#accessible audio

no, it’s okay! i also cannot hear or understand Words

transcribed from (x)

Griffin, in that deep, conciliatory voice that tells you he’s about to get up to some shit: D’ya know what language I learned in high school? Travis: **small sigh** What, Griffin? Griffin: The lAnGuAgE of looOooOOoooveeee ... Travis: Gross. Justin, at the same time: Okay. Travis: UuhhhhhHHHHhhh, Babble also has, uh-- Griffin: They called me, they called me Porky Pig-- Travis, resigned now to his fate: Okay. Justin: **weird inhale, something sloshes, a clink** Griffin: Because of how much-- **snorts** Travis: Gross. Justin: **repeated banging of mug** Griffin: Because of how much I-- Travis: Gross! Justin: **more banging** Travis: Gross! Griffin: Because of how much I-- Justin: I was mid coffee sip. I thought I’d earned it, after my great personal endorsement-- Griffin, softly: Okay. Justin: But no. Griffin: So you’re probably thinking like, “Porky Pig”-- Travis: Okay. Griffin:--probably because he’s been porking a whole lot, right? But it was--no, it was---my tech--my technique was, I would get down there and just be like, “bedeebedeedbebebdebdbebebdbebdbebdbebdbebdebdbebbedbbedbebdbebde”-- [from 0:30 to roughly 1:05, Griffin cackles like a hyena just discovering slapstick comedy involving fire crackers, Justin moves through the five stages of grief via a series of wheezes, keening, and pained hollering, and between the two Travis is mildly incomprehensible though he is also upending his lungs on the floor] Griffin, at 1:06: Oh, fuck. Justin, between angry laughs: You dumb piece of shit! God, I--God, you are despicable people-- I don’t know how I’m related to you-- Travis: We are the worst. Justin: Absolutely the worst.

Accessible Audio / Topic #1, Speculation

Source #1: Not Boring Software: The Sound of Software

^ Video from Not Boring Software, showing an example of a system sound with many different layers, which could be altered to create variation for alternative related actions.

Reflection:

I found Not Boring Softwares’ article about the sound of software to be very intriguing and eye-opening. The article helped me better understand the importance of sound in software. Prior to reading this article, I knew sound in software could be useful and help immerse the user; This article acknowledges the many important roles that sound can provide within software, such as using sound as a tool to communicate something, juice a moment, create tangibility, shape a feeling, or immerse the user in a world. I find the lack of sound in most software to be particularly interesting; The article argues that many softwares avoid sound design since it’s easy to mess up, making the sound intrusive rather than helpful. I want to continue my research by thinking more about where sound could be helpful, in both the digital and analog space.

Dyslexia / Topic #2, Education, Speculation

Source #1: Understood: 14 musicians who learn and think differently

Source #2: Canarit Audiobooks: Full-Cast Audiobooks

Source #3: Modern Mrs Darcy: Immerse yourself in these 20 full cast recording audiobooks

Reflection:

I started my research this week by asking new people about dyslexia. In a conversation with one of my friends about audiobooks, I mentioned how cool it would be if audiobooks incorporated textured soundscapes; My friend told me about full-cast audiobooks and I was intrigued, so I looked into the concept further during my research this week. Researching full-cast audiobooks was a very interesting process and I find the concept very cool. Full-cast audiobooks are a great and underrated method of storytelling for dyslexics, as they add characterization and dynamics, which audiobooks lack, to help to increase a reader’s comprehension. 

I also looked into musicians with dyslexia this week. It was interesting to learn about dyslexia’s effect on some famous musicians. I was hoping to find more information about how dyslexia impacts the creativity of music, but I may need to broaden my research to how dyslexia impacts creativity in general!

Works Cited:

Williams, Andy, and Thomas Williams. “The Sound of Software.” Not Boring Software, 25 Apr. 2024, www.notboring.software/words/the-sound-of-software. 

“Full-Cast Audiobooks: A Gateway to Immersive Audio Experiences.” Canarit Audiobooks, 24 Jan. 2024, canaritaudiobooks.com/what-are-full-cast-audiobooks%EF%BF%BC/#:~:text=Allowing%20the%20listener%20to%20go,there%20with%20the%20characters%20themselves. 

Bogel, Anne. “Immerse Yourself in These 20 Full Cast Recording Audiobooks.” Modern Mrs Darcy, 22 May 2024, modernmrsdarcy.com/full-cast-recording-audiobooks/.