Title
Making popular science accessible. Uncovering AD skills and competences
Conference name
Media for All 8
City
Country
Sweden
Modalities
Date
19/06/2019
Abstract
The paperfocuses on skills and competences used in audio description (AD) of a Swedish popular scientific journal. The journal, containing complex images and visualizations, is made accessible for visually impaired audiences by producing an audio version. The task is to create a verbal description to enhance understanding and enjoyment. Theinterpretative process of meaning-making is uncovered by think-aloud protocols during the task. The protocols are transcribed, coded and analyzed. The aural version is compared to the printed version to show how the content has been realized for the end users. The skills and competences of the audio describer are revealed through a combination of both, the think-aloud protocols and the comparison of the printed and audio versions of the journal.
In result, AD skills in this context include:
(a) Selecting skills. Judgements about relevant information.
(b) Expert knowledge of the subject area.
(c) Knowledge of various types of images and graphics.
(d) Language skills. Various ways of verbalizing visual content.
(e) Integration skills. Combining the contents of the available resources, creating semantic links, filling in the gaps in the interplay.
(c) Interpretation skills. Using conceptual knowledge for interpreting schematic images.
(d) Rhetorical skills. Choosing entry points and reading paths. Re-arranging the order of information for optimal flow and understanding.
(e) Pedagogical skills. Grouping similar information. Creating summaries and introductions to modules.
(f) Facilitating understanding and cognitive processing. Considering working memory capacity of the recipients. Conveying information in ’digestable’ portions. Making the description short and comprehensive. Repeating information for better understanding.
(g) Vocal skills. Using voice, intonation, speech rate, emphasis and pauses to highlight and group information.
(h) Technical skills (studio recording and editing).
In result, AD skills in this context include:
(a) Selecting skills. Judgements about relevant information.
(b) Expert knowledge of the subject area.
(c) Knowledge of various types of images and graphics.
(d) Language skills. Various ways of verbalizing visual content.
(e) Integration skills. Combining the contents of the available resources, creating semantic links, filling in the gaps in the interplay.
(c) Interpretation skills. Using conceptual knowledge for interpreting schematic images.
(d) Rhetorical skills. Choosing entry points and reading paths. Re-arranging the order of information for optimal flow and understanding.
(e) Pedagogical skills. Grouping similar information. Creating summaries and introductions to modules.
(f) Facilitating understanding and cognitive processing. Considering working memory capacity of the recipients. Conveying information in ’digestable’ portions. Making the description short and comprehensive. Repeating information for better understanding.
(g) Vocal skills. Using voice, intonation, speech rate, emphasis and pauses to highlight and group information.
(h) Technical skills (studio recording and editing).