[access-uk] Re: Where does this leave the Panasonic TV?
- From: Tristram Llewellyn <tristram.llewellyn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "'access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx'" <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 16 May 2012 11:02:01 +0000
I have yet to see either of these devices in action and am not on the inside
track with this.
However it is reasonable to read into it the following: in the case of
Panasonic TVs RNIB was consulted for "design advice" and came up with a "Voice
Guidance" feature which I read as something short of a full on accessibility
solution for the blind. The RNIB press release on the other hand for the
TVonics box suggests that RNIB were rather more involved in the process and
possibly at a much earlier stage too. It is clear to me at least that extra
memory and capacity was already deliberately set aside in the unit to
accommodate this future. This sort of retrofitting extra capabilities in
software that nobody had any idea about has happened with other products.
The TV market is notoriously price sensitive and although the set top DVR may
well be as well it is probably a bit easier to get more power into those and
still sell at a reasonable price.
Regards.
Tristram Llewellyn
Technical Support
Sight and Sound Technology
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Darren Brewer
Sent: 16 May 2012 11:06
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Where does this leave the Panasonic TV?
Hi List
All this discussion about the new talking PVR got me thinking. One thing I've
noticed that noone has mentioned is that the new TVs that Panasonic recently
launched are probably already obsolete, as far as the blind community are
concerned. Their accessibility compared to the tvonics box is very poor. With
the new tvonics recorder you can take a standard TV and make it completely
accessible. Ok, the Goodmans did a simlar job, but as many would argue it was
quite poor compared to this one.
What still amazes me and this is coming from a former electronics design
engineer is that with just a simple upgrade to the firmware the box becomes
completely accessible. Over time more features and enhancements will be added
and they will be free. Something else the goodmans lacked.
RNIB, Goodmans and Panasonic must have invested a fair amount of time and money
in developing the accessibility of their recent products, which required more
of a hardware rather than a software solution which is always far more
expensive and restricting. Now tvonics come along and hey presto with a simple
upgrade we have complete accessibility. Ok, not quite, iplayer and digital
text, but given time they will be.
I still think it was brave of Panasonic to try and be a trail blazer.
Unfortunately they didn't do enough and left a lot of people wondering why so
much of the TV was still inaccessible. Maybe they will take notice of tvonics,
which in truth is a far less well known and less established electronics
manufacturer. When I've mentioned Tvonics to people, so far all have said they
have never heard of them. Maybe now they will become more well known.
Just my thoughts.
Darren.
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