Help is at hand for vision-impaired movie lovers, with Sony the first movie house to introduce in a built-in narrator for Blu-ray movies.
Descriptive Video Service is an audio feature, similar to a director's commentary, which adds narration of important visual elements on screen. Also known as Audio Description, the system was developed by WGBH Media Access Group - a Boston-based non-commercial television and radio broadcast service and member station of the Public Broadcasting Service.
Previously used on VHS and DVD movies, DVS adds narration between dialogue to help vision-impaired viewers follow the action. It is also included in some television broadcasts using the Secondary Audio Program.
The first Sony Picture Blu-ray title to feature DVS will be The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, due for release on November 3. Other titles set to include the feature include District 9, Julie & Julia and The Ugly Truth.
