Amble in a wheelchair with overear headphones.

    Symposium Speaker: Amble Skuse

    We are delighted to announce Amble Skuse, one of our symposium speakers in Edinburg this May. This post features the abstract of her presentation and her bio. Find out more.


    ‘A greyscale photo of Maria sitting in room.’

    DARCI Ep.04

    In this episode, Mariana interviewed Maria Oshodi whose work is experimental, intersectional, and pushes the artistic and aesthetic boundaries between experience, identity and place. She founded Britain’s leading performing arts company of visually impaired artists Extant and collaborates with other artists, freelancing on a number of independent arts projects. Find out more.


    ‘Amy performing in an artistically lit room with gadgets around her.'

    Symposium Speaker: Aby Watson

    We are delighted to announce Aby Watson, one of our symposium speakers in Edinburg this May. This post features the abstract of her presentation and her bio. Find out more.


    Sonia sitting in a classroom with a saxophone in her hands smiling.

    Symposium Speaker: Sonia Allori

    We are delighted to announce Sonia Allori, another one of our symposium speakers in Edinburg this May. This post features the abstract of her presentation and her bio. Find out more.


    Emily kneeling with an old camera on green grass outside.

    Symposium Speaker: Emily Beaney

    We are delighted to announce Emily Beaney, one of our symposium speakers in Edinburg this May. This post features the abstract of her presentation and her bio. Find out more.


    ‘The photo of the event with people in the panel and the audience.’

    Sound and Heritage Access

    On 6th December 2023 Mariana had the pleasure of being invited to join a panel organised by Suzie Cloves from Manchester Metropolitan University. Find out more.


    ‘A women standing in front of an audience.’

    DARCI Ep.03

    In this episode Mariana interviewed Dr Anna Bramwell-Dicks, interdisciplinary lecturer in Interactive Media within the School of Arts and Creative Technologies. Find out more.


    Participate

    Our team carries out focus groups, interviews and other sessions on a regular basis. If you are visually impaired and are interested in participating you can sign up to our participants' mailing list below to find out about the opportunities available.