World Blind Union Office
1929 Bayview Avenue
Toronto, ON M4G 3E
Telephone: 1-416-486-9698
Fax: 1-416-486-8107
E-mail: info@wbuoffice.org
WBU User Requirements for Television
Receiving Equipment
2011
[Volume 1]
World Blind Union
Acknowledgements
This WBU User Requirements for Television Receiving Equipment
document has been written and developed by:
Larry Goldberg- National Center for Accessible Media, WGBH
Mark Magennis - National Council for the Blind of Ireland
Raheel Mallick - Royal National Institute of Blind People
Dipendra Manocha - Saksham Trust
Chris Mikul - Media Access Australia
Richard Orme - Royal National Institute of Blind People [Chair]
Sonali Rai - Royal National Institute of Blind People
Paul Schroeder - American Foundation for the Blind
Mike Townsend - European Blind Union
Sincere thanks to Heather Cryer (RNIB) and Joan Greening
(RNIB) for reviewing, proof-reading and commenting on the
content of this draft.
If you want to contact WBU’s office staff, please use the following
email address: info@wbuoffice.org
For further information about this document please contact:
Sonali Rai
Media and Culture Development Officer
Royal National Institute of Blind People
105 Judd Street
London
WC1H 9NE
Phone: 020 7391 3270
Email: sonali.rai@rnib.org.uk
2
Table of Contents
FOREWORD
5
INTRODUCTION
6
1. SCOPE
6
Platforms
6
Equipment
7
Functionality
8
Programme content
8
1.1 Different requirements for different visual needs
9
1.2 Sections in the document
9
2. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
11
3. BACKGROUND - ACCESSIBLE TELEVISION
14
3.1 Moving to digital television - challenges and opportunities
14
3. 2 Audio description
15
3.2.1 Delivery of audio description on television
16
3.2.1.1 Analogue television - secondary audio programming
Track
16
Digital television - broadcast mix and receiver mix
16
3.2.1.2 Broadcast mix
17
3.2.1.3 Receiver mix
17
3.3 Spoken output for interfaces
3.3.1 Audible feedback- characteristics
17
18
3.4 On-screen displays
19
3.5 Remote controls
20
3.6 Internet television and IPTV
20
3.7 Consumer equipment standards
21
3
4. ACCESS TO TELEVISION - USER REQUIREMENTS
22
4.1 Current barriers - access to television
22
4.2 User requirements
4.2.1 System set-up
4.2.1.1 Packaging and getting started
4.2.1.2 Instruction manual including quick start guide and
main user guide
4.2.1.3 Identifying connectivity options
4.2.1.4 Equipment tuning
4.2.2 User interface and remote control
4.2.2.1 Navigation
4.2.2.2 Interactivity
4.2.2.3 Remote control- design and functionality
4.2.2.4 Audible feedback
4.2.2.5 Text-to-Speech [TTS]
4.2.4 Additional services
4.2.4.1 Parental lock
4.2.4.2 Audio Description
4.2.4.3 Recording and playback on DVR
4.2.4.4 Applications
4.2.4.5 Emergency information
4.2.4.6 Miscellaneous information
23
23
23
REFERENCES
33
APPENDIX 1: USER PROFILES
36
24
24
24
25
25
26
27
29
30
31
31
31
31
32
32
32
APPENDIX 2: CURRENT LEVEL OF DELIVERY OF AUDIO
DESCRIPTION IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND RELEVANT
LEGISLATIONS
41
APPENDIX 3: EXISTING CONSUMER EQUIPMENT
STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES
44
APPENDIX 4: RNIB CLEAR PRINT GUIDELINES
46
APPENDIX 5: STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES FOR REMOTE
CONTROLS
50
APPENDIX 6: CURRENT AUDIO DESCRIPTION STANDARDS
52
4
Foreword
"How can a blind person watch television?" is a question I am
often asked. This question illustrates the lack of knowledge and
appreciation surrounding the needs of blind and partially sighted
people.
Blind and partially sighted do watch television, in fact most of us
have some perception of light therefore can see shadows or
shapes, not to mention the audible experience. Television just like
radio becomes a central source of information as well as helping to
ensure the very important and personal sense of social inclusion.
It is often assumed that television is a visual medium and therefore
out of reach of people with no sight. But even for people who are
totally blind, television offers a rich experience and one that is
shared with family and friends.
It can be said with a degree of certainty that the past few years
have changed the way we watch television. That is apparent not
only in the medium's increasingly interactive nature, but also in the
numerous formats available or being introduced, such as highdefinition [HD] or 3D. Apart from being astounding, the advances
made in this audio-visual technology have brought it closer to our
lives, catering to our appetite for information, entertainment,
shopping, education and training. However, despite the progress,
access to television for people with visual disabilities is still a
cause for concern. If not solved in the near future, this problem
could potentially lead to unacceptable social exclusion of this
segment from an audio-visual medium that is likely to be the focal
point of all future household communication. "Design for all" or
"universal design" is the desirable starting point, and it translates
into manufacturing television equipment that can be used by all
citizens.
Maryanne Diamond
President
World Blind Union
5
Introduction
The World Blind Union (WBU) is a non-political, non-religious, nongovernmental and non-profit-making organisation, representing
over 160 million blind and partially sighted persons in 177 member
countries. It is an internationally recognised organisation that
brings together major establishments of blind and partially sighted
persons and those providing services and programmes to them
from around the world.
This document specifies WBU user requirements that would make
television receiving equipment accessible to blind and partially
sighted people. It was commissioned by the World Blind Union and
developed by its members.
The overall objective of this report is to establish a set of
internationally accepted user guidelines and requirements based
on the needs of blind and partially sighted people. It seeks to
advise and inform television manufacturers, content providers,
regulatory and standardisation bodies and other relevant
stakeholders of the needs of their blind and partially sighted
consumers without stifling creativity or innovation.
1. Scope
The following items contribute to the accessibility of television for
blind and partially sighted people:
Platforms
 Analogue and digital television platforms: Both technologies
deliver television, and because technology varies across the
world, this document covers both.
 Other television platforms - e.g. IPTV, video on demand
players or internet television: These emerging technologies
have the potential to introduce feature rich applications and
user interfaces which need to be accessible. The requirements
laid down in this document are applicable to these platforms.
6
Equipment
 Set top boxes, digital video recorders [DVR] and integrated
digital television [IDTV]: All receivers which decode the
broadcast signal and output it to a television display need to be
accessible. This is irrespective of whether they are integrated
into the television or external to it, in the form of a set top box.
 Remote controls: These must also be made accessible to
blind and partially sighted people. Some of the new remote
controls these days are purely touch screen sensitive and
thereby inaccessible to people with sight loss. In such cases
supplementary access tools as provided by Apple Inc. for their
touch products must be made available upon request.
 Games consoles and personal computers with television
tuners: The inclusion of television tuners within personal
computers or game consoles makes it possible for these
devices to receive and display television signals. The user
interface requirements in this document are also, in principle,
applicable to these other devices.
 Mainstream consumer equipment: The equipment that is
available in the mainstream market must be accessible, in order
to ensure choice for blind and partially sighted consumers and
to avoid the extra cost of buying specialist products.
 Packaging and initial set-up: The needs of blind and partially
sighted people are often overlooked when designing packaging.
It is essential for the independence of a blind or partially sighted
person that they are able to buy and set up their equipment
themselves, without relying on assistance from a sighted
person.
 Instructions manual and documentation: As far as possible,
instructional materials, whether in print or online, should be
designed to be accessible to blind and partially sighted people.
This will minimise the need to provide alternative formats such
as large print, Braille and audio. This document covers both
maximising the accessibility of standard materials and creating
alternative versions when required.
7
Functionality
 On-screen displays: To enable people with sight loss to watch
television independently, menus, instructions, programme
information, alerts, programme guides and other on-screen
information must be delivered in an accessible format such as
spoken output or adjustable size text.
 Audible feedback: Audible feedback or text-to-speech could in
itself transform the television viewing experience for people with
sight loss and is therefore essential for accessible television
platforms.
Programme content
 Audio description: Television content suppliers need to
ensure that audio description is available on their programmes.
