99 - Shakila Maharaj on Making the Visual World Accessible Through Audio Description

In today’s episode, Lois speaks with Shakila Maharaj, managing director at ShazaCin Accessible Media, about making the visual world accessible through the use of audio description. We chat what audio description is and who, beyond the blindness community, is using audio description, as well as digging into some of the more technical aspects including the use of AI in audio description, the various role-players in creating the audio description tracks, and how audio description is both an art and a science. about We also look at the development of the ShazaCin app and how its use is expanding from just film and television content into heritage and art spaces. Find the ShazaCin app at DescribeAT on the Google Play store or at app.shazacin.com on IOS. Reach out to Shakila: Website;: Shazacin.com Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Podcast Image description: A woman of Indian heritage standing against a white wall. She has short, dark hair that is graying at the temples and is wearing a light brown, puffy jacket over a colorful top that has a mix of blue, brown, and orange tones with a floral pattern. She has a gold necklace around her neck. The woman is looking slightly upwards and to her right with a soft, contemplative expression. I’d love to hear from you – contact me at Web: https://www.loisstrachan.com/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lstrachan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loisstrachanspeaker This episode edited by Craig Strachan using Hindenburg PRO – find out more on Hindenburg.com Credits and music by Charlie Dyasi of Naledi Media.