[access-uk] Re: info re sky

Can't wait for this. It's a big jump forward, or feels like it. 
 
I'm aware of a project to make Freeview, or certain freeview boxes,
accessible too. The BBC are working on it and I have a feeling it is
something to do with the much talked about project canvas. I don't think
it's related to the digital switchover campaign and not sure how hush
hush it is. My team have had a prototype demoed to them by the tech
research people from BBC Kingswood Warren. 
 
Sky are about to announce their video on demand via broadband service on
their set top boxes fairly soon too. Obviously it'd be highly desirable
for their Sky Talker to be able to receive firmware updates over the net
or over the satellite network that would give the Sky Talker the ability
to let visually impaired users find films and programmes to watch on
demand. It remains to be seen whether the sky video on demand service
will include programmes which have audio description. The Sky Anytime
service, which is the current video on demand service via the internet
only, does not provide AD as far as I'm aware. I assume the set-top box
VOD service will be using the Sky Anytime infrastructure and that it
won't be available. 
 
BBC's iPlayer is the only video on demand service in the world, we
think, which has developed technology to automix an AD sountrack with a
TV programme's soundtrack so that it's deliverable on the web with a
fast turnover. Speed and process is important to make this a viable
thing for a broadcaster to achieve, especially as there is no legal
reason why broadcasters need to provide video on demand in an accessible
form as far as I'm aware. Let's hope the BBC shares its technology to
those who want it. 
 
Note that AD cannot be delivered over the web using a simultaneous
second channel like on digital television platforms, seemingly. Not yet
anyway. So that's why the AD sountrack needs to be mixed in to the TV
soundtrack to make one audio track which fades the TV soundtrack up and
down as we are used to on broadcast AD. Or something like that. 
 
...Damon

________________________________

From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of martin wilsher
Sent: 07 January 2010 18:24
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: info re sky


about time too.
 
just in time for them to ring the wrinckles out for the digi switch off
in 2012 when serious issues under DDA would be a consideration for them.
great to hear they are doing this, but better late than never.
 
 

________________________________

From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Francis Holman
Sent: 07 January 2010 16:28
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] info re sky


Hi
Thought some of you may be interested in this info that I received from
offcom.
 

Dear Francis

 

Thank you for your email. We contacted Sky and it passed on the
following information to us:

 

"We are in the final stages of development of a product currently called
the Sky Talker.  We hope to be able to launch this product in April
2010.  It has been developed in conjunction with the RNIB and translates
some of the text on screen to audio which is obviously of great
assistance to visually impaired customers.  We would hope to be able to
issue a press release raising awareness of the imminent launch later
this month and as said earlier have the actual product in market in
April 2010.  We will also be briefing our internal customer service
teams on this so that they are able to directly respond to customer
queries such as this.  This product would help with Sky+ navigation.  It
is very much the start of our development in this area. We hope to be
able to share detailed product information shortly"

 

We hope this information is of use.

 

Kind regards

 

 

:: Perry Hurcombe
   Central Operations, Broadcast Team Leader




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