Platform operators need to ensure that audio description is
delivered to the viewer at home. Receiver equipment and
remote controls need to provide the means for individual
viewers to access description when required. It must be noted
here that in some countries across the world audio description
is known as video description. For consistency in this document
we will use the term audio description. See also Descriptive
Video Service [DVS®]
 Spoken subtitles: Programmes originating in foreign
languages are often subtitled in the official or main language of
the broadcasting country. In countries with a large number of
non-native speakers or countries with more than one official or
language, programmes may very often be subtitled in other
commonly used languages. Viewers with sight loss will need to
be able to access their own language subtitles using text to
speech. Like audio description, the mixing of the spoken
subtitles with the programme audio can be done either before
broadcast or in the receiver. Production of the spoken output
can be done using synthesised speech or preferably a real
recorded voice.
These access needs must be addressed in all commercially
available devices used to receive broadcast television
programming.
8
1.1 Different requirements for different visual
needs
The techniques adopted to promote accessibility will need to cater
to the needs of blind and partially sighted people. Blind people or
people with very limited remaining vision may benefit from a textto-speech facility, whereas those with a degree of usable
remaining vision may be able to take advantage of adaptable
interface that allows them to enhance the colour contrast between
text and background or even zoom into the characters on the
screen.
The need for these different access features for blind and partially
sighted people have been illustrated through a series of user
profiles in Appendix 1.
1.2 Sections in the document
This document comprises of two main parts.
Part 1 gives the reader some background information on the need
for user requirements for access to television and the work that
has been done so far in the field.
 Section 1 introduces and lays out the scope of the user
requirements identified in this document
 Section 2 briefly defines the terms that have been used
throughout the report.
 Section 3 is split into 6 segments.
 First segment discusses the difference between analogue
television and the relatively recently introduced digital
television.
 Second segment summarises the delivery mode for audio
description on the two platforms - analogue and digital.
 Third segment examines the characteristics of audible
feedback and related benefits
 Fourth segment looks at on-screen displays and relevant
desirables
 Fifth segment goes on to discuss accessible remote
controls and the importance of introducing audible
feedback or text to speech on digital television.
 Sixth segment contains consumer equipment standards
and how they affect the interoperability and product design.
9
Part 2 actually lists the WBU user requirements for access to
television. This again split into 2 sections.
 Section 1 looks at the current barriers to access television
receiving equipment for blind and partially sighted people.
 Section 2 lists user requirements to counter the barriers
specified in the previous section. This section also investigates
the user requirements for additional services such as audio
description and subtitles.
10
2. Terms and definitions
Some of the definitions given below are tailored to the context of
accessibility to television.
 Accessibility: Accessibility can be defined as a degree to
which a person with disability is able to perceive, understand,
navigate and interact with a service or a product. In the context
of this report, it specifically focuses on the ability of blind and
partially sighted people to use different television platforms
currently available.
 Analogue television: Preceding digital television [DTV], all
televisions encoded pictures as an analogue signal by varying
signal voltage and radio frequencies. All systems preceding
DTV can be considered analogue.
 Audio description: Audio description is like a narrator telling a
story. An additional commentary describes body language,
expressions and movements, making the story clear through
sound. It describes what might otherwise be missed by a blind
or partially sighted person. Audio description is also known as
video description in some countries. See also Descriptive Video
Service (DVS).
 Barrier: Any impediment, hindrance or obstacle that limits or
prevents the decorous, convenient and safe access, use,
enjoyment or interaction with the environment.
(AENOR, Report UNE 41500).
 Captioning: Another term for subtitling used in many countries
such as USA, Canada, and Australia. Even though the terms
caption and subtitle have similar definitions, captions commonly
refer to on-screen text specifically designed for hearing
impaired viewers, while subtitles are straight transcriptions or
translations of the dialogue. Captions are usually positioned
below the person who is speaking and they include descriptions
of sounds (such as gunshots or closing doors) and music.
Closed captions are not visible until the viewer activates them.
Open captions are always visible, such as subtitles on foreign
language content. See also subtitling.
[Website: http://www.allformp3.com/dvd-faqs/145.htm;
Accessed on September 30 2010]
 Descriptive Video Service®: Descriptive Video Service®
(DVS) is the registered trademark WGBH created for its video
11







description service; video description is another name for audio
description and is widely used in North America. See also audio
description.
Digital Television [DTV]: DTV is the transmission of audio and
video by digital signals, in contrast to the analogue signals used
by analogue television. It supports the transmission of many
more channels and also access services such as audio
description and subtitles. DTV is gradually replacing analogue
television and several countries such as Germany, Spain, USA
and the UK have switched, or are in the process of, carrying out
nationwide digital switchovers.
Digital Terrestrial Television [DTT]: DTT uses the terrestrial
aerial/antenna signal, instead of cable or satellite, to broadcast.
Digital Video Recorder [DVR]: Digital video recorder refers to
set top boxes that have the capacity to record video in a digital
format to a disk drive or other mass storage device.
Internet television: Internet television is a streaming service
distributed via the internet. It allows the users to choose
programmes that they want to watch from an archive of
programmes or from a channel directory. Some internet
television services that have gained popularity in the past few
years are:
 RTÉ Player in the Republic Of Ireland,
 Hulu and Revision3 in the United States,
 Nederland 24 in the Netherlands,
 ABC iView and Australia Live TV in Australia,
 SeeSaw, BBC iPlayer, 4oD, ITV Player and Demand Five
in the UK
Internet Protocol Television [IPTV]: IPTV services can be
grouped into 3 main categories:
 Live television, with or without interactivity linked to the
television programme in progress;
 Time-shifted programming and catch-up television;
 Video on demand (VoD): browse a catalogue of videos
Subtitling: Communication support service that translates the
oral dialogue and sound effects in any audiovisual production to
text and graphics displayed on the screen. See also captioning.
[Nationwide CERMI, 2006, Accessibility to Digital Television for
People with Disabilities]
Subtitles for deaf and hard of hearing [SDH]: This term is
often used to differentiate subtitles used to translate foreign
12
language content from subtitles specially targeted at deaf and
hard of hearing people.
[Nationwide CERMI, 2006, Accessibility to Digital Television for
People with Disabilities]
 Synthetic speech: Synthetic speech is artificial human
speech, which is produced by a computer. There are a number
of different software applications through which this process can
be achieved.
 Text to Speech [TTS]: Some speech synthesisers use prerecorded human speech and fit words together to form
sentences (this is most often used in applications with a limited
vocabulary, such as a talking clock). Other synthesisers are
more complex in that they fit together tiny portions of speech
(sounds) to form words and sentences. Using this method, a
synthesiser is able to produce an unlimited vocabulary, and can
therefore read aloud any text input. This is known as text-tospeech synthesis.
 Universal design: Design of products and environments to be
usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the
need for adaptation or specialized design.
[The Center for Universal Design: Universal Design, North
Carolina State University, 1995, cited in White Paper on
Accessibility]
13
3. Background - accessible television
3.1 Moving to digital television - challenges and
opportunities
Some accessibility issues are the same for both analogue and
digital television e.g. accessing printed instructions and user
manuals, recognising buttons on the remote control and reading
on-screen text. These issues have an impact on both the systems.
However, the increased functionality and complexity of digital
television introduces some new barriers. These may be due to
differences in hardware, user interface or programme content.
Increased functionality and the massively expanded number of
television channels available through digital make it more difficult
to locate a particular channel or programme. With old analogue
systems offering as few as four or five channels, finding out what
was on and changing to the channel of choice was relatively
straightforward. However, with hundreds of channels, it becomes
necessary to remember many channel numbers or use some sort
of navigation system, usually presented as an on-screen electronic
programme guide (EPG).
The increased functionality of digital television brings more
choices, but the need to memorise controls or sequences of
actions presents a usability problem, particularly for blind people.
Increased functionality also allows more information to be given to
the user – programme information, setup menus, programme
guides, parental controls, etc. This information is provided using
text and graphics displayed on the screen which can be difficult or
impossible to read for people who are blind or partially sighted.
These problems can be solved by allowing users to change the
size and colour of on-screen text and by providing text to speech
output for blind users.
