[dbaust] Talking Set-Top Box Rollout

From: Erika Webb <erikaweb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Erika Webb <erikaweb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 18 May 2012 18:56:46 -0700 (PDT)
Talking Set-Top Box Rollout
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen 
Conroy, today announced the rollout of talking set-top box technology 
http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases/2012/073 
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Talking Set-Top Box 
Rollouthttp://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases/2012/073
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen 
Conroy, today announced the rollout of talking set-top box technology as part 
of the Government’s Digital Switchover Household Assistance Scheme (HAS).
“The Australian Government is committed to ensuring that no-one is left behind 
in the switch to digital-only television,” Senator Conroy said.
“As part of this commitment, I am pleased to announce that talking set-top 
boxes are now to be integrated into our Household Assistance Scheme and rolled 
out with the Digital Switchover program in the future.”
Talking set-top boxes are designed to assist blind or vision impaired people to 
navigate electronic program guides, onscreen menus, and the settings of their 
television. Text-to-speech technology is used to describe programs; menu items 
and menu layouts; and the box includes the ability to change the style of 
speech, and to provide talking instructions for the remote control.
The talking set-top box will be provided to eligible HAS recipients from the 
time the Scheme opens in northern NSW in June 2012.
“After a successful trial in Victoria, talking set-top boxes will be made 
available to eligible recipients who receive a maximum rate pension because 
they are legally blind, or because they care for a child who is legally blind,” 
Senator Conroy said.
Legally blind recipients will not have to do anything extra to receive the 
talking set-top box—once they opt-in to the Household Assistance Scheme, they 
will be identified as being eligible and the talking set-top-box will be 
installed free-of-charge.
“This initiative means that eligible blind people will be able to reap the 
benefits of this new technology, which has only recently been made available in 
Australia through the Gillard Government’s investment,” Senator Conroy 
explained.
More than 90,000 eligible households have already been helped to switch to 
digital TV through the Household Assistance Scheme, including households where 
people are legally blind.
While these households have already been converted to digital television 
through the Scheme, the Government is currently in discussions with disability 
support groups to facilitate distribution and installation of the new talking 
set top boxes retrospectively in each of the four previous switchover areas.
To find out all about the Household Assistance Scheme and Digital Switchover in 
your area visit www.digitalready.gov.au or call 1800 20 10 13.
Date: 18 May 2012Media Contact: Adam Sims 0408 258 
457http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases/2012/073
[dbaust] Talking Set-Top Box Rollout

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