The ADLAB Project: Audio Description for the Blind

Abstract

Taylor provides an overview of the ADLAB Project, financed by the European Union. The main purpose of the project, that of promoting audio description (AD), that is the describing of the visual content in film, television, theatre and so on, for the blind and visually impaired communities in Europe, is illustrated via the four stages of the project. Firstly research into real user needs is explained, particularly in terms of the provision of AD, followed by an illustration of the text analyses performed in order to identify the critical elements that emerge in creating ADs. The testing phase is then described leading finally to the creation of a manual of ‘strategic’ guidelines for audio describers.