The public beta of the new YouDescribe platform was released on May 18th. The team at YouDescribe has been working very hard for months to create this new version of their describing platform for YouTube videos.
YouDescribe is an online platform that allows anybody (yes, that is right,) to add descriptions to videos hosted on YouTube. A description, also called video or audio description, is a narrative aimed to help people with visual impairment to understand better what is happening on a video or other kinds of visual material. YouDescribe makes it easy for people to add narratives about key visual elements of a YouTube video. As opposed to a professional description, there is no need for fancy equipment to add the descriptions, anybody can add them just by login into the YouDescribe platform.
This new version of YouDescribe has a brand new interface that:
- Works with multiple browsers
- Includes a wish list queue where viewers can request descriptions for videos just by clicking on a heart under the thumbnail of the video.
- Makes multiple descriptions for a video available in one place.
- Offers a rating system where viewers can easily select from 1 to 5 stars to rate a description.
If you would like to share a video with a visually impaired friend or relative, why not use YouDescribe? If you are confused and don’t know how to start, take a look at the YouDescribe excellent video tutorials. They explain the features of a good description. They are clear, short and fun!
Go ahead, explore the new YouDescribe. Describe, share and enjoy!
Note: The YouDescribe project was conceived and directed by Dr. Joshua Miele at The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute . Funding for YouDescribe has been provided by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs; the Disability Communications Fund; the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research; and The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute.
