My Favorite Things...In Voiceover

So Many Screens!

My Favorite Things...In Voiceover

Photo by Peter Geo on Unsplash

Screen Time

Screen time is a familiar phrase to any modern parent, but it’s not something we experienced as kids. When I was growing up, the only screen I watched was the family television.  Today, there are all sorts of screens that kids interact with.  So, how are parents supposed to navigate this experience gap?  How much is too much? What kind of content is ok?  I get the concerns about screen time, after all, too much is associated with obesity, social/emotional issues, and poor sleep, among other concerns.  I’m no expert on this matter, but I can say with confidence that screen time is not going anywhere.  It’s here to stay. 

Personally, I’ve come to find that screen time (in moderate doses) isn’t all that bad. In fact, there are lots of cool games, apps, programs, books, toys and videos that kids of all ages can engage with.  I love it when my daughter wants to share a new digital discovery she made.  Why didn’t this technology exist when I was a kid?  My inner 12 year old self is jealous.  

eLearning

There are so many cool eLearning programs for kids.  A few that are favorites in my house are Prodigy, ABCYa!, IXL and Kahoot.  These programs make math and language learning fun!  Not only do they enjoy these programs at school, they like to play at home as well.  

Apps and Games 

When my kids were preschool age and first started to use (my) phone and tablet, the first app that I downloaded was PBS Kids.  They played with that app for years!  Now they’re into Duolingo, Township, Color by Number and of course, YouTube.  I’m amazed that they can learn a language, build a city, get creative and watch cute animal videos all from their phone or tablet!  

Books

Nothing beats “the real thing,” but there are lots of great audiobooks for kids.  Fiction and nonfiction, preschool to high school, there are many choices that cover a variety of interests.  On our summer road trip, I’m going to have both of my kids download a few audiobooks to keep them occupied (and hopefully minimize fighting) while we’re on the road.  Shameless moment of self promotion…I narrated a very cute book for young children called Jamie and the Cloud People, by Jenn Pierre.  

 

These are just a few examples of the digital content geared toward kids.  Video games are a whole other blog post.   

So what now?

My thoughts on screen time?  Instead of thinking of it as a problem, think of it as an opportunity.  Keeping open communication and a positive attitude will make it easier to navigate digital content as your kids grow up. 

Oh, and one more thing… like your mother said, you should definitely get outside on a nice day like today! 

 

To hear my take on kids’ eLearning, apps and books, listen to my K-12 Narration and Children’s Audiobook demos.  

 

Until next time!

 

XOXO

Sarah

 

A Mouthful of Medical

My Favorite Things...In Voiceover

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Big Words.

What comes to mind when you think of Medical Narration?  Clinical terms and complicated words that are hard to pronounce, perhaps?  Words such as Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis (a disease of the lungs caused by inhalation of very fine silicate or quartz dust) and Choledocholithiasis (stones in the gallbladder) are a mouthful and require precise, accurate pronunciation, but there’s more to medical narration than just big words.  Not only does it require communication of scientific information and complex topics, it may also require empathy, trust, confidence and warmth, depending on the project.  Medical narration is made up of its own set of sub genres, unique to healthcare.  Here are a few of my favorites….

 

Medical eLearning.

Students, doctors, nurses, physical therapists, epidemiologists, x-ray technicians and all other clinical professionals may benefit from eLearning, whether they’re seeking a degree, certificate, or continuing education credits.  Asynchronous medical eLearning allows students and professionals to learn on their own time, in between shifts, at night, or on the weekends.  As an instructor at Southern New Hampshire University in the Public Health Program, I appreciate the many hats my students wear while they pursue their degrees, and I am so glad this option is available to them.  Medical eLearning requires a narrator who is professional, supportive, detail oriented and knowledgeable.  

 

Patient Education.

Patients need to understand their plan of care in order to successfully participate in their treatment, and patient education videos help to make that happen.  Recently, I needed to watch a video for an at-home sleep study.  The narrator was clear, encouraging and helpful.  They made what could have been a complicated and confusing process, simple.  Patient education videos promote shared decision making, help communicate important medical information and engage patients in treatment.  These videos need a narrator that is approachable, friendly and trustworthy.  