Although the increased capability of digital television introduces
new accessibility problems, it also solves some problems.
Notably, it allows for the inclusion of user-selectable audio
description with all television programmes, something which is not
possible with most analogue systems.
14
3. 2 Audio description
Audio description is a verbal description of the visual scene in a
television programme, spoken by a narrator during the pauses
between dialogue. It is provided as an aid to understanding and
enjoyment particularly, but not exclusively, for blind and partially
sighted people.
It is delivered as an auxiliary sound channel and control signals
that can be selected to override the normal programme sound
when the audio description track or DVS® is detected. To avoid
incompatibility and clipping, audio description signals need to be
recorded with the same line up as the main audio channels [-18 db
for the stereo or mono in the UK]. These criteria are often referred
to as ancillary audio standards in technical specifications.
Audio description delivery requires broadcasters to produce and
broadcast the description soundtrack and receiver manufacturers
to enable support for description in their products. A way to
achieve this is to provide a framework for delivery of access
services such as audio description. This framework involves
governments adopting and mandating legislative measures to
ensure audio description is delivered.
In view of the need for description on television, in 1996 the UK
introduced the Broadcasting Act which made it mandatory for
digital terrestrial programme services to provide description on at
least 10% of their programming. The Communications Act (2003)
extended this mandate to include cable and satellite services as
well, so broadcasters and service providers were left with no
choice but to provide description as an additional track that could
be selected.
In contrast to the model above, in 2008 Canada launched the
world's first open description channel, The Accessible Channel, a
24 hour national, English-language, described video, closedcaptioned, basic HD digital television [HDTV] specialty service.
In October 2010, the 21st Century Communications and Video
Accessibility Act was turned into a law in the US. The legislation
gives individuals with vision or hearing loss improved access to
television programming, smart phones, the internet, menus on
15
DVD players, programme guides on cable television and more.
Many other countries such as Germany, France, Spain and South
Korea have also had audio description on their television programs
for some time now.
For a list of the current status of audio description in various
countries and the framework they have adopted to deliver the
description track, please see Appendix 2.
3.2.1 Delivery of audio description on television
Availability of audio description on television is quite varied across
the world.
The technology required to deliver and render the basic description
track is rather simple, being an additional component of the
common audio-processing solutions. Audio-visual equipment that
supports multiple audio channels are ideal for delivery of
description, and most products dealing with broadcast television
content are capable of providing adequate support for audio
description.
Audio description has been available on television since the
1990s. However, with the arrival of DTV, the technology used to
deliver audio description has undergone constant evolution and it
continues to progress with the advancements in technology.
3.2.1.1 Analogue television - secondary audio programming
Track
Secondary audio programming (SAP) is a supplementary audio
channel for analogue television that can be broadcast or
transmitted by any transmission system including cable, satellite
and IPTV. It was often used for an alternate language, or for the
DVS® offered in the U.S before the digital switchover. The
description track was combined with the original sound track on
the SAP channel of televised programming. Analogue television
systems used in most countries have not had the capability to
include user-selectable audio description in this way.
Digital television - broadcast mix and receiver mix
Today, the following mature accessibility services can be
broadcast and received with regular DTV equipment:
16
3.2.1.2 Broadcast mix : An additional audio track consisting of the
original audio and the narrator is pre-mixed at the broadcaster side
and is transmitted in dual channel mode together with the original
audio track in the audio elementary stream.
3.2.1.3 Receiver mix : As an alternative to broadcast mix, the
mixing takes place inside the receiver. The audio description
sound track is received along with the main audio soundtrack and
the digital receiver mixes them together.
Receiver mix offers certain advantages for the user which can be
incorporated into the system, including the ability to adjust the
sound level of the description track, and routing the description to
headphones so that only one person can hear it while others in the
room hear the regular audio track.
Both of the above mixing methods provide what is, in effect,
'closed' audio description. This means that the audio description is
separated from the main programme audio in a way that the
individual viewer can choose whether to hear it or not. This
contrasts with 'open' description which is mixed in with the main
audio so that all viewers receive it without having a choice.
In the absence of the delivery platforms as mentioned above,
'open' description also exists i.e. The Accessible Channel [TAC] in
Canada broadcasts open description on 100 per cent of its
programming. The channel broadcasts programmes that have
been quite successful in the past but this time around, they are
broadcast with AD. About 75-80% of the programmes on the
channel have never been aired with audio description before (TAC,
2010).
3.3 Spoken output for interfaces
As highlighted in the report ‘Developer's Guide to Creating Talking
Menus for Set-top Boxes and DVDs [National Center on
Accessible Media (NCAM, 2009)] the highly visual nature of
interfaces used in new digital media formats has created serious
and growing barriers for blind and low-vision consumers. The more
visual the interface, the harder it is for a blind user to use it. The
provision of an audio interface for people with visual impairments
17
will resolve issues relating to use of the visual interface.
In August 2010, INTECO, the Spanish National Institute of
Communication Technologies, released a DTV operating system
that features similar spoken output and control of display settings
such as the size and colour of text in the menus and EPG. This
operating system consists of an open source software solution that
can be integrated into any digital set top box or integrated
television.
Smart Talk Freeview digital box, the first commercially available
terrestrial set top box with spoken output of menus and EPG
information went on sale in the UK in 2010. The set top box
features a fully talking Electronic Programme Guide (EPG), spoken
output of all menu settings and one-click access to audio
description through a dedicated button on the remote control.
In addition, "Speech Solutions for Next-Generation Media Centers"
(NCAM, 2009) developed open source software for talking set-top
boxes built on the Linux-based MythTV platform.
Text to speech [TTS] provision opens many doors for people with
sight loss as an alternate means of navigation in this graphic-rich
environment and enables independent access to new programmes
and services on the television. It also demonstrates that TTS
technology for television is technologically possible.
Where spoken output is not provided, the thoughtful choice of
tones or audible feedback can assist greatly in low vision or nonvisual use.
3.3.1 Audible feedback- characteristics
Audible feedback is used to acknowledge a command given by the
user, possibly for an operation, potentially a person with sight loss,
uses a television receiver e.g. audible confirmation that a key has
been pressed on the remote control.
It must be noted here that the feedback has the potential to
indicate a number of operations:
 feedback announcing the receipt of a command from the user
or the start of an action
 feedback prompting the end of an action
18
 feedback confirming the receipt of a standard command or in
another case the receipt of an unrecognised command
It is critical that this feedback is unique in its temporal pattern so
that it can:
- be understood without giving further instruction to the user and
- not be confused easily with other audible feedback signals used
in the same product or those in another product used
simultaneously and in the same place.
Since audible feedback is less tangible than spoken commands,
there is a definite need for the temporal pattern of different
feedback signals to be distinct so that the user is able to
differentiate one signal from the other i.e. {onomatopoeic
description of different signals} Pip, Peep, Pip-pip [in quick
succession], Pi,·pi,·pi,·peep (slowly), Pip, pip, pip, pip, …(specified
times, slowly).
Often a user is operating a toggle, where a feature is switched on
and off by use of the same remote control button. Here, the use of
ascending and descending pairs of tones are commonly used to
indicate on and off respectively.
Note: Difference between spoken out and audible feedback.
There are various ways in which blind and partially sighted people
access information. For example, some use large or modified print
materials, some use Braille and some use audio information.
Audio information can broadly be split into two typesSpoken output, which comprises information that is read out by
another person - either live, or on a recording or via synthetic
speech.
Audible feedback in the form of auditory signals e.g. Pip, Peep,
Pip-pip [in quick succession]. These are normally used to confirm
the receipt of a signal or completion of a task.
3.4 On-screen displays
Adaptable fonts, changeable colours, simple uncluttered layout
with zoom functions are all attributes that can transform a
completely inaccessible on-screen display into a more usable
product for blind and partially sighted viewers.
19
However, lack of demand in the mainstream market has so far
prevented equipment manufacturers looking into or providing
features that will support the needs of blind and partially sighted
people. These functional attributes have been discussed in section
4 on user requirements.
