[nabs-l] FW: Sony Partners With WGBH

[Corbb O'Connor]

One step at a time, folks. Let's be happy that the feature is more  
accessible than before, and we'll work with--and not against--the  
studios to make the menus accessible.
Corbb

P.S. How many children in America are not taught how to read? If they  
are blind, the answer is 90 percent! To help, please consider  
purchasing a Louis Braille Commemorative Silver Dollar from the U.S.  
Mint: http://www.braille.org

On Sep 5, 2009, at 11:37 AM, Rania wrote:

I am just glad it is coming back.
Rania,
----- Original Message ----- From: "Sarah Alawami" <marrie12 at gmail.com>
To: "'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org 
 >
Sent: Friday, September 04, 2009 11:23 PM
Subject: [nabs-l] FW: Sony Partners With WGBH


> got this from a friend.
>
>
> Sony Partners With WGBH to Deliver Descriptive Video Service for DVDs
>
> By : Chris Tribbey
> Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is the latest studio to join forces  
> with
> WGBH Media Access Group to deliver select DVDs with Descriptive Video
> Service
> (DVS), an optional feature that provides audio narration for visual
> elements, allowing consumers who are blind or who have impaired  
> vision to
> "watch" the
> content.
>
> PBS Home Video and Universal Studios Home Entertainment have both  
> released
> titles that include the feature.
>
> "I don't know how large the untapped market may be. We're doing it  
> because
> it's the right thing to do," said Tracey Garvin, SVP of worldwide  
> marketing
> for
> Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. "There's so much visually that the
> impaired can't pick up. It really enriches the experience, and it's
> certainly worth
> the additional expense."
>
> The American Foundation for the Blind estimates there are more than 20
> million people in the country with significant visual impairment.
>
> Mary Watkins, outreach director for WGBH's Media Access Group, said  
> WGBH had
> done descriptive content for VHS, producing more than 200 titles  
> from nearly
> all the studios.
>
> "The gap between the end of the road for the VHS format several  
> years ago,
> and this announcement by Sony of all major titles going forward  
> including a
> DVS
> track, has been painful to an audience that loves movies as much as  
> sighted
> viewers," she said. "DVS on DVD enables people who are blind or have  
> low
> vision
> to enjoy a movie independently, relieves their friends and loved  
> ones of
> being amateur describers at home, and ensures a better return on  
> Sony's
> original
> investment on the service for the theatrical release ... good news all
> around."
>
> The American Foundation for the Blind estimates there are more than 20
> million people in the country with significant visual impairment.
>
> The first Sony titles to include the feature will be The Taking of  
> Pelham
> 123 (Nov. 3), The Ugly Truth, Julie & Julia and District 9.  
> Beginning this
> fall,
> any theatrical release from Sony including descriptive audio also  
> will have
> the feature on eventual DVD and Blu-ray Disc releases.
>
> Listed as an audio option in the languages option of DVDs and Blu- 
> rays,
> Descriptive Video Service offers narration describing everything  
> from facial
> expressions
> and gestures to costume and on-screen text.
>
> Garvin said that the transfer of a Descriptive Video Service for  
> disc isn't
> a difficult task for the studio. She added that Sony is "really  
> proud to be
> able to do this."
>
>
> Never give up! no matter how big or small the struggle may seem!
> Quote by Vicki Moore
>
>
>
>
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