ISO/IEC TS 20071-21:2015
Information technology — User interface component accessibility — Part 21: Guidance on audio descriptions
ISO/IEC TS 20071-21:2015 provides recommendations for describing audiovisual content in an auditory modality for use in recorded video presentations, broadcast television, cinema, live or recorded drama, museum and art gallery exhibits, heritage tours, news, and comedies, regardless of the language and technology being used to transmit and present the recorded or live audiovisual content.
NOTE 1 There are many secondary users of audio description, but the primary and intended users of audio description are blind persons or persons with low vision and their friends and family.
ISO/IEC TS 20071-21:2015 provides guidance on the subjective nature of creating audio description.
It also provides guidance for audio description developers (script writers, voice narrators, and organizations or groups responsible for delivering audio description) in faithfully and accurately representing audiovisual content.
NOTE 2 It might not always be possible to provide an equivalent experience due to limitations in the amount of time available for audio description depending on the content being described.
ISO/IEC TS 20071-21:2015 applies to describing audiovisual content and does not consider the devices or transmission mechanisms used to deliver the content or the audio description. These devices include, but are not limited to, televisions, computers, wireless devices, projection equipment, DVD and home cinema equipment and other forms of user interface technology. Therefore, this part of ISO/IEC 20071 does not consider transcoding files for the various video outputs.
NOTE 3 Technical matters of transmission and distribution are covered by other International Standards (e.g. MPEG standards and other technical international standards such as IEC 62731).
ISO/IEC TS 20071-21:2015 provides guidance on how to approach user preferences, available styles and flexibility in approaches to audio description.
It does not apply to static images contained in electronic documents (see ISO/IEC 20071−11 for guidance on text alternatives for images).
It applies to auditory presentations intended to be transmitted or delivered simultaneously to the original audiovisual content.
NOTE 4 Limitations experienced by broadcasters or people in synchronous environments might be reduced online or in asynchronous environments.
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Foreword
Introduction
1 Scope
2 Terms and definitions
2.1 General terms
2.2 Audio-specific terms
2.3 Language of presentation terms
2.4 Audio description production terms
3 Framework and process considerations for audio description
3.1 General
3.1.1 Alternate names for audio description
3.1.2 Motivation for audio description and spoken subtitles
3.2 Types of audio description
3.2.1 Live audio description
3.2.2 Pre-mixed audio description
3.2.3 Harmonious commentary
3.2.4 Extended audio description
3.3 Creating audio description
3.3.1 Narrator preparation
3.3.2 Content genre and programme category
3.3.3 Scripting
3.3.4 Writer considerations
3.3.5 Recording
3.3.6 Volume
3.3.7 Audio technician considerations
3.3.8 Inclusion of consumers in the process of creating audio description
3.3.9 Inclusion of consumers in evaluating audio description
3.4 Live audio description
3.4.1 Live narration considerations
3.4.2 Preparing for live narration
3.4.3 Narrator transitions in live audio
3.5 Pre-recorded descriptions
3.5.1 Creation of pre-mixed audio after main production process
3.5.2 Audio description team for pre-mixed audio
3.5.3 Evaluation of pre-mixed audio
3.5.4 Voices for pre-mixed audio
3.5.5 Sound engineering for pre-mixed audio
4 Guidance on audio description
4.1 General considerations
4.1.1 User considerations
4.1.2 Consistency across technologies
4.1.3 Consistency within a programme and series
4.1.4 Placement of descriptions
4.1.5 Use of pauses
4.2 Developing audio description
4.2.1 Clarity in audio description
4.2.2 Creativity in audio description
4.2.3 Narrating/reading audio description script
4.3 Styles of narration
4.3.1 Newsreader style
4.3.2 Commentator style
4.3.3 First person
4.3.4 Third person
4.4 Levels of importance
4.4.1 Using importance levels
4.4.2 Essential information
4.4.3 Significant information
4.4.4 Helpful information
4.4.5 Irrelevant information
4.5 General guidance on descriptions
4.5.1 Description of sounds
4.5.2 Logos/credits/titles
4.5.3 On-screen text
4.6 Guidance on identifying objects
4.6.1 Identifying objects
4.6.2 Describing colour
4.6.3 Describing visual effects
4.7 Guidance on identifying persons
4.7.1 Identifying characters or places by name
4.7.2 Physical appearance
4.7.3 Race/ethnic origin
4.7.4 Gender-related
4.7.5 Disabilities
4.7.6 Age
4.8 Guidance on relationships
4.8.1 General guidance on explicit content
4.8.2 General guidance on relationships
4.8.3 Establishing place/setting/time of day
4.8.4 Interaction between animated characters/objects and real actors
4.9 Guidance on parts of speech
4.9.1 Descriptive verbs
Bibliography
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Foreword
Introduction
1 Scope
2 Terms and definitions
2.1 General terms
2.2 Audio-specific terms
2.3 Language of presentation terms
2.4 Audio description production terms
3 Framework and process considerations for audio description
3.1 General
3.1.1 Alternate names for audio description
3.1.2 Motivation for audio description and spoken subtitles
3.2 Types of audio description
3.2.1 Live audio description
3.2.2 Pre-mixed audio description
3.2.3 Harmonious commentary
3.2.4 Extended audio description
3.3 Creating audio description
3.3.1 Narrator preparation
3.3.2 Content genre and programme category
3.3.3 Scripting
3.3.4 Writer considerations
3.3.5 Recording
3.3.6 Volume
3.3.7 Audio technician considerations
3.3.8 Inclusion of consumers in the process of creating audio description
3.3.9 Inclusion of consumers in evaluating audio description
3.4 Live audio description
3.4.1 Live narration considerations
3.4.2 Preparing for live narration
3.4.3 Narrator transitions in live audio
3.5 Pre-recorded descriptions
3.5.1 Creation of pre-mixed audio after main production process
3.5.2 Audio description team for pre-mixed audio
3.5.3 Evaluation of pre-mixed audio
3.5.4 Voices for pre-mixed audio
3.5.5 Sound engineering for pre-mixed audio
4 Guidance on audio description
4.1 General considerations
4.1.1 User considerations
4.1.2 Consistency across technologies
4.1.3 Consistency within a programme and series
4.1.4 Placement of descriptions
4.1.5 Use of pauses
4.2 Developing audio description
4.2.1 Clarity in audio description
4.2.2 Creativity in audio description
4.2.3 Narrating/reading audio description script
4.3 Styles of narration
4.3.1 Newsreader style
4.3.2 Commentator style
4.3.3 First person
4.3.4 Third person
4.4 Levels of importance
4.4.1 Using importance levels
4.4.2 Essential information
4.4.3 Significant information
4.4.4 Helpful information
4.4.5 Irrelevant information
4.5 General guidance on descriptions
4.5.1 Description of sounds
4.5.2 Logos/credits/titles
4.5.3 On-screen text
4.6 Guidance on identifying objects
4.6.1 Identifying objects
4.6.2 Describing colour
4.6.3 Describing visual effects
4.7 Guidance on identifying persons
4.7.1 Identifying characters or places by name
4.7.2 Physical appearance
4.7.3 Race/ethnic origin
4.7.4 Gender-related
4.7.5 Disabilities
4.7.6 Age
4.8 Guidance on relationships
4.8.1 General guidance on explicit content
4.8.2 General guidance on relationships
4.8.3 Establishing place/setting/time of day
4.8.4 Interaction between animated characters/objects and real actors
4.9 Guidance on parts of speech
4.9.1 Descriptive verbs
Bibliography