3.5 Remote controls
The remote control is the principal piece of equipment that is used
to interact with the television set, so due consideration needs to be
given to its design and functionality. DTV, equipment and services
are more or less unusable without a remote control.
Several studies conducted around the accessibility of remote
controls for people with disabilities have published a set of
recommendations that relate to its ergonomics and utility. For
example, the guide for remote controls in Handbook of Adult
Anthropometric and Strength Measurements [DTI, May 1998]
includes suggestions for its nomenclature and button
size/positioning. These recommendations have been discussed in
the section 4.2.2. [DTI Publications, May 1998]
3.6 Internet television and IPTV
Internet television and IPTV are relatively new platforms for
viewing television content that are fast gaining popularity and due
to improvements in internet speeds, they are likely to become
more and more popular.
Internet television (sometimes known as online television) is a
television service distributed via the internet. It allows the viewers
to choose programmes that they want to watch from an archive of
programs or from a channel directory.
Internet Protocol television [IPTV] is a system through which
television services are delivered using the internet and broadband
internet access networks, instead of being delivered through
traditional radio frequency broadcast or satellite or cable television.
Internet Protocol Television [IPTV]: IPTV services can be grouped
into 3 main categories:
 Live television, with or without interactivity linked to the
television programme in progress;
 Time-shifted programming and catch-up television;
20
 Video on demand (VOD): browse a catalogue of videos
Watching content over Internet Protocol Television [IPTV] involves
watching content on a system that has a browser and an internet
connection. It is advisable to use User Interface Web Browser
Guidelines where content is delivered through a web browser.
These guidelines identify characteristics that would provide a more
adaptable user interface to allow users, not only those with
disabilities, to have a much greater selection in what suits them
most. These guidelines can be found on
http://www.w3.org/WAI/UA/wai-browser-gl#Introduction to WWW
Browser. [Accessed on 9th March 2011 at 12:15 pm]
However it is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines [WCAG]
that will be applicable for content that is made available on the
internet. Web "content" generally refers to the information on a
web page or web application, including text, images, forms,
sounds, and such. [http://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/wcag.phpaccessed on 0th March 2011 at 12:20pm].
Since, both technologies deliver television, and because
technology varies across the world, this document covers both.
3.7 Consumer equipment standards
The underlying aim of this document is to encourage all relevant
stakeholders to make access services more widely available on
television and as a result focuses on the significance of
standardisation across the globe and technologies. This is deemed
absolutely essential for interoperability and usability of access
services on television and therefore impacts on product and
service design. A comprehensive list of standards available in this
area of operation can be found in appendix 3 of this document.
These standards apply to, amongst a host of other functions,
access services, design of remote controls, user interface, and
symbols that aid accessibility.
All such design should conform to relevant consumer equipment
standards whilst also not being overly prescriptive to avoid stifling
innovation.
Appendix 3 shows a list of relevant TV standards
21
4. Access to television - user
requirements
This section on user requirements identifies and details the
requirements which, if implemented, will facilitate access to
television for blind and partially sighted people. These
requirements are applicable regardless of television viewing
platform and geographical location. They will not only improve
access but will make television viewing a more satisfying
experience for the target audience.
The user requirements have been assigned to one of the following
three subdivisions:
1. Must have: this means that the requirements are necessary
2. Should have: this means that the requirements are
recommended
3. May have: this means that the requirement could add positively
to the experience.
4.1 Current barriers - access to television
This section is divided into two parts 1. barriers for blind people and
2. barriers for partially sighted people.
It is important that stakeholders dealing with accessibility of
television are aware of these barriers while designing new
products.
People who are blind:
 may struggle with complex packaging;
 may not be able to see (to read);
 may not be able to see what is displayed on visual display units;
 may not be able to see visual feedback of operation i.e.
connector cable initial set up successful;
 may not be able to access information presented (only) via
graphics or text;
 may not be able to fully understand and enjoy television
programmes if good quality audio description is not available.
People who are partially sighted (low vision):
22
 may have difficulty discriminating text from the background if
contrast is insufficient;
 may have difficulty discriminating colours;
 may have difficulty with glare – from environment or the surface
of the object;
 may not see (to read) signs, labels and text:
if text is too small for them,
if contrast with background is too low,
if text is presented as small raised letters (same colour
as background),
if information is coded with colour only (colour
deficiency),
if there is glare if they have light sensitivity,
if there is insufficient ambient light.
 may not be able to read moving or scrolling text
4.2 User requirements
4.2.1 System set-up
4.2.1.1 Packaging and getting started
[Must have]
 Packaging must be easy to open.
 Packaging must not contain materials that may cause injury,
such as staples;
 The packaging must convey clear information to the buyer
about the functions of the equipment. Where appropriate,
official recognised logos must be used. Tactile alternatives must
be provided when possible.
[Should have]
 Additional components such as batteries and other accessories
should be separately and securely wrapped but easy to open by
hand.
[May have]
 Accessible print standards, as applicable in different countries,
may be used for any text on the packaging such as RNIB Clear
Print Guidelines for the UK. [See appendix 1 for RNIB Clear
Print Guidelines]
23
4.2.1.2 Instruction manual including quick start guide and
main user guide
[Must have]
 Full user guide and the quick start guide must be available, on
request, in alternative formats – Braille, Large Print, Audio and
accessible online formats.
 Information presented using diagrams and screen shots must
also be available within the text instructions.
 The instructions must provide information about the accessibility
features of the product and how to access audio description.
[Should have]
 The design and layout should conform to the guidelines/
standards recommended by blindness organisations in different
countries.
 Glossy paper should be avoided.
 Page layout should be simple and uncluttered.
[May have]
 On-screen information may also be provided, in addition to the
printed manual.
4.2.1.3 Identifying connectivity options
[Must have]
 External connections must be easily accessible and clearly
marked.
 If information about connector engagement is displayed on the
screen then, clear audio feedback of connector engagement
must be available. i.e. Scart Cable or HDMI installed
4.2.1.4 Equipment tuning
[For example: initial settings, on-screen display, basic tuning and
advanced settings for access features such as subtitling/ audio
description / favourites]
[Must have]
 Receivers must carry out the full tuning sequence automatically
following initial powering on once the receiver is connected to a
display, a power source, or service platform [terrestrial, cable,
satellite].
24
 All receivers must automatically identify new services launched
by broadcasters without the user having to retune.
[Should have]
 At all stages of the tuning sequence the status should be
indicated in text and audio, describing the action being carried
out, state of progress and time remaining.
 This screen should also have a clear ‘exit’ or ‘skip’ prompt.
 Following initial tuning, an on-screen message should prompt
users of the options to set up any preferences. This may be
achieved by referring them to the Quick Start Guide or by an
on-screen step-by-step process. Typical preferences essential
to this set of user requirements are:
 audio description default on
 set-up of favourites or ‘hide’ channels (as appropriate)
 power saving modes or timers
 text to speech default on
4.2.2 User interface and remote control
It is critical that the user interface is designed in such a way that it
takes into account the needs of all possible users, including blind
and partially sighted persons. Some of the key functions, inclusive
but not limited to, that must be completely accessible are;
 switching on and off,
 changing channel,
 adjusting volume,
 accessing the EPG and
 be able to turn on/off access features such as audio description.
This section has been split into five parts for ease of navigation
and understanding;
 Navigation
 Interactivity
 Remote control- design and functionality
 Audible feedback
 Speech synthesis or text-to-speech
4.2.2.1 Navigation
[Must have]
 Only the visible or the safe text area, where text will not be cut
regardless of the over scan of the television, must be used.
25
[Note: Safe area is a measured zone within the video frame which
defines where all text should be contained to prevent loss during
transmission and reproduction.]
[Should have]
 Only one font should be used throughout the application.
 Changes in font size and colour should be minimized.
 Colours with a saturation index of less than 85% should be
used to avoid distortion and flicker.
 The text colour should have sufficient contrast against the
background colour.
 The font used should not distort and the size used shall be
sufficient to assure the legibility of the text. Tiresias is the
recommended font for this purpose in the UK, although others
as recommended by organisations in different countries of the
world can be used.
