[access-uk] Re: Panasonic Viera smart TV with Voice guidance

  • From: "Barry Hill" <barry.hill3@xxxxxxx>
  • To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2012 19:36:17 -0000

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The station names may be out of date, but I can live with that.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

 

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