Yesterday, I read on this platform about a program called Omni Describer.
It is designed to take a local video, a direct URL of a video, or a YouTube video and provide audio description.
The audio description can be played alongside the native audio track, it can be downloaded to MP3 and even have audio ducking applied if necessary.
Not only are the descriptions in sync with the main audio track, but they can be refined to your taste.
Features provide the ability to focus in on individual scenes and get an overview of what is happening, or perhaps ask questions about specific elements of the scene.
The documentation is easy to follow and clearly explained, and the accessibility of the program is absolutely top notch. So much thought has gone into the design of this, it is unreal.
It is one of those apps which, like JAWS Picture Smart, could make a real difference.
The issue we have however is Google sensorship.
In order for the description to be generated, you need a Google API key, which is easy to come by.
The issue however seems to be that Google is most particular about the content which should be described. When the program works, it works exceptionally well. The problem is that with a lot of videos, which are completely harmless, it does not.
We do get this situation sometimes with images which the AI deems as being unsuitable for us and so will not divulge the content. We seem to have this here in a more agressive form.
I've tried plenty of videos now. A number of them are fine. But put something in front of it which could even be considered slightly suggestive, it says "No, not doing that".
Examples would be extracts from BBC shows broadcast at prime time in the 1970's through to a video of a child's birthday party.
These videos do not controvene YouTube's guidelines or terms of service and have been available for many years. If they did, you could understand what was happening. There is a feature within the program which, as far as possible, disregards apparent safety precautions, but it does not seem to make a huge difference. Essentially, I am being told what I should be watching.
To reiterate, I'm absolutely certain the developer of this program is not at fault and I hope there is a solution some way down the road. He deserves credit for magnificent application development. But until we come out of this nonsense of the "nanny State", it looks a little bleak.
I would encourage anyone to use it though if you can:
audioses.com/en/yazilimlar.php
Eden Linnea
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