[May have]
 Use of multiple columns for on-screen text may be avoided, as
these can be difficult to read. If multiple columns are used, a
sufficient margin may be provided between the columns with an
appropriate column size when the selected font size is large.
 Users may be given the option to change colour combinations,
font sizes and the screen background, including a "high
contrast" display option, with larger text and icons, dark
background and light text. These parameters may be
configurable by the user.
 The text paragraphs may be kept short with good line spacing.
 The excessive use of graphics may be avoided to represent
different options.
 Icons may be accompanied with text.
4.2.2.2 Interactivity
DTV receivers should be designed using universal design
principles such that they do not create any access barrier for
people with functional diversity. The user requirements in this
section are applicable across the number of interactive services
that area available via the television equipment these days such as
internet television, IPTV, red button services, catch-up services.
[Must have]
26
 All interactive services must have the ability to deliver audio
description.
 The service must let the users choose their preferred text size/
background and foreground colour for the on-screen display.
 The service must let the user enable TTS or audible feedback
to hear an audio alternative to the displayed text.
 Information in the menus must be perceptive and logical. Menu
structures must be simple, each following a similar pattern path.
 On-screen display must show information about programmes,
such as cost of pay-per-view, terms and conditions, and
availability of access features such as audio description. These
must be available on all IPTV services through a single button.
 Information mentioned above must be available as text onscreen as well as in TTS.
[Should have]
 Information chosen by the user for display, such as the channel
guide, genre guide, or information on television content, should
remain on-screen until the users decides to remove it.
 Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 should be
followed where appropriate to ensure complete access to the
content on a web page.
 User Interface Web Browser Guidelines should apply where
content is delivered through a web browser to allow a more
adaptable user interface.
 In conjunction with the remote control there should be a single
button that returns the viewer to the opening menu in IPTV.
 The user should be able to turn on and off TTS and audio
description on a temporary or permanent basis.
[May have]
 The user may be able to change the layout according to their
preference, so that the layout becomes simpler and more
intuitive.
4.2.2.3 Remote control- design and functionality
The remote control is, without a doubt, the principal piece of
equipment used for interacting with various television applications
such as EPG, mini guide and access features. However, little has
been done to ensure that they are usable by persons with sight
loss. To be rendered completely accessible, thought not only
needs to be given to its design but also its functionality.
27
The following user requirements recommend ways in which this
can be achieved.
4.2.2.3.1 Remote control design
Remote controls must be ergonomic and usable by people with
sight loss, in accordance with universal design principle
[Must have]
 Buttons must be logically and functionally distributed e.g.,
channel numbers to be grouped together, channel up and down
beside the volume up and down. Consideration must be given
to space between buttons with sufficient space between them.
This must be done in accordance with guidance already
specified in technical standards such the D-book 6.0, (DTI,
1998)
 Buttons must be of suitable size for use by people with sight
loss. [Refer to D-book 6.0, DTI (1998)]
 The number 5 button must have a raised dot or line for tactile
identification. [ES 201 381 Human Factors (HF) ETSI
Standards, 1998]
 Where a purely touch sensitive remote control is provided with
the equipment, another remote control must be made available
upon request which is more accessible for people with sight
loss. This is similar to the current strategy that has been
adopted by Apple Inc. for their touch products.
[Should have]
 The On/Off button should be sufficiently isolated so that it
cannot be accidentally pressed.
4.2.2.3.2 Remote control functionality
[Must have]
 The angles of transmission and reception between the remote
control and the television must be broad so that it is not
necessary to orient the control accurately. [Trace R & D Centre,
University of Wisconsin-Madison (1998) Accessible Design of
Consumer Products, Section 1: Output/Displays]
 The remote must provide one-touch access buttons to
accessibility services i.e., audio description and subtitling.
[Should have]
28
 No action should require pressing two or more buttons at the
same time.
 Assigning dual functionality to buttons should be avoided.
 The provision of basic operating controls on the receiver itself is
encouraged. These should provide at least a minimum level of
operation without use of a remote control. These should be
labelled clearly and meaningfully using the same labelling as
used on the remote control.
 Tactile feedback should be provided on button presses.
Please note a list of industry specifications on design and
functionality of remote controls has been provided at the end of the
document in appendix 5.
4.2.2.4 Audible feedback
Audible feedback is an important tool for communication,
compensating any inability to process visual feedback or onscreen information by providing the user with adequate
complementary information.
[Must have]
 Any process that takes place on-screen (e.g. system updating
itself), in addition to being reported by a text to speech engine,
must be accompanied by an audible feedback that allows the
user to identify the process that is taking place.
 Pop-up messages must be accompanied by an audible
feedback.
 The fundamental frequency of the signal must not be higher
than 2.5 kHz [ISO/CD 24500 (2008)]
[Should have]
 When the channel is changed sound signals should identify
television broadcasts that contain audio description for the blind
and partially sighted users. This should also be indicated while
scrolling down the EPG.
 In the case of an operation confirmation signal, if the user
selects the next operation, the reaction of the next operation
should be given priority and the former auditory signal should
be interrupted.
 The user should be able to turn off insignificant auditory signals,
by turning off the extra beeps. [e.g. "extra beeps on/off"]
29
For further guidance on the tone of the auditory signal, please refer
to ISO/CD 24500 [2008] Ergonomics – Accessible design –
Auditory signals for consumer products.
4.2.2.5 Text-to-Speech [TTS]
Digital set-top boxes offer access to a wealth of information,
entertainment and services via electronic program guides (EPGs),
which require users to scroll through long lists of on-screen text
and graphics to view choices and select a programme or service.
The latest generation of digital set-top boxes offer EPGs that
provide detailed information about programmes, the ability to set
parental controls, and the ability to programme channel selections
for future viewing. However, since most of the information on the
EPG is of graphical nature, it is completely inaccessible to a blind
person and extremely hard to follow for a partially sighted person.
The more graphical the interface, the harder it is for a user who is
blind or partially sighted to use it.
TTS is automated verbal generation of elements presented onscreen [graphics, text, icons etc] in simulated human speech. A
system used for this purpose is called a speech synthesiser and
can be implemented in software or hardware. The user
requirements for TTS are as follows:
[Must have]
 An audio prompt must be provided at start-up that instructs the
user how to enable TTS features.
 The user must be able to activate or de-activate TTS as per
need.
 A single button on the remote control must be assigned at startup to toggle the enabled / disabled setting.
 The user must be given the control to increase or decrease the
volume of TTS relative to the broadcast level. A number of
factors could influence the user's decision to change the volume
e.g. hearing ability of the user, distance from the product,
ambient sounds etc.
[Should have]
 The user should be able to change the level of verbosity
depending on how much spoken cues is preferred.
30
 The user should be able to adjust the speed of the TTS audio
and other characteristics such pitch and TTS voice type.
 The TTS should be available in different languages. Where
there is receiver UI language that is not supported by TTS, then
the user must be informed in some way before changing the UI
language.
[May have]
 The information reproduced through TTS may skip unwanted
redundant elements in the information. Please see “A
Developer's Guide to Creating Talking Menus for Set-top Boxes
and DVDs” for further details (NCAM, 2009).
4.2.4 Additional services
4.2.4.1 Parental lock
[Must have]
 Users must be able to lock access to certain channels
depending on the content being broadcast on the channel. This
is only in cases where this feature, parental lock, has been
made available on the system.
4.2.4.2 Audio Description
[Must have]
 Television receivers must be able to deliver audio description in
cases where content providers have made a description track
available.
 There receiver must have the ability to enable audio description
so that the setting remains active across channels.
 Events that carry subtitles and/or audio description must be
clearly indicated in the EPG in a manner that the user can
identify them without having to hunt for them. Appropriate and
relevant logos must be used.
 Programmes that support audio description must additionally be
identified by differing audible feedback signals (e.g. beep) when
description mode has been globally selected and deselected
and when a current described event is selected.
4.2.4.3 Recording and playback on DVR
[Must have]
31
 Clear indication must appear on-screen accompanied by an
audible signal [e.g. beep] when recording is initiated or stopped
on a current event.
 DVR and On-demand services must also support recording and
playback of audio description.
[May have]
 When the hard disk of the DVR is almost full a warning
message may be displayed on the screen whenever a recording
starts or a new recording is programmed. This message may
also be available in TTS.
