Internet TV devices

Internet TV, such as Apple TV, the D-Link Boxee Box and Google TV, focuses on streaming internet content from your personal computer, laptop or other device, to your television via an active internet connection. This allows you to view content such as movies, TV shows, YouTube videos, Internet radio, podcasts and photos wirelessly through your internet TV device, on your television.

For people who are blind and vision impaired, the most important accessibility feature is the inclusion of a speech function that allows you to navigate menus and program guides. For those who are Deaf and hearing impaired, watching videos through the internet TV is dependent on the availability of captioned content online.

Some overseas sites have a significant amount of captioned online content, but do not allow viewing in other countries. It is important, when buying an internet TV, to consider how much video content is available online with captions, for example on iTunes and YouTube, as well as catch-up services.

The only online TV catch-up service with a significant amount of captioned content in Australia is the ABC’s iView, with all other free-to-air channels providing very little to no captioning on their online players.

Read our access review of Apple TV.