Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Making popular science accessible: Uncovering AD skills and competences

Holsanova, Jana LU orcid (2019)
Abstract
The paper focuses 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. The interpretative 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... (More)
The paper focuses 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. The interpretative 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).
(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to conference
publication status
in press
subject
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7921da06-c347-4280-9fd1-a6cf2baaaf1c
date added to LUP
2019-05-27 16:41:54
date last changed
2021-03-23 21:22:24
@misc{7921da06-c347-4280-9fd1-a6cf2baaaf1c,
  abstract     = {{The paper focuses 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. The interpretative 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. <br/>In result, AD skills in this context include: <br/>(a) Selecting skills. Judgements about relevant information.<br/>(b) Expert knowledge of the subject area. <br/>(c) Knowledge of various types of images and graphics. <br/>(d) Language skills. Various ways of verbalizing visual content.<br/>(e) Integration skills. Combining the contents of the available resources, creating semantic links, filling in the gaps in the interplay. <br/>(c) Interpretation skills. Using conceptual knowledge for interpreting schematic images. <br/>(d) Rhetorical skills. Choosing entry points and reading paths. Re-arranging the order of information for optimal flow and understanding. <br/>(e) Pedagogical skills. Grouping similar information. Creating summaries and introductions to modules. <br/>(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.<br/>(g) Vocal skills. Using voice, intonation, speech rate, emphasis and pauses to highlight and group information. <br/>(h) Technical skills (studio recording and editing).<br/>}},
  author       = {{Holsanova, Jana}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  title        = {{Making popular science accessible: Uncovering AD skills and competences}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}