Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Is there any need for something like this? (self.Blind)
submitted 8y ago by [deleted]
I don't actually know any visually impaired or blind people, so I apologize if this is a stupid question.
I know that blind and visually impaired people can still utilize most forms of entertainment, which is awesome.
But I've had this idea since I was a kid to, like, produce a bunch of audio only content with visually impaired and blind people as its target audience (though sighted people would still find enjoyable.)
I mean audio stories (similar to audiobooks) to where the characters are voiced by different people (instead of being one bland narrator or a computer), and would heavily utilize sound effects and recording techniques like binaural recording to create a more immersive experience.
Things in a similar vein to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6N-6DxAVQw
I've wanted to make things like that since I was a kid, and I'm finally in a situation where it would be possible.
Is there any need for something like that?
I know that blind and visually impaired people can still utilize most forms of entertainment, which is awesome.
But I've had this idea since I was a kid to, like, produce a bunch of audio only content with visually impaired and blind people as its target audience (though sighted people would still find enjoyable.)
I mean audio stories (similar to audiobooks) to where the characters are voiced by different people (instead of being one bland narrator or a computer), and would heavily utilize sound effects and recording techniques like binaural recording to create a more immersive experience.
Things in a similar vein to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6N-6DxAVQw
I've wanted to make things like that since I was a kid, and I'm finally in a situation where it would be possible.
Is there any need for something like that?
thatsnotgneiss 2 points
If you want some inspiration, check out some of the BBC's radio plays.
fastfinge 2 points
I'm a totally blind person, and I do consume a lot of this style of audio content. The trouble with aiming things squarely at the blind community is that, in my experience, we just don't have all that much disposable income. Of course, some of us do, and this varies a lot from country to country, but when developing content for the blind, it's safe to assume you're marketing to a community of a few thousand at most. One really successful company that does a lot of this kind of thing is Big Finish:
http://www.bigfinish.com/
They have a lot of licenses from companies like the BBC for popular properties like DR Who. Also, they sell a lot of dramas to the BBC themselves to be aired on Radio 4, and what was once Radio 7. Thus, they have access to a talented pool of voice actors, and are selling to a market segment that is much broader than just blind people.
Another, similar company, that seems to target themselves at long-hall truckers is graphic audio:
http://www.graphicaudio.net/
Personally, I find the quality of there voice acting just isn't that good, though a lot of people disagree with me. I think it might have something to do with the fact that they're in the US, and North America just doesn't have the culture of radio drama that the United Kingdom does. I suspect that's why Focus On The Family Radio Theatre, a nonprofit marketing mostly at Christians, outsources a lot of their production to the UK:
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/radio-theatre.aspx
If you Google around a bit for radio drama, or audio drama, you can also find a lot of fan-made productions (Darker Projects, We're Alive, Pendant Audio, etc). The quality isn't particularly high, but they compare favourably with the stuff CBS/NBC was doing in the 50s.
http://www.bigfinish.com/
They have a lot of licenses from companies like the BBC for popular properties like DR Who. Also, they sell a lot of dramas to the BBC themselves to be aired on Radio 4, and what was once Radio 7. Thus, they have access to a talented pool of voice actors, and are selling to a market segment that is much broader than just blind people.
Another, similar company, that seems to target themselves at long-hall truckers is graphic audio:
http://www.graphicaudio.net/
Personally, I find the quality of there voice acting just isn't that good, though a lot of people disagree with me. I think it might have something to do with the fact that they're in the US, and North America just doesn't have the culture of radio drama that the United Kingdom does. I suspect that's why Focus On The Family Radio Theatre, a nonprofit marketing mostly at Christians, outsources a lot of their production to the UK:
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/radio-theatre.aspx
If you Google around a bit for radio drama, or audio drama, you can also find a lot of fan-made productions (Darker Projects, We're Alive, Pendant Audio, etc). The quality isn't particularly high, but they compare favourably with the stuff CBS/NBC was doing in the 50s.
SilentLeader 2 points
My goal would be to release the content for free.
I've always loved listening to radio dramas, they're largely an inspiration for why I wanted to do this.
I'll definitely do a lot more research and try to make this happen.
I've always loved listening to radio dramas, they're largely an inspiration for why I wanted to do this.
I'll definitely do a lot more research and try to make this happen.
fastfinge 2 points
I hope you succeed! I suspect your biggest problem is going to be finding good affordable voice actors. There are lots and lots of free, or royalty-free, sound libraries you can access. There is also a lot of free or cheap audio editing software out there. In all of the audio dramas I've listened to, it's the voice acting that's what really matters. I tend not to criticize, though, as I've tried my hand at voice acting in the past myself. It's way harder than it sounds. That's probably why all the professionals don't work cheap. LOL. Anyway, good luck!
Nighthawk321 1 points
This is actually not a stupid idea. What your describing is called a graphic audio. I don't have time to look for a link, but if you just google graphic audio, you may find a cite that has them.
Unuhi 1 points
I love well narrated stories with more than just one boring voice.
Also I love when the format allows listening to the content faster (like in Overdrive or Daisy formats) or slower ¯ i like to read faster so im comfortable with 2x speed with most narrators. (It can take s bit getting used to but so cool when you get into it)
Also I love when the format allows listening to the content faster (like in Overdrive or Daisy formats) or slower ¯ i like to read faster so im comfortable with 2x speed with most narrators. (It can take s bit getting used to but so cool when you get into it)
geoffisblind 1 points
That would be incredibly cool. I have found content that has multiple voices, but that seems to be limited or poorly executed. I have some usable central vision so I enjoy things like movies with descriptive audio to supplement the things I miss, but I have friends who are closer to totally blind who would benefit greatly from well produced audio only entertainment. I think the trick would be having a high production value. If it doesn't have really good audio and voice acting people may just forget about it.
I personally really enjoy a story based podcast called Welcome To Night Vale. Something like that would be fantastic, and I wish more audio based entertainment came in that style. If you could pull off something like that I think you would have a solid product.
I personally really enjoy a story based podcast called Welcome To Night Vale. Something like that would be fantastic, and I wish more audio based entertainment came in that style. If you could pull off something like that I think you would have a solid product.
SilentLeader 1 points
High production value is what I'm aiming for.
I'll give it a shot. It'll take me a while to get something like this off the ground, but I'll certainly do my best!
I'll give it a shot. It'll take me a while to get something like this off the ground, but I'll certainly do my best!
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