Yes, I agree. At best, it should be advertised as partially accessible. As it is, it’s better than having a separate talking Digibox, but that’s about it really. Cheers Barry From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Iain Lackie Sent: 18 March 2012 7:29 PM To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: Panasonic Viera smart TV with Voice guidance For a long time now, I have been saying that one of the points which impresses me still about the Sonus DAB radio is that it allows access to the menu system. The station names may be out of date, but I can live with that. Any television which doesn’t allow access by voice to the menu system cannot in my view truly be described as accessible, especially if you have to gain access to the menu system to switch the voice on. Iain From: Barry Hill <mailto:barry.hill3@xxxxxxx> Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2012 7:20 PM To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: Panasonic Viera smart TV with Voice guidance Now, did the RNIB say we want this that and the other, for Panasonic to simply do what they wanted and use the endoursement of the RNIB as a publicity stunt, or did the RNIB fall short of their obligation to VI users? Cheers Barry From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of william lomas Sent: 18 March 2012 5:53 PM To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: Panasonic Viera smart TV with Voice guidance and yet they are supposed to have consulted with RNIB during this development cycle? On 18 Mar 2012, at 17:13, Gary Robinson wrote: Hi all, yesterday I had a chance to have a lookat the new Panasonic Viera smart TV range which includes voice guidance and audio description as mentioned on this list and on Insight radio last month. On the plus side, you can choose male/female voice, set voice rate and volume. The voice is good, it sounded better than my Goodmans Smart talk box and more responsive. IT speaks the channel, programme you are on and works within the programme guide, but sadly doesn't work within the various settings menus. Ironically therefore like audio description on DVDs you probably won't be able to turn on the voice guidance without sighted help. Sadly therefore and very frustratingly given the sheer amount of functionality and connectivity these TVs have (Internet, wifi,DLNA,USB,SD etc) most of the functionality will be wasted so far as a visually impaired user is concerned. There is a Viera remote control App for Apple devices, but i don't think this will help in providing access to the multiplicity of set up menus which controlmost of this very flexible TV's features. The full price of the 32" model is around £499 though it will probably be available cheaper if you look around. whilst Panasonic are probably to be commended on including voice guidance as standard across the range, it is nontheless very frustrating to be in effect short changed by the limitations of what they have provided. I am going to try to speak to someone in panasonic technical department and see if there is any way of getting the set up screen information output to an external device which might give a way of getting more access to these otherwise very impressive TVs. Gary