 

Pharmaceutical Information.

Have you ever read the fine print on the package insert that goes with your medication?  Yes or no, there’s a lot of important information there, and it’s required by the FDA.  This info includes contraindications, precautions, adverse reactions, and drug interactions.  It requires a trustworthy, knowledgeable, and present voice to relay this information to the user.  

 

Notes, Podcasts and Clinical Trials, Oh My!

There are many other subgenres of medical narration.  Medical notes are delivered from the clinician’s perspective and document progress, consultation, procedures, therapies, and other patient interactions, and require a direct, confident and authoritative voice.  Medical podcasts require intros and outros that engage the listener and set the tone for the topic of discussion.  Clinical trials bring to life medical advancements, discoveries and technologies.  Trust, authenticity and empathy are important voice qualities in narration for clinical trials.

 

And there’s so much more!  Like other forms of voiceover, medical narration tells a story, and the audience informs the purpose and tone.  Medical narrators are the voice of the clinician…and if they do a good job, the listener will pick up on their excellent bedside manner.  

 

To hear my take on medical narration, check out my medical narration demo.  

 

Until next time!

 

XOXO

 

Sarah

Museum Narration: Musings and Insights

My Favorite Things...In Voiceover

 

A red, yellow and blue striped flowing background with 6 headphones hanging from the ceiling.

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

Be honest.

…There are certain aspects of your job that you love more than others, right?  It doesn’t matter whether you’re a teacher, engineer, farrier, or a voiceover artist, there are parts of your job that hold a special place in your heart.   Now, this isn’t to say that you don’t like other aspects of your work, it’s just that certain areas make you feel, well…warm and fuzzy.    While I can’t speak for other people or professions, I can say this is true for me, in voiceover.  Honestly, I find most areas of voiceover to be fun and interesting, but there are a few genres that I hold dear, one of which is museum narration. 

 

Museum Narration.

What do I like about museum narration?  Well, if you’ve read my previous blogs,  you know I’m all about telling a story, and museums do just that.  They are filled with stories about history, art, music, sport, science, and even cryptozoology!  (I’ve been to the International Cryptozoology Museum, it’s a very unique place!)  There’s so much to learn at museums, and narration offers additional engagement, freedom for visitors to explore at their own pace, and accessibility for people with visual impairments.  So how exactly can this be achieved?  Let’s look at a few specific types of museum narration.  

 

Audio Tours.

If you’ve been to a museum, you’ve probably seen the headsets that can be used to peruse exhibits with an audio guide.  Nowadays, these tours also come in the form of mobile apps.  Audio tours that come to mind for me are the Holocaust Museum, the Sixth Floor Museum and the Biltmore Estate.  I used these audio guides to explore the museums in my own time, as a tourist.   As an audio guide narrator, you’re speaking to one person with clarity, confidence and genuine interest in the subject at hand. So, are you interested in how museums are improving their technology and the overall audioguide experience? Check out this article by MuseumNext, which looks at how museums are using audio guides to attract and engage new visitors.  

 

Audio Description.

Next, there’s audio description.  Audio description is a different form of narration than an audio tour or guide.  According to the Audio Description Project, audio description in a museum describes the size, shape, color, texture, and details of an exhibit for a person who has low vision or a visual impairment.  The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston offers an audio description tour, as does the Mystic Aquarium, among many others!  Want to learn more about the importance of audio description in museums?  Check out this article from Vocal Eyes.

 

Museum Exhibits.

Apart from audio tours and audio description, exhibits themselves can have a narration component.  I recently narrated letters from the 1700 and 1800’s as part of two different exhibits for Strawbery Banke and the American Independence Museum.  These letters help bring the words of Colonial Americans to life and enhance the overall experience for the visitor.  Voiceover is just one tool that museums are using to engage visitors in specific exhibits.  MuseumNext has a fun article about six museums that are going above and beyond to increase engagement with their audiences and communities.  

These are just a few examples of the ways museums use voiceover to help tell stories and connect with visitors.  I, for one, love being a part of that experience!  Next time you go to a museum, keep your ears open for how they’re using narration.  Interested in collaborating on your next museum narration project?  Contact me and we’ll talk!

Until next time!

XOXO

Sarah