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Consumer Equipment Accessibility

Accessibility of set top boxes, remote controls, etc.

Introduction to consumer equipment accessibility

Last Updated (Friday, 01 May 2009 10:53)

Digital television comes in three main forms – cable, satellite and digital terrestrial. The choice of system determines how the signal is delivered to the house – through an underground cable, a satellite dish or a traditional TV aerial. Once the signal is in the house, they all work pretty much the same way. The consumer needs three additional pieces of equipment – a digital receiver, a remote control and a television.

Talking set top boxes released in UK and Spain

Wednesday, 07 July 2010 09:29

The first commercially available Freeview DTT set top box with spoken output of menus and EPG information has gone on sale in the UK. Currently available only through the RNIB shop for £85, the Goodmans Smart Talk box features a fully talking Electronic Programme Guide (EPG), spoken output of all menu settings and one-click access to audio description through a specially developed remote control.

RTÉ call for students to help make RTÉ Player accessible

Tuesday, 06 July 2010 13:31

As reported last year by TV Access, the RTÉ Player was inaccessible to blind viewers using screen readers. Since then, RTÉ have been making efforts to rectify the situation, although these have only been partially successful and access to the Player remains a cause for concern among blind TV viewers. To boost their continuing efforts, RTÉ have teamed up with the NCBI Centre for Inclusive Technology (CFIT) to support a student project in making the Player accessible. Interested students or their supervisors are urged to apply.

TV online falls short on accessibility

Thursday, 03 December 2009 14:29

In recent judging for the eircom Golden Spider web awards, entries from RTÉ and TV3 failed to meet the shortlist due to their lack of accessibility. In the standards and accessibility assessment carried out by NCBI CFIT, the TV3 website was seen to be missing important structural markup, the RTÉ Player was found to be incompatible with assistive technologies (as previously reported here) and the navigation menus on RTÉ's Young Peoples website did not appear in response to keyboard activation, therefore excluding kids and teens with motor and visual impairments.

RTÉ’s new catch-up TV player not accessible to blind viewers

Friday, 01 May 2009 12:00

Following on from the success of the BBC iPlayer, RTÉ has introduced its own version – the RTE Player, allowing broadband users to catch up on programmes they missed, up to 21 days later. However, visually impaired viewers have found that the new player is not accessible to them.

European standardisation plan prioritises accessible digital TV

Monday, 23 February 2009 11:18

The European Commission’s Enterprise and Industry Directorate-General has published its draft 2009 work programme for ICT standardisation. One of the areas prioritised for standardisation is accessibility of digital television.

UK updates requirements for accessible DTT equipment

Friday, 05 December 2008 13:29

The UK has revised its Core Receiver Requirements for the Digital Switchover Help Scheme. These are used to evaluate bids from companies wishing to provide equipment to older or disabled people who are eligible to receive free or subsidised equipment under the scheme. The revised requirements include many usability and accessibility features but fall short of guaranteeing full accessibility.

Eircom, Magnet and RTÉ to introduce Internet-based TV

Friday, 14 November 2008 12:07

In addition to cable, satellite and the soon to be launched digital terrestrial television, a new technology is set to take a slice of the market – IPTV, which means TV over the internet. Companies like eircom and Magnet which have not previously operated in television are now planning to provide IPTV services alongside the traditional providers such as RTÉ. To make these new choices available to older people and people with disabilities it will be essential to ensure that the delivery channels and consumer equipment are fully accessible.

Minister and manufacturers adopt targets for equipment accessibility

Friday, 03 October 2008 16:10

Both the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the European digital technology industry have made clear statements setting out 2009 targets for accessibility of digital television equipment.

Making sure television is accessible to older people and people with disabilities

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