Application for the blind describes tourist attractions in audio – 11/07/2023 – Tourism

New application for the blind describes tourist attractions in Bauru (SP) in audio. Named Siga, the project was launched at the end of October by Biblioteca Falada, Unesp’s media and accessibility laboratory.

Available for iOS, Android and the web, the free app provides recordings that explain what buildings, parks and city streets are like through audio description — a visual translation technique used in films, art exhibitions and museums.

The project was born from a partnership between Biblioteca Falada, which is led by postgraduate professor in media and technology at Unesp Suely Maciel, and Lar Escola Santa Luzia, dedicated to people with visual impairments.

In meetings, students from the specialized institution asked the teacher to write descriptions of one of the main shopping centers in Bauru, Rua Batista de Carvalho.

Based on the suggestion, Maciel saw the possibility of broader and more lasting work: describing the city’s important spaces on an accessible online platform.

“Audio description allows blind people to learn about the architectural characteristics of places, the dimensions, the style of open spaces and buildings”, explains Maciel, who has coordinated Biblioteca Falada for 10 years.

In Siga, the user chooses to browse topics, which include commerce, leisure, sports, squares and public buildings, or through the interactive map.

When clicking on the Horto Florestal park, for example, the app provides two audios. The first provides general information about the space, such as size and activities carried out. In the second, it describes visual elements.

Each file is connected to a geolocation system that allows the user to navigate around places of interest.

Before being published, recordings are reviewed by blind people to assess the quality of the description. It is also the disabled community itself that suggests the places that are narrated in the project.

“The app not only allows people with visual impairments to get to know the city itself, but also those who live outside of Bauru”, says the teacher, who sees the project as an opportunity to offer more autonomy to the group.

Siga, in the web version, can be found here.