Feature Installation | Audio Description

Award Winning Project

Innovative Audio Description
LAKE LEDGE Wins National Digital Media Award
Sitka National Historical Park

PROJECT SUMMARY 
 WAYSIDE DESIGN  Harpers Ferry Center NPS
 AUDIO DESCRIPTION | Script, Production, Technology and Training by Lake Ledge Naturalist, LLC

​The project  incorporates 16 wayside exhibits and totem poles along a forested trail, two trail head orientation panels with maps, elements of the landscape to include spawning salmon, a dormant volcano and the Indian river. Historical Russian buildings in downtown Sitka  are also described with waysides and audio. Audio Description style and technology was developed to provide direct interaction with exhibits, independence, access to other media and tours and engagement with landscape. 

Audio description was developed  for the broadest audience by using a holistic approach to accessible interpretation. The audio description script was written with a fresh, narrative based storytelling style that incorporates the landscape  surrounding each wayside, panel content, graphics, QR code content, maps, tactile model and bonus interpretive opportunities available onsite while maintaining standard audio description directional components that guide the visitor through the panel. A handheld audio device, the Discovery Pen,  was introduced that allows visitors to trigger audio description on the outdoor wayside, engaging them directly with the story of the landscape. 

---

WALK SITKA
Audio Describer,Julie Hein-Frank of Lake Ledge and Sitka's Chief of Interpretation, Becky Latanich, discuss options to address the balance of large amounts of content concerning a street map and totem pole facts for the Walk Sitka panel.

The solution: chunk the sound files, using a "layer audio" feature of the Discovery Pen. Visitors select either Totem Pole Facts or Learn about Area attractions. The choice is theirs based on interest and time.

---

"The work that went into making this exhibit accessible for all is remarkable. Some very interesting uses of technology and very interesting information provided via that technology." NAI

---

---

Project Highlights and Key Features
Lake Ledge Description Offers a Fresh Approach 

---

​

SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT

Audio Description for this project was specifically written to engage a broad audience; visitors with visual impairments
​and their companions and also those who prefer to receive content through auditory pathways will enjoy the rich detail description provides. Two voices (male and female)  were used to keep the content engaging and bird song with rich descriptions of  landscape immerse the visitor in the setting.

Panel content included Tlingit and Russian words that required accurate pronunciation and native voice.
Julie met with and recorded native speakers to ensure correct pronunciations during voice production. Native Tlingit and Russian speakers also voiced important elements of the script. 

---

FOCUS GROUPS AND RESEARCH
We created  tour options at faster rates of speech to better serve visitors who are visually impaired.

Special factors for this project included the understanding that many people who are blind prefer audio content at a faster rate of speech. Focus groups were arranged to determine what rate of speech might best meet the needs of the diversity of individuals with visual impairments so that we could create  audio description tour options at rates of speech that would suit the broadest audience of visually impaired users. Tour length is cut in half when using speed tracks. A definite plus. 

---

INNOVATIVE OPTIONS
and the incorporation of existing media into Audio Description 

Wayside Audio Description can be Accessed by Sound Enabled Cards or medallions adhered to each wayside

Sound enabled medallions are adhered to each wayside along the trail allowing visitors to interact directly with the wayside in the landscape. Multiple ways of accessing Audio Description content are provided. Sound enabled laminate cards are available to those who are unable to complete the trail or for visitors to use in inclement weather. 

---

 The site had existing mobile phone audio tours and QR code audio and video hat were made accessible by providing  tour audio and audio description on the Discovery Pens.

​Visually impaired visitors don't need to use their own smart device or mobile phone. Access to existing media is now provided by the site using Discovery Pen technology.

A sound enabled card with audio content from the existing Totem Pole tour was also added to the pens

---

---

New Opportunities
to DESCRIBE OUTDOOR EXHIBITS Totem Conservation Area

The technology provides a unique opportunity to engage visitors in description of outdoor installations with independence and without the hassle of wires, routers, or complicated servers. 

---

 Installed Technology | The Discovery Pen

---

​"The use of the Discovery Pen technology enables
visitors to tailor the experience to their needs and
 amount of interest in a particular subject."

---

Learn More about
​Discovery Pen Technology

---

---

STAFF TRAINING
and Installation of Technology

An important element that is often overlooked when adding
​Audio Description services and technology is the training of staff.

Lake Ledge provides site specific "Audio Description/Awareness Training" and "How to Use, Install and Maintain the Technology" training to both the Visitor Services Staff AND Maintenance Staff at Sitka National Historical Park. 

---

Training both maintenance and interpretive staff ensures that visitors will get the help they need. After training, all staff are aware of the technology that is available, where it is housed, how to maintain it, how to properly demonstrate use and how to help a visitor who has questions out on the trail or in the exhibit space.

---

Listen to Audio Description Samples from Sitka

" This project would appeal to a wide mix of learning styles, abilities, ages and backgrounds. The technologies add  interest and exploration to the story as it unfolds."