Also check out this link for a video demo of the new software http://www.oceanbluesoftware.com/talkingtv-video-form.shtml On 29 June 2010 10:36, tony scanlon <turrots@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > This post appeared on the Vibistro mailing list with thaks to Flor Lynch > > World’s first talking TV now a reality > > June 8th, 2010 - 13:36 UTC > by Andy Sennitt. > > TVs that can talk to their owners are now a reality thanks to British > high-tech company, Ocean Blue Software. Expected in UK stores by the > end of the summer, the company’s low cost text-to-speech technology, > dubbed “Talk@TV”, is being built into set top boxes from Korean > company, Arion Technology, which will be branded and distributed by > major retailers in the UK from August. > > The new set top boxes are like regular Freeview or satellite boxes, > but will be able to talk to their blind or partially-sighted owners – > advising, via speech technology, the TV programming schedule, for > example what’s on and when. Owners will be able to adjust the speed > and verbosity of the voice to suit their needs, choose to enlarge or > reduce font sizes and change background and text colours. A > re-designed and easy to use remote control will also be included. > > The technology has been developed in partnership with digital TV chip > giant, STMicroelectronics, whose processors lie at the heart of most > TVs and set top boxes. Phase two of the development will introduce > voice activation technology to allow owners to talk back to their TV > sets – “channel up”, “channel down”, “volume up”. > > “The digital switchover has multiplied the number of channels to 40 > plus, for UK consumers, making navigation very difficult for the > visually impaired,” said Ken Helps, CEO of Ocean Blue Software. “This > technology is a step forward to making digital TV accessible to all > sectors of the community”. > > Ocean Blue’s Talk@TV will be available in different languages and > dialects; the UK version supports both the Scottish Gaelic and Welsh > language for example. The technology behind Talk@TV is a derivative of > the pioneering work and development between the Royal National > Institute for the Blind (RNIB) and Ocean Blue over the last three > years. The development won an IABM Award for Excellence in Design and > Innovation, was nominated for a Royal Television Society award and > shortlisted for an IMS TV Innovation award in the USA. > > The Arion Talking set top box will be available in a number of UK retailers. > > (Source: Ocean Blue Software/Arion Technology) > > > > On 29 June 2010 09:19, Long, Alison <Alison.Long@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: >> Hi, >> All I can say is check the RNIB website on Thursday! >> Regards >> Alison >> >> >> Alison Long >> Products & Publications >> Royal National Institute of Blind People >> Bakewell Road >> Orton Southgate >> Peterborough >> PE2 6XU >> England >> >> Tel: +44 1733 375178 >> Fax: +44 1733 375383 >> -----Original Message----- >> From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf >> Of dudleym@xxxxxxxxxxxx >> Sent: 29 June 2010 09:07 >> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >> Subject: [access-uk] Accessible Set-top Boxes >> >> Hi Folks >> >> There was talk some time ago that there was going to be an >> accessible solution to set-top tuners/recorders by adding speech to >> the on screen menu'sfor such as EPG etc. I'm sure the RNIB member of >> staff who used to send out e-mail bulitins of AD films etc. who's job >> was sadly axed and she no longer works for them informed me that >> something was to be launched in February/March of this year but as >> yet I've heard nothing about it. >> >> Also I remember reading an article from someone called Brian Hartgen >> regarding something along these lines, or maybe he was talking about >> accessible TV's, but I'm sure the technology would be the same. >> >> So does anyone have any info on this subject please? >> >> Thanks >> Martin >> >> ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- >> ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] >> ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: >> ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >> ** and in the Subject line type >> ** unsubscribe >> ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the >> ** immediately-following link:- >> ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] >> ** or send a message, to >> ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq >> >> >> >> To report this e-mail as Spam, please forward it to: >> spam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >> >> >> -- >> DISCLAIMER: >> >> NOTICE: The information contained in this email and any attachments is >> confidential and may be privileged. 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