[access-uk] Freesat users was RNIB response to where does that leave Panasonic?
- From: "david pritchard" <wd.pritchard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 16 May 2012 17:52:34 +0100
David
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Long, Alison" <Alison.Long@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2012 2:22 PM
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [access-uk] RNIB response to where does that leave Panasonic?
Following the various posts on this topic, I thought it might be helpful
to have a position statement/update on RNIB activity from Steve Tyler,
who leads on our developments in this area. See below. Alison
Hi,
I am writing to correct some assumptions that are being made and to
give you a flavour of our strategy at RNIB.
Firstly, Panasonic are a trail blazer; and so are Tvonics. Indeed,
Tvonics have been supported by RNIB financially and with other expertise
to deliver what they have; Panasonic certainly utilised expertise, but
there was no specific funding.
Our strategy (which is still in play and we are limited by what we can
say) is broadly as follows:
RNIB invested 1.7 million pounds in the delivery of a technical library.
This we did after establishing that the industry believed what we were
asking for was completely impossible, technically not viable, and we had
exhausted discussions with Europe and government with regard to funding.
(I was told by technical experts at the European digital TV level that
it was impossible to conceive of talking TV for at least 15 years).
By investigating how the industry worked, and what the most effective
levers were to pull, we adopted the following approach:
* build a technical solution from which manufacturers could select code
or chipsets and/or user interface tips;
* make that available in such a way to avoid or minimise costs;
* don't settle at doing that but deliver a working product on the market
that proved the point (the Harvard Goodmans SmartTalk - the first box of
its kind in the world).
We supported Tvonics in delivering a fully functional PVR box, and
stimulated TV industry to deliver mainstream accessible solutions
(Panasonic being the first of that category and we fully expect more).
at the same time we have:
* worked with Sky to deliver a prototype solution that is now branded as
theirs (we want them to improve on that);
* we are working to increase access to Virgin;
* we are focussed on educating mainstream retail sector;
* we are continuing to work in areas like audio description etc.
I hope that gives you a flavour of the level of investment and energy we
are putting in to accessible TV. We are now the envy of the blindness
world (the UK is the best place to watch TV if you are VI).
More to come; but all of these issues and products are linked in to an
on-going story still to play out....
Steve Tyler
Head of Innovation and Development
RNIB
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- » [access-uk] Freesat users was RNIB response to where does that leave Panasonic? - david pritchard
