[access-uk] Re: Where does this leave the Panasonic TV?
- From: "Jackie Cairns" <jackie.cairnsplace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 17 May 2012 09:42:11 +0100
Hi Darren
Well we only replaced our TV last year, so will definitely NOT be investing
any more money in a television that speaks only half its menus. As far as
we are concerned, we wanted a recordable, talking Freeview box with good
speech and sensible features. It's arrived in the shape of the TVonics, and
that will do us. I would just love to see proper speech facilities, not
half-baked attempts, put into all domestic appliances. I don't want the
speech to be patronising and hold my hand as I cook or sort the washing, I'd
just like sensible feedback as to what I'm doing with the various programmes
and menus. We don't need: "door open, door closed", we just need sensible
information in say a washing-machine, cooker, TV, DAB radio etc. It will
come, but maybe after some of us are no longer around? (smiles).
And I guess you are right in what you pointed out about the speech as one
skips through the AV menu in your previous message.
Kind Regards,
Jackie Cairns
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Darren Brewer
Sent: 16 May 2012 11:06
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Where does this leave the Panasonic TV?
Hi List
All this discussion about the new talking PVR got me thinking. One thing
I've noticed that noone has mentioned is that the new TVs that Panasonic
recently launched are probably already obsolete, as far as the blind
community are concerned. Their accessibility compared to the tvonics box is
very poor. With the new tvonics recorder you can take a standard TV and make
it completely accessible. Ok, the Goodmans did a simlar job, but as many
would argue it was quite poor compared to this one.
What still amazes me and this is coming from a former electronics design
engineer is that with just a simple upgrade to the firmware the box becomes
completely accessible. Over time more features and enhancements will be
added and they will be free. Something else the goodmans lacked.
RNIB, Goodmans and Panasonic must have invested a fair amount of time and
money in developing the accessibility of their recent products, which
required more of a hardware rather than a software solution which is always
far more expensive and restricting. Now tvonics come along and hey presto
with a simple upgrade we have complete accessibility. Ok, not quite, iplayer
and digital text, but given time they will be.
I still think it was brave of Panasonic to try and be a trail blazer.
Unfortunately they didn't do enough and left a lot of people wondering why
so much of the TV was still inaccessible. Maybe they will take notice of
tvonics, which in truth is a far less well known and less established
electronics manufacturer. When I've mentioned Tvonics to people, so far all
have said they have never heard of them. Maybe now they will become more
well known.
Just my thoughts.
Darren.
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