[bcab] Re: Accessibility issues

That's cool Chris,

I wouldn't have trust some customer services bod who'll probably file it in 
some feedback section, never to be seen again.

Dj Paddy
Ôà
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Friend" <king.henry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bcab@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2007 9:06 PM
Subject: [bcab] Re: Accessibility issues


Thanks DJ,

I have personal access to BA's Commercial Director Robert Boyle, but =
wanted
some technical details like your template suggestion before approaching =
his
office.

Any more ideas out there folks?

Chris.
=20

-----Original Message-----
From: bcab-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bcab-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On =
Behalf
Of Dj Paddy
Sent: 21 April 2007 20:55
To: bcab@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bcab] Re: Accessibility issues


Chris.

I've no idea on the sony front.

on the touch-screen.  You could contact BA and see if yo could get to =
speak=20
to somebody who deals withdisabled polocys or some such.

And ask them about the idea of an adhesive overlay that could be made u =
and=20
placed on  the screen.

Templates could be made up and given to blind-passengers on request.

The only problem i see with this idea though is if the objects on-screen =

move positions.  But if say the channels up and down where runnign from =
top=20
left down then it would be handy enough.

Anyone else?

Dj paddy

=D4=E0=06
----- Original Message -----=20
From: "Chris Friend" <king.henry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bcab@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2007 7:26 PM
Subject: [bcab] Accessibility issues


Hi listers,

With reference to this week's EBU circulation of the news of Sony's =3D =
Bravia
range including Audio Description from March 2007 (see below), does =3D =
anyone
know if these TV sets also provide access to the programme menus for =3D
choice of what we want to see?

Also on a second point, flying back from Dar es Salaam this week I
experienced British Airways latest in entertainment - a touch screen =3D =
(only
access)  choice of 250 films and TV shows all starting when you activate
them.  But no access through the old hand set where we could at least =
=3D
scroll through and change channels.  I could not change from one to =
another
and =3D had to ask the cabin crew every time  my film or 30 minute TV =
show
ended  =3D which was quite often on a ten hour flight!  And also I had =
no
access even to =3D the audio channels.

Does anyone know of any accessibility on touch screen systems?  I am =3D =
quite
happy to contact BA  with my experience if someone will give \me the
technical details.

Regards,

Chris.

Sony IDTVs with audio description=3D20

Since launching its first Trinitron Colour Television in 1968, Sony has
grown to become one of the world's leading audio-visual electronics and
information technology companies.  With the opportunities presented by
digital broadcast channels today, Sony believes that the ability to =3D =
enjoy
a great televisual experience should not be the preserve of those that =
can
see, but should also be accessible to blind and partially sighted =3D
people.=3D20

Audio Description Built-In=3D20

While the majority of us have embraced and benefited from the increase =
=3D in
services, channels and programmes today's digital broadcasters provide, =
=3D
many of the visually impaired are unable to take advantage of these =
benefits
=3D
-
and yet the technology exists for them to enjoy TV programming as much =
=3D as
the rest of us.

Audio Description (AD) is an additional narrative soundtrack for blind =
=3D or
partially sighted people.  During gaps in programme dialogue, an =3D
additional voice explains visual plot points, enabling visually impaired
people to follow the storyline more fully.

Audio description is available on a variety of television programmes
throughout Europe including in the UK.  But, until now, has only been
accessible in the UK through the purchase of a separate set-top box or
satellite receiver.  From March 2007 all Sony BRAVIA televisions will
include Integrated Digital Television (IDTV) as standard, and provide =
=3D
access to AD without the need for an additional decoder.

Most television manufacturers now have products that offer IDTV, a =3D
built-in digital tuner that does away with need for a separate set-top =
box
for converting digital channels.  However, few - if any - have the =
ability =3D
to offer AD access.  Sony engineers and designers constantly assess and =
=3D
refine every aspect of BRAVIA TVs to ensure that they are as good as =
they
can possibly be. One result of this scrutiny is a new, more powerful =3D
audiovisual processor, capable of decoding multiple audio channels and
thereby =3D providing access to AD in addition to other aesthetic =
benefits.
=3D20


Sony Spreads the Word

Although BRAVIA televisions will now provide Audio Description access as
standard, there are still a number of challenges facing AD before the 30
million* blind or visually impaired 'viewers' in Europe can claim to =3D =
enjoy
the same kind of service that subtitles provide for the hard of hearing:

1. lack of legislation requiring the provision of AD
2. low awareness of AD

Audio Description Legislation:=3D20
To date, the UK is the only country in Europe which makes the provision =
=3D of
Audio Description a legal requirement for key broadcasters.  In 2005, =
=3D the
broadcasting watchdog Ofcom stipulated that 76 channels must carry AD.
Current regulations state that all BBC channels, for example, must audio
describe at least 8% of their programmes per week. =3D20

While broadcasters in other countries, such as France and Germany, do =
=3D
offer some level of AD supported programming, most campaigners agree =
that in
=3D order for it to become truly valuable for blind and partially =
sighted
people, European broadcasters need to be legally obliged to offer it as =
a =3D
service.

Low AD Awareness: =3D20
With the limited availability of programmes offering AD throughout =3D =
Europe,
it is hardly surprising that awareness and take up of the service is =3D =
low.
In 2006 a UK survey** found that, although only 22% of visually impaired
respondents who had heard of AD claimed to use it on 'some programmes' =
=3D
when it is available, nearly two thirds (63%) of those with at least
moderate visual impairment who had not previously heard of it claimed =
they
would =3D be interested in using it. =3D20

One argument put forward by both broadcaster and legislators, is that =
=3D
there is a limited need for channels to feature AD due to a lack of =
products
=3D that
are available with the technology required to play it.   Sony BRAVIA now
changes this, and Sony is now also undertaking a Europe-wide PR campaign =
=3D
to raise awareness of the issues amongst consumers, media, legislators =
and
manufacturers, working with organizations for the visually impaired
throughout Europe, such as Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB).

Stephen King, RNIB Group Director, Access and Innovation comments:  "I =
=3D am
delighted that all of the new Sony BRAVIA televisions will give people =
=3D
with a serious sight problem access to Audio Description via Freeview in =
the
=3D UK. Audio Description is a fantastic service that many blind and =
partially
sighted people value. RNIB welcomes the commitment from Sony to this =3D
service and congratulates them on their work in this area."


Fujio Nishida, President of Sony Europe comments:  "For nearly 40 years =
=3D
Sony has been one of the world's leading television manufacturers.  With =
the
recent advances in digital technology, television is now something that =
=3D
can, and should, be enjoyed by everyone, including the visually impaired =
and
=3D hard of hearing.  As a market leader, Sony is leading by example by =
making
=3D Audio Description accessible as standard in our entire BRAVIA range. =
 We
hope =3D that other manufacturers follow our example, thereby leaving no
excuse for broadcasters not to offer this service." Quick Facts about =
SOny

Company Headquarters:
Potsdamer Platz, Berlin

Major Operating Locations:
UK, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Netherlands

Web Site:
www.sony-europe.com


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