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Month: February 2020

An Audio Description Extravaganza! Conversation with Voiceover Artist Roy Samuelson, Activating AD and a Bit of a Rant
February 26, 2020
Tim Schwartz
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An Audio Description Extravaganza! Conversation with Voiceover Artist Roy Samuelson, Activating AD and a Bit of a Rant

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It’s an audio description extravaganza on the Life After Blindness Podcast! First, I speak with audio description narrarator and voiceover artist, Roy Samuelson about the creation process and the current state of audio described content. Then, I show you how to turn on the audio described track within 5 of the top video streaming services. And finally, I share my thoughts on the availability of audio description, accessibility and the future of AD.

If you would like to support Life After Blindness and receive exclusive perks, become a patron. Thanks!

A Conversation about audio description.

Roy Samuelson is a voiceover artist and audio description narrarator who has lent his voice to well over 500 national network episodes and blockbuster films. This includes NCIS, Lethal Weapon, Star Trek Picard, 1917, Spiderman Far from Home and Spiderman Homecoming, . Roy is also known for his voiceover work on many popular video games and television commercials.

Roy begins our conversation by talking about what audio description is by comparing it to color commentating on a live sports event. He then describes the process of creating an audio description track beginning with the writing, the recording and editing. He explains the maticulous planning and creativity that goes into producing an audio described track.

Roy discusses his excitement over how much audio description has grown in recent years. He is particularly excited about new streaming services as well as work behind the scenes that will continue the growth of and access to audio description.

Roy is a big believer in advocacy. We talk about consumers asking for audio description for The Dark Crystal series and Daredevil on Netflix. In each case, the community spoke up and they got results.

Next, Roy tells me about how he got started doing voiceover work and how that has affected how he narrators an audio description track. Roy played a gangster in the former Great Movie Ride at Walt Disney World where he was really able to sharpen his acting and narration skills.

Roy has a passion for storytelling and connecting to an audience. In this interview, Roy definitely demonstrates that passion and the dedication that it takes to create an audio description track.

He continues to learn as well as teach, conducting occasional workshops for other narrators.

I am so grateful that Roy took some time to speak with me for this interview. He tells so many great behind-the-scenes tidbits and anecdotes. It was such a joy to speak with him!

If you would like more information about Roy Samuelson, you can visit his website, and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

Additional resources for audio description that we discussed are:
The Audio Description Project from the American Council of the Blind. (ACB)
Audio Description Discussion Facebook Group
On Twitter, follow the hash tags AudioDescription KnowYourNarrator and NothingAboutUsWithoutUs

Todays Tech Tip

Continuing the audio description extravaganza, I show you how to activate the AD track within 5 of the top video streaming services.

You will hear me navigate through the player controls of Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV+, Netflix, Disney+ and CBS All Access. I demonstrate this on my iPhone 7 using iOS 13.3.1.

As a little bonus, I show how accessible most of these apps are and how one in particular is not so accessible.

Just my two cents about AD

To close out the show, I spend a few minutes talking about the current state of audio description and where I hope it will progress to in the future. I also share my displeasure with the way that AD tracks are licensed and distributed.

Overall, I think that the future of audio description looks good. It’s just that the road to get there might be a bit rocky. But as long as we keep advocating for accessibility and inclusion, we will hopefully get there faster and together.

If you have any comments or questions, please send your emails to: tim@lifeafterblindness.com. You can also leave me a voice mail by calling, 201-855-5221.

Please join me again next time as we continue our journey together to find that there truly can be a life after blindness.

Life After Blindness Spotlight Interview with The Blind Blogger, Maxwell Ivey
February 10, 2020
Tim Schwartz
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Life After Blindness Spotlight Interview with The Blind Blogger, Maxwell Ivey

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The Life After Blindness Spotlight is where I interview someone about their journey with a life after blindness. This week, I interview Maxwell Ivey from TheBlindBlogger.net.

Max grew up working for his family carnival business, sold amusement equipment and now has his own blog and podcast.

 

Max has appeared as a guest, an interview subject, and a motivator on many different sites and podcasts. Through his work, Max has helped others by encouraging them to take steps towards their ultimate goal, or to continue on the path they have started.

 

Additionally, Max is an entrepreneur and motivational speaker.

 

In this Life After Blindness Spotlight, I talk with Max about growing up in the carnival business, joining an all blind Boy Scouts troop, becoming an Eagle Scout and much more. We talk about the various transitions throughout his life and how he persevered despite his diagnosis of Retinitis Pigmentosa at a young age.

 

Max then tells me about getting into blogging and starting his podcast, “The What’s Your Excuse Show?“

 

We wrap up by talking about the positive things that have occured in Max’s life because of his blindness.

