[access-uk] Re: FW: A letter I wrote to sky.
- From: "Jackie Cairns" <jackie.cairns@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:39:50 -0000
Well, if mine goes on the blink, I'll go for a Plus. Till then it works and I
haven't got time to worry about it to be honest. I get Audio Description from
it, and I don't record programmes, so it suits my needs right now.
Jackie Cairns
Braille Support Adviser
Email: jackie.cairns@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sight and Sound Technology
Welton House North Wing
Summerhouse Road
Moulton Park
Northampton
NN3 6WD
Tel: 01604 798024
Web: www.sightandsound.co.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Spring.flower
Sent: 17 November 2008 20:20
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: FW: A letter I wrote to sky.
We had no choice about replacing the digibox with the sky plus set up as the
digibox died.
Trace
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jackie Cairns" <jackie.cairns@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2008 5:18 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: FW: A letter I wrote to sky.
> Hi Martin
>
> Firstly, it's why I won't buy a Sky Plus box to replace my eight-year-old
> original Digibox, because I can't access the facilities the Plus offers.
>
> Secondly, bring back Kay Allen. She was excellent, even if she couldn't
> implement everything we'd like to see happen.
>
> Jackie Cairns
> Braille Support Adviser
> Email: jackie.cairns@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sight and Sound Technology
> Welton House North Wing
> Summerhouse Road
> Moulton Park
> Northampton
> NN3 6WD
> Tel: 01604 798024
> Web: www.sightandsound.co.uk
> -----Original Message-----
> From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
> Of martin wilsher
> Sent: 16 November 2008 16:04
> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [access-uk] FW: A letter I wrote to sky.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: martin wilsher [mailto:m.wilsher@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: 16 November 2008 12:45
> To: 'access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx'
> Subject: A letter I wrote to sky.
>
> HI all. Having just got sky plus installed, I have had no end of issues
> with the remote record service, so this, along with other issues I found,
> prompted me to write the following letter to sky which I enclose for your
> discussion.
>
> "Dear Sir/Madam:
>
> My Name is Martin Wilsher. Having recently upgraded to sky plus in an
> attempt to enhance my sky experience, I am generally impressed with the
> operation of the sky plus system. Though, as one of your disabled
> customers, I am totally blind, meaning I cannot see the sky EPG to operate
> the system properly, I need to find alternative methods of programming the
> box to my liking. Now, to this end I use accessible sky TV listings, and
> would use remote record, but this is broken, so I cannot use the service,
> even though I am subscribed to use it. the only way I can control the box
> is to send texts at twenty five pence per time from my mobile phone, this
> is
> excluding network charges, so in the two days I've been using this system
> I
> have unbilled usage of £10 excluding VAT on my mobile bill due to
> controlling the sky box. I have spoken to accessible customer services
> regarding this matter, and that of the remote record, so I will not
> continue
> the discussion of my current problems here. My main concern is the lack
> of
> accessibility for totally blind people when using sky plus. There are no
> indications when moving up and down the menus for example, so pressing up,
> down, select, or left or right arrows does not cause a beep or any audible
> tone for the blind user. This means blind users cannot adequately use the
> menus. I feel that key clicks to tell a user when they have pressed an
> arrow key, or the select key would be a small enhancement to the sky plus
> menu system which, in the interim between today, and the day when we
> finally
> get a talking EPG, which I believe is in the pipeline, would be of great
> help to blind customers, as would accessibility services set to on by
> default. At present, a blind customer has to get assistance with setting
> up
> audio description and the beep to tell when AD is available on a channel.
> I
> believe this is a sorry state of affairs. Accessibility should be a right
> straight out of the box, not a privilege, as it is at the moment. If a
> blind user cannot get sighted assistance, and is not competent with use of
> the remote control while someone on the end of a phone line talks them
> through key presses where little feedback from the box, Is given, the
> blind
> user is stuck with a box they cannot use, as there is no talking EPG at
> the
> present time. While sky provides AD for its blind customers, I believe
> with
> the revenue streams sky gets from loyal customers, that access for blind
> users should be, and could be much improved. At the moment I am finding
> my
> use of sky plus a very expensive experience, but I hope this, with the
> rectifying of the remote record problem, should come down to the normal
> costs experienced by sighted users of the sky plus system. I must say
> that
> I am very technically minded, and will work through technical issues, but
> with an aging population, and possible growing numbers of people with
> moderate to total sight loss, coupled with the imminent switch to digital
> television for all, sky need to urgently address all access issues to a
> greater degree than they already are. I like my sky plus box, but am not
> totally uncritical as my letter to you shows. I am young, technically
> minded, and have a fair knowledge of computers and of the menu systems sky
> employ, if explained to me. Some older people might not have this
> advantage. So this letter is a plea for accessibility for elder folk as
> well as me as a blind sky user. I feel key clicks could be implemented
> quickly and should be accelerated to the top of your to do list. I
> understand the talking EPG is in development, but Key clicks could be
> implemented quickly and put into a software upgrade to the current sky
> plus
> boxes. I currently use the box by remembering the key presses I make on
> various keys, but am not totally sure if the box has accepted all presses,
> so it's still pot luck. I believe the implementation of key clicks is as
> important as the highlighter bar on the menus. If sighted users of sky
> plus
> suddenly found the highlighter gone from their menus, they would not be
> able
> to find their way around the sky planner and other services. This is how
> it
> is for blind users. Yes we have the sky music which plays when in menus,
> but that is all. There are no other cues as to where we are in the menus.
> I believe, in the days of the disability discrimination act, and the so
> called right of disabled people to be treated equally when accessing
> services, blind people deserve a better deal from sky, as sky continue to
> innervate. Please, please do not leave blind people out of the digital
> revolution. I believe blind people are given very little consideration
> when
> new services are implemented, and feel this is morally as well as legally
> wrong. I also wish to express my disappointment in the sign up process
> for
> my sky. This implements a visual graphical test for registrants which
> entail the completion of a form by entering text into the box. This is
> not
> accessible to screen reading software. An alternative audio system should
> be provided for blind and visually impaired customers so they can sign up
> independently. Registration for remote record via sky plus box is not
> accessible either, which I feel could be improved by the use of the
> website
> to tell the box what to do. Access to sky services needs to be
> drastically
> improved for blind users. Thank you for reading."
>
> Hope this provokes discussion.
>
> Hope to hear from you soon.
>
> From Martin.
>
> Please email me at:
>
> m.wilsher@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> Thanks
>
>
> Please visit my website:
>
> www.martin-wilsher.com
>
>
>
>
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