4.2.4.4 Applications
[Must have]
 The programme name, channel number, event name and
information pertaining to the currently selected event must be
voiced.
4.2.4.5 Emergency information
[Must have]
 All emergency information that is displayed in text must be
voiced.
4.2.4.6 Miscellaneous information
[Must have]
 Where appropriate, the message must give instructions in text
and speech on how to clear the message and how to save it for
a later reminder.
[Should have]
 If the message requires user initiated or automatic reconfiguration of the tuner system there should also be a
warning in text and speech not to unplug the tuner while this
action is taking place.
32
References
Adult Data: The Handbook of Adult Anthropometric and Strength
Measurements May 1998, Data Department of Trade and Industry,
certifica que la organizacion [ER - 1092/1999] Report UNE 41500
Spain
http://www.aenor.es/aenor/descargadocumento.asp?nomfich=/Doc
umentos/Comercial/Archivos/PUB_DOC_Tabla_AEN_6352_2.pdf
&cd_publicacion=6352&cd_publicacion_doc=2
Accessed on March 10 2011 at 11:30
Canada’s Radio and TV Commission published guidelines [2001]
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/info_sht/b322.htm
Accessed on March 10 at 11:30
Communications Act (2003)
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21/contents
Accessed on March 10 at 10:30
Consumer Expert Group and Digital UK, (March 2006)
Digital TV Equipment: Vulnerable Consumer Requirement
http://www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk/pdf_documents/publications/digt
v_equipment-march06.pdf
Accessed on March 10 2011 at 11:30
Description Key - production and delivery of audio/video
description
http://www.descriptionkey.org/how_to_describe.html
Accessed on March 10 at 11:30
Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Accessibility Recommendations
Developed by INTECO (Instituto Nacional de Tecnologías de la
Comunicación), Spain.
More information online at: http://www.inteco.es/file/snb6ZR2I2DaXKiMJlkT_g
Accessed on March 10 2011 at 12:15pm
DTG 'D-Book' Version 6.2.1 May 2010, Chapter 25 on Remote
Controls, DTG, UK
33
ETSI 201 381 Human Factors (HF); [1998] Telecommunications
keypads and keyboards; Tactile identifiers
ETSI 300 640 Human Factors (HF); [1996] Assignment of
alphabetic letters to digits on standard telephone keypad arrays
FCC requirements for Video Description (2000; USA)
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/video-description.html
Accessed on March 10 2011 at 12 pm
Media Access Australia [2010] Audio Description standards,
Australia
Nationwide CERMI Audiovisual Accessibility Group [2006]
Accessibility to Digital Television for People with Disabilities,
Spain, CERMI
NCAM [2009] Developer's Guide to Creating Talking Menus for
Set-top Boxes and DVDs; USA
http://ncam.wgbh.org/invent_build/analog/talkingmenus
Accessed on March 10 2011 at 12:15pm
NCAM [2009] Best Practices for Talking Menus; USA
http://ncam.wgbh.org/invent_build/analog/talkingmenus/practices
Accessed on March 10 2011 at 12:15pm
NCAM [2009] Recommendations to Address TV Access for People
with Vision Loss; USA
http://ncam.wgbh.org/file_download/59
Accessed on March 10 2011 at 12:15pm
NCAM [2009] Speech Solutions for Next-Generation Media
Centers; USA
http://ncam.wgbh.org/invent_build/analog/speech-solutions-fornext-generation-media-centers/aui
Accessed on March 10 2011 at 12:15pm
Ofcom, Code on Television Access Services [2006]
RNIB-ONCE [June 2008] DIGITAL TV (Draft stage) UK- Spain
Summary of standards used for remote controls available on34
http://www.cardiac-eu.org/standards/remote_controls.htm [Aug
2010]
Accessed on March 10 2011 at 12 pm
Trace R & D Centre, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1998)
Accessible Design of
Consumer Products: Guidelines for the Design of Consumer
Products to Increase their Accessibility to People with Disabilities
or Who Are Ageing
Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act
[2010]; USA
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-3304
Accessed on March 10 2011 at 11 am
Universal Design [1995] The Center for Universal Design:, North
Carolina State University,USA
U.S. Access Board [2010] Draft Information and Communication
Technology (ICT): Standards and Guidelines (USA)
User Interface Web Browser Guidelines
http://www.w3.org/WAI/UA/wai-browser-gl#Introduction to WWW
Browser. [Accessed on 9th March 2011 at 12:15 pm]
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines [WCAG]
[http://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/wcag.php- accessed on 0th March
2011 at 12:20pm].
Website: http://www.allformp3.com/dvd-faqs/145.htm; Accessed
on September 30 2010
35
Appendix 1: User profiles
Blind and partially sighted people are not a single, homogenous
group, and to help the understanding of readers here are some
use cases based on real people and their experiences:
User profile 1: Katherine, age 33 years, employed
Katherine lives in London UK and works as an associate lecturer
on an ad hoc basis at the London School of Economics.
 Very confident with a range of technologies, cost sensitive
(bought a Sony Bravia television at a Christmas sale, wanted
easy access to additional features):
 uses an iphone, and laptop; watches about two to three
hours of television each day and thoroughly enjoys the
range additional features that the new television offers.
 Uses her television independently:
 Sets her favourites, records her favourite series, adjusts
the volume, channel surfing
 Partially sighted since the age of 13, Katherine's television use
differs from a sighted person:
 Limited access to television guide as characters on her
screen are too small to read so no extra information
 Initially had to be shown how to use, and still sometimes
relies on friends for trouble shooting; wishes her television
gave some (tactile or audible) feedback to help her locate
the various settings
 Takes her longer to find a channel than her friends (she
can only memorise a few channel numbers but beyond
that, it can take her a while)
“If I am looking for a new channel, then I go back to my laptop to
confirm the channel number on the online television guide.”
36
User Profile 2: Carlos, age 73 years, retired
Carlos lives in Sao Paulo Brazil and is a retired banker.
 Average confidence with technology
 His son recently replaced his 13-year old 14 inch
"standard" television with a flat screen 33inch digital
television. At the beginning, Carlos found it difficult to use
the new set-up but has since got used to it.
 Values television as a source of daily news and entertainment
 Watches television for 3/4 hours a day. He wants to find a
way to program his news channels in a sequence so that
he does not have to remember the channel number for
each channel. He is currently not aware of a feature called
'favourites' and how to set them up.
 He likes the idea that he can now record shows that he
may have otherwise missed when he goes out.
 Totally blind since birth, Carlos's television use differs from a
sighted person:
 Carlos has not been able to access the television manual
and therefore is not aware of all functions that his new
television offers.
 He would really value an audible option for signals and
commands instead of the graphics/ text on his screen as
quite often he gets confused about what is happening on
the screen and since he lives alone, there is no one to fill in
the gap.
Carlos also stands to gain substantially if audio description was
made available on the programs that he watches.
“My wife used to explain to me what was happening on the screen
but I live alone now. Amongst other things, watching television has
become really difficult because there is no one to fill in the gaps for
me anymore…"
37
User profile 3: Tim, age 47 years, employed
Tim lives in Michigan USA. He is a team leader in a call centre
 Confident with technology, work involves constant PC use
 Tim bought a digital television in 2009. He was unsure if
the new platform would make it easier for him to use his
television but had to shift because the analogue service
was being phased out. He likes the idea that he can now
record programmes onto his set top box itself without
having to use his video / DVD player.
 Values television
 watches about 5/6 hours of television after work ranging
from channels that offer general entertainment such as
soaps, documentaries and music channels.
 after reading the television manual online, he sought help
from one of his friends to set up favourites to make
navigation easier.
 Tim has been blind since birth, his use of television differs from
a sighted person:
 he had to ask a friend to set up his television so that he
could receive DVS®.
 he selects programmes online that have DVS® and then
tunes into specific channels. He is unable to use the
television guide to select programmes as in the absence of
any audio output, he cannot see what is on the screen.
“Digital television does make it easier for me to tune into channels
as you can set favourites; but I cannot access the television guide
which is very annoying…”
38
User profile 4: Lata, age 54 years, housewife
Lata lives in New Delhi India.