 

If you have any questions or comments, please send an email to: tim@lifeafterblindness.com or leave a message by calling: 201-855-5221

If you would like to support Life After Blindness, please donate here. Thanks!

February 3, 2020
Tim Schwartz
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Interview with Envision AI about Smart Glasses, Because of My Blindness with Maxwell Ivy Plus News about ScripTalk, Accessible Voting and more

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Envision AI is a smart phone app that allows people who are blind and visually impaired to scan text, bar codes, objects, faces and so much more. This week, I speak with one of the founders and developers from Envision, Karthik about bringing the app to google Glass. I also share a new ‘Because of My Blindness story from “The Blind Blogger”, Maxwell Ivey.

If you would like to support Life After Blindness, please donate here. Thanks!

The show opens this week with a brand new musical theme featuring an introduction from my wonderful daughter Alyssa. Please email me and let me know what you think.

In the News:

1. Flicktype Keyboard ranks third overall in paid iPhone apps.

The developers of the popular app Flicktype Keyboard have announced a new pay structure for the app. Also, they announced a new app for the Apple Watch.

In addition to it’s free version that requires copy and pasting of text, Flicktype previously had a monthly cost of $0.99 to allow the keyboard to integrate with your onscreen keyboard anywhere on your smart phone. This also included a version of Flicktype on the Apple Watch. Now, Costa and Ashley Eleftheriou, who develop Flicktype, have changed the cost to a one time payment of $1.99.

They have also released an Apple Watch only app called Flicktype Watch Notes that costs $2.99. This app allows you to make notes on your Apple Watch and then share them any way you like.

2. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and National Braille Press is back with a variety of gifts for your sweetheart.

You can shop at NBP for jewelry, magnets, books and of course, Valentine’s Day cards. The Braille cards have a decoder on the back so that if you share it with someone who does not know Braille, they can decipher it.

3. En-Vision America has us covered when it comes to reading prescription bottle labels.

The long awaited ScripTalk app has finally been launched on the  iPhone. Previously only available for Android, ScripTalk allows you to scan a special bar code on your prescription that will provide you with all of the important information you need to know about that particular script.

If you would like to find out if any pharmacies in your area have ScripTalk available or just want to get further information from En-Vision America, you can contact them at: 1(800)890-1180. 

4. Voting in elections is a right and a privilage.

Recently, United States Senators Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Bob Casey from Pennsylvania, introduced the Accessible Voting Act. The Accessible Voting act would help ensure the full process of voting – from registering to vote, to casting a ballot in person or by mail.

Here is what each Senator had to say about the bill:

“The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy, but exercising that right is not possible for too many Americans. Inaccessible polling places and voting booths, limited access to transportation, insufficient options for casting ballots, and inaccessible voter information websites are all obstacles to voting for millions of Americans,” Klobuchar said. “The Accessible Voting Act would help ensure that we remove barriers to voting for citizens with disabilities, the elderly, Native Americans, and those with limited English proficiency. Our democracy works best when all citizens can make their voices heard at the ballot box.”

“The right to vote is one of the fundamental pillars of American democracy, but that right is under threat due to barriers that prevent or make it hard for older Americans and people with disabilities to cast their ballots,” Casey said.“

5. Dogs are not just man’s best friend, they are also a state mascot?

That’s right. The state of New Jersey has unanimously voted to make there state dog, the seeing eye dog. Of course, Morristown, New Jersey is home to the United States longest running guide dog school – The Seeing Eye.

Over the years The Seeing Eye has paired over 17,000 people with a visual impairment and a guide dog.

Because of My Blindness with The Blind Blogger, Maxwell Ivey.

 

Each week I like to share a story from a listener that I call, Because of My Blindness. This is your chance to talk about something positive that has happened in your life that might not have otherwise happened if you had not been blind.

This could include something you have learned or someone you have met or an experience you have had. This is a way to find the silver lining of a cloud that can be very dark.

This week, we hear from Maxwell Ivey, aka The Blind Blogger. Listen as he shares some lessons that he has learned along the way.

Be sure to listen to next weeks episode for a longer spotlight interview with Max.

Envision AI works with Google glass and more.

Karthik joins me next from Envision AI. Envision AI is an app for both iPhone and Android that “empowers blind and low vision users to be independent by speaking out the visual world around them.” You can use it to scan short text, full page documents, bar codes, objects and much more.

Due to be released at CSUN in March 2020, the first version of Envision Glasses will have Envision AI working on a Google Glass Enterprise Edition 2. It will incorporate all of the same functionality of the Envision AI app without needing a phone in your hand.

Karthik also notes that Envision AI won’t be limited to just Google Glass. He hopes to bring it to other platforms as they become available.

 Thank you so much for listening to the Life After Blindness podcast!

If you have any questions or comments, please send your emails to: tim@lifeafterblindness.com or leave a voicemail by calling: 1(201)855-5221