legislate audio description in all U.S. cinemas

Category: accessible Devices

Post 1 by kingettblue (Generic Zoner) on Sunday, 04-Aug-2013 21:44:04

My twitter is @theblindwriter

My name is Robert Kingett and like millions of Americans with vision or hearing impairments I love going to the movies. However, enjoying the social aspect of movies with friends is often impossible when nearby cinemas won't offer movies with captioning or video description.

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) recently introduced two bills that will expand access to captioning and image narration in movie theaters and allow people with visual or hearing impairment to enjoy the movies we all love to watch.

With the help of this petition we can help push through legislation that will force the studios, cinemas and online streaming providers to implement changes so that everyone can enjoy the cinema experience.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Help_to_legislate_audio_description_and_captioning_in_all_US_cinemas_for_movie_fans_with_visual_or_hearing_impairments_1/?cTSTleb

Post 2 by Meglet (I just keep on posting!) on Sunday, 04-Aug-2013 23:06:11

Out of curiosity, would this require the theatres to have the video description played along with the film for everyone to hear? It might be awfully irritating for those that don't need it, and how often would a movie be played with descriptions, when nobody in the building benefits? There aren't that many of us, really, and i can see the sighted folks getting mightily annoyed with the descriptions. Could they be broadcast through headphones or something?

Post 3 by kingettblue (Generic Zoner) on Monday, 05-Aug-2013 0:02:20

no. It would require that they carry the equipment and the description for us to use.

Post 4 by Daenerys Targaryen (Enjoying Life) on Monday, 05-Aug-2013 9:54:21

Hi, I signed your petition and have been sharing it with people who I think might be interested.

Post 5 by Shepherdwolf (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Monday, 05-Aug-2013 11:11:48

The only way I feel this will fly is if, as Meglet said, it can be done through headphones. It is definitely not fair to stik audio description into a movie for all and sundry to hear. Many sighted people don't care, but a few I've known have said it's annoying. For them to suffer so we can prosper is counterproductive. There are also some blind people who wouldn't want audio description. I'm not against it, per se, but I went most of my life, right up into my twenties, without it, and I did all right.

Post 6 by kingettblue (Generic Zoner) on Monday, 05-Aug-2013 11:25:50

sigh.... this is not, and I repeat, not for the entire theater. all theaters should provide the equipment and the like, if you read my reply, it says that it says that they have to provide the equipment, not have open audio description. Thank you

Post 7 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Tuesday, 06-Aug-2013 11:28:03

Awesome. Will do. Now that I've started watching descriptive stuff, I hate watching anything without it. Our tyheater's website says they offer it but they don't. They would drastically increase their revenue if they did because. Anyway, I'll definitely sign and pass this along.
Thanks.

Post 8 by kingettblue (Generic Zoner) on Tuesday, 06-Aug-2013 12:14:31

thanks! also ccheck out my accessible Netflix project.

http://netflixproject.wordpress.com/

Post 9 by season (the invisible soul) on Tuesday, 06-Aug-2013 16:39:51

audio description works by having another audio description also known as AD track play along side of the regular track.
AD user usually use a radio transmitor either to the regular radio transmition signal or using infa red transmition signal to recieve and use AD.
In the case of television, usually it requires AD users to have a plug in device of some sort, or most of the major brands tv that is on market after 2009 will have such function on menu setting.