 Low confidence with technology, limited PC use, watches
television for entertainment and to fill up time.
 Values television highly
 Watches 6-10 hours a day usually. Programmes range
from talk shows to news to daily soaps; used to listen to the
cricket commentary on the radio until a few years ago but
finds it easier to use the television now. Her son
programmed the channels that she uses the most in a
series so that it is easier for her to navigate.
 Her son taught her to use his laptop and now in the afternoon,
she prefers to watch television on the laptop. There is audio
output on the laptop so Lata is able to listen to the text and finds
it is easier to search for things online than on her television.
 Lata is partially sighted and her use of television differs from a
sighted person:
 Can’t read text on TV screen so the television guide is
inaccessible.
 On the laptop, she changes the user interface to suit her
needs. She changes the colour contrast and zooms into the
screen to make the text legible.
“I am not interested in functions like the television guide [EPG] or
recording. I don’t think I would ever use them as it will mean
pressing too many buttons and that too without any audio
output….”
39
Persona 5: James, age 21 years, student
James lives in Melbourne Australia
 Loves new technology and gadgets
 Will spend a premium for highly featured products, likes to
get new technology products first. He is a dedicated user of
social media tools, updates his facebook page everyday
and is a keen tweeter.
 Values television
 James bought a new high definition 32inch flat screen
television recently
 Watches television though not very regularly. He finds it
frustrating not being able to navigate around his television
independently. He prefers to use his radio for sports
commentary and music.
 He does watch television over the internet though. His
laptop enables text-to-speech so he finds it easier to look
for programmes of his choice.
 He does not watch films / soaps on television or the online
players as he feels the need for additional external help to
understand what is happening on the screen when the
television goes silent.
 Needed assistance to set-up his television
 James asked one of his friends to help set up his television
as opening the packaging and then getting all the
connections in place was something that he could not do
on his own.
 James is blind and there are things he would like
 Text to speech on his television like he has on his iphone,
ipad and the satnav in his father's car.
 Audio description on television like he has on his DVDs
40
Appendix 2: Current level of delivery of
audio description in different countries
and relevant legislations
Audio description has been around for sometime and the practice
is relatively widespread worldwide. However, the practice still
needs to be expanded as well as adapted to the new media that is
being introduced virtually every day. In this section, the state of
affairs and, especially, the new developments that have taken
place in a number of countries as a consequence of a newly
introduced legislation that mandates the provision of audio
description, have been studied. Since the development of audio
description is an ongoing process, this offers a snapshot at the
time of writing.
United Kingdom
Under the Communications Act 2003, all broadcasters are
currently working to a target of 10 per cent of their programming
being audio described. New broadcasters have five years to reach
their targets. Smaller broadcasters (with less than one per cent of
audience share and where the cost of providing access services is
more than 0.05 per cent of revenue) are not required to provide
description. Description appears on all television viewing platforms
i.e., terrestrial, cable and satellite. In 2010, three broadcasters
BSkyB, BBC and Channel 4 committed to audio describing 20 per
cent of their programming.
United States of America
Currently, audio description is delivered as an audio mix on all
platforms in the US: terrestrial, cable, and satellite. Descriptive
video service (DVS) or audio description is available on a
percentage of programming on a few television channels such as
CBS, Fox, PBS, Nickelodeon and Turner Classic Movies.
In August 2010 the Twenty-first Century Communications and
Video Accessibility Act was turned into law. The new act in the US
will make digital television more accessible with provisions such as
mandating audio description quotas on broadcasters and cable
and satellite programme providers.
41
Canada
Since 2001, the Canadian Radio Television and
Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) have made it
compulsory for an audio description commitment to be made
before it renews broadcasting licenses. On 3 December 2008, The
Accessible Channel was launched by the National Broadcast
Reading Service (NBRS), a Canadian charitable organisation
which provides media in accessible form for the country’s print and
vision impaired?. This digital-only service has the distinction of
being the first fully audio described television channel in the world.
The Accessible Channel shows a range of programmes, including
movies, drama, news/current affairs and children’s programmes,
sourced from the various television networks. The audio
description is broadcast in ‘open’ format, which means that anyone
switching on the channel will hear it.
Spain
The Royal Decree 1494/2007 provides that people with disabilities
will have access to the content of audiovisual media in so far as
technical progress allows (Article 10). This article also specifies
that the means of accessibility will be subtitling, audio description
and sign language interpretation, as regulated.
The Law 27/2007, of 23rd October 2007, established the national
centre for the standardization of Spanish Sign Language as well as
a national centre for subtitling and audio description.
Two standards have been set regarding broadcasting: UNE
153010 (2003) and UNE 153020 (2005). UNE 153010 (2003)
concerns subtitling for deaf and hard of hearing people through
teletext. UNE 153020 (2005) concerns audio description for vision
impaired people. It contains guidelines for audio description
procedures and for the preparation of audio guides.
Germany
In 1997 Bayerischer Rundfunk BR, the public broadcaster for
Southern Germany started a self-financed regular audio
description [AD] service. It was the first of its kind in the German
broadcasting industry. Till today, BR is the only television
broadcaster in Germany with a full-time AD editor.
42
Until 2010 Bayerischer Rundfunk had described around 300 films,
television-films and television series and some documentaries and
making them into "Hörfilme" (the name for audio described
programmes in Germany).
In 2010, the total number of programmes with AD on German
television stood at 1150, each one about 90 minutes long. Around
100 DVDs are available with AD in the country.
South Korea
Audio description started appearing on television in South Korea in
2007. The 4 terrestrial broadcasters were required to provide
description on at least 4.9 per cent of their programming. The plan
to increase this quota to 10% is underway and the target year to
achieve this level of audio description on television is 2012.
Relevant Laws for the promotion of audio description are:
1. Article 26; Clause 1 Para 10 of the Framework Act on
Broadcasting and Communications Industry Development,
2. Article 69; Clause 8 of the Broadcasting Act
3. Article 21 clause 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act
Other countries
Aside from these, some European countries such as Austria,
Finland, Ireland, Slovakia, France, Greece and Switzerland, have
had audio description on some limited content on television.
Nevertheless, it should be noted that the lack of detailed pan-world
statistics about the extent to which audio description is being rolled
out constitutes a problem in its own right. A study on "Measuring
Progress of eAccessibility in Europe" [DG Information Society
and Media, 2008] was commissioned by the European
Commission. The main aim of the study was to provide an
evidence base to support the future development of EU policy in
the eAccessibility field generally. With respect to digital television
(DTV) the executive summary of the report [28] states that:
"Public broadcasters in only five Member States provided any of
their programmes with audio description (for visually impaired
people) in 2006 and, where they did, the levels provided amounted
to a very small percentage of their overall programming; only in
one country [UK] did any commercial broadcaster provide any AD.”
43
Appendix 3: Existing consumer
equipment standards and guidelines
 Digital television equipment- vulnerable consumer
requirements: (UK, March 2006)
The document compiles a list of features and user requirements
that should be incorporated in a UK specification for digital
television boxes and systems for vulnerable consumers. The
specifications in this document are platform-neutral and would
apply irrespective of whether a vulnerable consumer was given a
DTT, digital cable, digital satellite or internet-based receiving
system for digital television. It draws upon the needs of people with
sensory and dexterity impairments, cognitive impairments and
older people as identified in user research and published work as
referenced.
 CERMI Accessibility to digital television for people with
disabilities (Spain, 2006)
This paper on accessibility to digital television for people with
disabilities covers all issues relevant to access to digital television
for people with disabilities. It has been drafted by the Nationwide
CERMI Audio Visual Group.
 INTECO Interactive Television Group - Digital Terrestrial
Television (DTT) Accessibility Recommendations (Spain,
2010)
This document aims to act as a reference guide for the
implementation of accessibility initiatives for DTT at all levels. As
mentioned in the report, the recommendations of this guide are not
only based on the group's technical experience with accessibility
and DTT, but are also based on information obtained through
interviews and surveys, performed at national and international
levels, of manufacturers, users and organisations that represent
disability groups. The report also lists various television
accessibility standards in Spain i.e. Standard UNE 153.020 “Audio
description for visually impaired people” and then goes on to list
other similar existing standards across Europe and America.
