[access-uk] Re: info re sky
- From: "Francis Holman" <franholman755@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 19:12:57 -0000
I cant wait either. I have the portset freeview set-top box, but it is
unstable, and anyway freeview dont have such a comprehensive number of
channels. So here's hoping.
Best
Fran.
----- Original Message -----
From: Damon Rose
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, January 07, 2010 6:42 PM
Subject: [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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