NCBI’s CFIT Leading Cross-sectoral Campaign on Digital Television Accessibility

NCBI’s Centre for Inclusive Technology (CFIT) is leading a cross-sectoral campaign to ensure that the benefits of the digital switchover are fully realised.

During the next year, Ireland will begin switching its national television broadcasts to a new digital system. In 2012 the current analogue broadcasts will be switched off nationwide and everyone will need a digitally-enabled TV or a digital set top box to receive the new digital transmissions. This presents a number of exciting benefits to viewers with vision impairments. However, because this is an enforced change it also presents a threat of social exclusion for many older people and people with disabilities if their needs are not taken fully into account. NCBI’s Centre for Inclusive Technology (CFIT) is leading a cross-sectoral campaign to ensure that the benefits of the digital switch over are fully realised and television in the future is accessible and affordable for everyone.

Television and social inclusion

Television is one of the main sources of information, education and entertainment for Irish citizens. It is also an important component of our culture, democracy and freedom of expression. For this reason, the European Parliament has described access to television as a “fundamental right”. Lack of accessibility and affordability will lead to the large scale social exclusion of people with vision impairments and other disabilities. The campaign aims to ensure that any possible threats to social inclusion are properly addressed.

Audio description and other benefits

The digital switch over has the potential to make television more enjoyable and accessible for many people with vision impairments. Blind television viewers often miss a lot of the content and meaning in programmes such as dramas, comedies, films and documentaries because information that is vital to a full understanding of the programme is often conveyed solely through visual means. Digital television allows an audio description to be transmitted with all television programmes. This is a commentary inserted between the dialogue that provides a verbal description of objects, actions, body language and other important visual information. With audio description, programmes really come alive. The NCBI Media Centre produces audio descriptions in its state of the art recording studios in Finglas. A complete series of About the House has recently been completed and is currently being broadcast by RTÉ on Sunday mornings. With the switch to digital television, viewers will be able to switch the audio description on or off themselves, making it possible for the main Irish channels RTE1&2, TV3 and TG4 to include audio descriptions with programmes broadcast during peak viewing hours. This will greatly increase the understanding and enjoyment of blind viewers.

People with low vision often have trouble reading the on-screen text used for programme names, electronic programme guides, menus and subtitles. Digital broadcasts allow the viewer to control the size and colour of this text, making it easier to read. For blind viewers, this text can be spoken out to them by the set top box, giving them full access to programme information and channel navigation.

Issues that need to be addressed

These developments are very welcome and NCBI will be pressing for their full implementation. But there are still many other issues that need to be addressed to ensure that the new digital television service will be fully accessible and affordable for people with vision impairments.

• The new set top boxes must be fully accessible to people with vision impairments, including the voice output and control over the presentation of on-screen text in menus and electronic programme guides;

• Financial and practical help must be provided where needed for the purchase and setup of the new equipment;

• Information about the switch over process must be provided in accessible formats including large print, audio and Braille;

• Equipment and remote controls must be fully tested for ease of use by older people, people with vision impairments and other disabilities;

• A large number of programmes should be broadcast with audio description, including the most popular dramas, films and comedies;

• People with vision impairments must be represented at all stages of the digital television switch over.

The TV Access campaign

To address these issues and press for these requirements to be met, NCBI CFIT is leading a collaborative campaign involving organisations across the disability, ageing and poverty sectors. Its aim is to make sure nobody is left behind and that the benefits of the new digital technologies are fully realised for people with disabilities and older people.
In the ‘TV Access’ campaign, NCBI is teaming up with a large number of organisations, including the Disability Federation of Ireland, the Irish Deaf Society, the Central Remedial Clinic, Enable Ireland, Age Action and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. This is the first time these organisations have got together to influence the development and rollout of the technologies that drive the Information Society.
The campaign will involve lobbying and practical actions on a wide scale and a number of activities have already taken place. In May this year, NCBI CFIT carried out successful user tests of digital audio described broadcasts for RTÉ. This was followed by a seminar held at RTÉ’s studios early in June which was attended by representatives of Government, industry regulators, broadcasters, set top box manufacturers and disability organisations. During the seminar, staff from RNIB’s Access and Innovation Group demonstrated some accessible set top box hardware and software which they have developed in conjunction with technology companies. The audience was able to hear talking menus and other access features working with digital broadcasts.

The full list of organisations participating in TV Access is:
NCBI, Disability Federation of Ireland, Central Remedial Clinic, Irish Deaf Society, Age Action, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Enable Ireland, DeafHear, Irish Hard of Hearing Association, People with Disabilities in Ireland, Kildare Access Association.