 National Center for Accessible Media - Best Practices for
Talking Menus (USA, 2009)
44
As a follow up to NCAM's 'Developer's Guide to Creating Talking
Menus for Set-top Boxes and DVDs', which mainly addresses
operational concerns that directly affect the user's ability to easily
control the audio navigation system, these best practice guidelines
refer to the user's ability to understand the content of the menus. It
is suggested that the content for the menus be designed with a
global approach in mind, which could potentially help establish a
universal grammar for the design of audio interfaces.
45
Appendix 4: RNIB Clear Print
Guidelines
Royal National Institute for Blind People (RNIB)
Clear Print Guidelines
Clear print: Type face and font
 A minimum of 12 pt font size, though RNIB recommends 14
point to reach more people with sight problems
 Type weights which are bold or semi-bold are easier to read
 Text set in italics or capitals is usually harder to read, as the
word shapes and letters are all the same height or angle
 Underlining can make it more difficult to recognise the shape of
the letters
 When typing numbers, use clear type faces and where possible,
write out the numbers between 1 to 10
Spacing and line length
 Spacing in between lines is recommended to be 1.5 or 2 times
the space between words on a line
 60-70 characters per line (except when using columns)
 Splitting words should be kept to a minimum
 ‘Absolute’ justification (regarding alignment) of a document may
stretch the text and make the document unreadable
 When aligning text, do not stretch or condense words to fit the
line length
 Left alignment is recommended by RNIB, as it is easy to find
where the text starts and finishes
 Centre alignment is acceptable for headings and titles but
should not be used for the main body of the text
Design and layout
 Contrast between the text and background colour is extremely
important – the relationship between the colours is more
important than the individual colours themselves
46
 Some individuals prefer light text on a dark background to
reduce glare from the page – pay attention to type weight in this
case as white text will look smaller on a dark background
 Ensure recurring features, such as headings and page numbers
are always in the same place
 Leave a space between paragraphs
 Avoid fitting text around images if this means the lines of text
start in a different place. Photographs on the right of text do not
disrupt the beginning of lines
 Text should be set horizontally; text set vertically is extremely
difficult for VI people to read and should be avoided
 Forms should allow a large amount of space to fill in details that
have to be handwritten. Tick boxes need to be enlarged.
 If setting columns in a document, do not set these too close
together. If space is limited, use a vertical rule to distinguish
columns
Using images
 Images and text aim to support each other. If information is
provided in an image, this should be conveyed by the text as
well
 If pictures are placed in boxes, include the frame/outline so that
the image is easily located
 Illustrations should be line drawings with thick, dark strokes or
outlines as images with undefined edges, such as watercolour,
are harder work
 If using photos, ensure that the message conveyed is clear and
not too cluttered by detail. A picture in which a dark-coloured
foreground is set against a light-coloured background will be
easier to read than a picture where tonal values are similar
 Avoid setting text over images, unless an image is completely
even in tone. Readers are not expecting to see text on an
image so this can be easily missed
Paper type and format
 Avoid glossy papers because reflective light can obscure the
print and glare makes it difficult to read.
 Chose uncoated paper that weighs over 90gsm – where
possible (to avoid the text showing through from the other side
and blurring any text
47
 Make sure that the central margin in any book or publication is
wide enough to ensure that text is not distorted by the centre of
the spine
48
RNIB checklist
 Is the type-face at least 12 points or above?
 Does the text contrast clearly with the background?
 If the type is reversed, does it contrast sufficiently with its
background? Is it big enough?
 Is there space between each line of type?
 Is the typeface roman, semi-bold or bold?
 Are whole sentences written in capital letters (this should be
avoided)
 Are the numerals clear?
 Are any words split between two lines (there shouldn’t be)?
 Is text unjustified, aligned to the left margin?
 Are there any uneven gaps between words or letters?
 Is any text centred? (Avoid central alignment except for titles)
 Are there 60-70 characters per line?
 Is there enough space between columns?
 Does text follow easily from column to column?
 Is the page layout clear and unfussy?
 Is there a contents list?
 Are page numbers and headings consistent and in the same
place on each page?
 Is there a space between paragraphs?
 Is the text set horizontally?
 Have you set text around illustrations? (This can be confusing)
 If the reader needs to write on the page, is there enough
space?
 If there are images, are they cleared defined and easy to read?
 Are images clearly separated from the text?
 Is the paper matt? (Avoid very glossy paper)
 Is the page a size which is easy to handle?
 Do folds obscure the text?
 Can the document be flattened, so that it can be placed under a
scanner or a screen magnifier?
Extracts taken from the RNIB See it Right Pack, available from:
www.rnib.org.uk
Tel: 020 7388 1266
49
Appendix 5: Standards and guidelines
for remote controls
[In the order of appearance]
1. The following site has a summary of standards used for remote
controls
http://www.cardiac-eu.org/standards/remote_controls.htm
Accessed on March 10 2011 at 11:00
2. In the context of Button Size, Shape and Distinctiveness: Adult
Data: The Handbook of Adult Anthropometric and Strength
Measurements – Data for Design Safety. DTI Publications [May,
1998]
3. In the context of a Remote Control providing feedback:
TRACE Trace, University of Wisconsin [Jan 1998] Accessible
Design of Consumer Products, Section 1: Output/Displays.)
3. In the context of a raised nib:
ES 201 381 Human Factors (HF); Telecommunications keypads
and keyboards; Tactile Identifiers
4. In the context of alphanumeric entry:
ETSI 300 640 Human Factors (HF); Assignment of alphabetic
letters to digits on standard telephone keypad arrays
5. DTG D-Book v6.1 (only available to DTG members)
Chapter 25 contains an overview of the general principles of
remote control design, plus recommendations for the labelling of
remote control buttons and the receiver functions that these
buttons are mapped to.
http://www.dtg.org.uk
6. The following web site provides a checklist for remote controls:
<http://www.cardiaceu.org/guidelines/checklists/remote_checklist.htm>
Accessed on March 10 2011 at 11:00
50
7. This e-accessibility toolkit website has information about remote
controls http://www.eaccessibilitytoolkit.org/toolkit/technology_areas/remote_consoles
Accessed on March 10 2011 at 11:00
51
Appendix 6: Current audio description
standards
In an attempt to achieve qualitative improvement in film/ television
description being produced in the UK, Independent Television
Commission (ITC) in 2000 rolled out a code giving guidance on
how description should be written and produced (ITC guidelines).
This code was updated in 2006 by Ofcom and is now available as
Ofcom's Code on Television Access Services. Aside from the UK,
a number of countries such as Germany, France, Spain, Sweden,
Belgium and Greece also rolled out their guidelines/ standards/
codes for the production of AD in their countries.
5.1 Similarities and differences in audio description
currently being delivered
An in-depth study of these guidelines reveals that they are more
similar than different in nature. Guidelines/ standards/codes as the
national authorities choose to call them (hereon referred to as
guidelines), provide guidance on standards for the production and
presentation of audio description.
In principal these guidelines and/or standards are very similar in
nature; however there are minor differences in a few of the
recommendations i.e. anticipation of the names of characters,
freedom to mention colours or not, use of adjectives and adverbs.
These differences could potentially be because of different formats
of film/ television programming being produced in different
countries. It could also be attributed to the different ways of
watching films / television programmes, cultural differences leading
to relative levels of understanding of set-ups, specific to different
films / television programmes and also different ways in which
audio description is made available i.e. synthetic spoken subtitles
on many foreign films instead of audio description in Finland,
5.2 Desirables for audio description
In this day and age, when content / television programming is not
restricted to any specific geographical location, it may be time to
think about setting an International Audio Description Code that
aligns itself with the basic idea behind the provision of audio
description and can be tweaked to suit different cultural nuances.
52
This universal nature of programming has now opened a window
for a comprehensive code that can be adapted as needed. In time,
it may be possible to attain an understanding between content
providers to set up an exchange of access assets i.e. audio
description and subtitles along with the main piece of content in
order to avoid duplication.
53