Audio description

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Blind viewers are dreaming of streaming

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Video-on-demand (VOD) or streaming video services are seen as the new way of delivering content to people where they can choose how and when to view that content, rather than rely on time-limited broadcast schedules. In Australia, services such as Netflix, ABC iview, Foxtel on Demand, Presto and Stan have gained lots of publicity and secured new customers quite rapidly.

Left hand with extended index finger pressing a holographic play button

People who are blind or vision impaired have also been excited by these new developments, but a key issue for them is whether the content is audio described or not and whether the platforms to access these services are accessible.

Taxonomy: 
TV & video
News
Television
TV terms
TV access
Disability
Blind or vision impaired
Inclusion
Audio description

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Ofcom consults on accessibility of on-screen TV guides

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The UK communications regulator Ofcom has issued a consultation paper outlining changes it is proposing to make electronic program guides (EPGs) more accessible for blind and vision impaired TV viewers.

TV remote resting on a flat wooden surface next to an open magazine

Taxonomy: 
TV & video
International policy and legislation
News
Television
Audio navigation
Talking menus
Ofcom, Office of Communications
TV terms
TV access
Disability
Blind or vision impaired
Solutions
Inclusion
Audio description

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Five tips to make the web work better in your language

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In late May, Dr Scott Hollier travelled to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to teach a web accessibility course to 22 students. As part of the assignment work, the students learnt how to use the basic functionality of screen readers and other Assistive Technology (AT). While the work went well, it quickly became apparent that there were a number of issues relating to the way in which Arabic was supported by the tools, and how those tools interacted with the web.

Translate button on a keyboard amidst keys labelled with multiple languages

There are several reasons why the web becomes more complicated for non-English speaking users, and it’s a combination of a number of factors:

Taxonomy: 
General
Web
International policy and legislation
News
Practical web accessibility
Policy
Disability
Blind or vision impaired
Deaf or hearing impaired
Solutions
Captions
Inclusion
Audio description
Digital media and technology: 
Standards
ATAG
Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines
Section 508
WCAG
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Techniques
Technologies
W3C
Web browsers
Assistive technology
Screen readers
Mobile operating systems
Devices
Smartphones

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Developer discusses the creation of handheld audio description device

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In a recent interview, Bryan Gould, Accessible Learning and Assessment Technologies Director at the National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) in the USA, talked about the development of the Durateq, a handheld audio description device which is now in use in Disney theme parks.

Spaceship Earth structure at Walt Disney World's EPCOT theme park, illuminated at night

Taxonomy: 
General
The arts
Digital technology
News
Cinema & arts
Audio navigation
Disability
Blind or vision impaired
Inclusion
Audio description

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UK channels breach rules by not providing access in other countries

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The UK communications regulator Ofcom has found that a number of UK-based channels owned by AXN and MTG breached access regulations by not providing enough captioning or audio description on services broadcast to Italy, Denmark and Sweden in 2014.

Little girl pointing remote control at a cartoon on TV

Taxonomy: 
TV & video
International policy and legislation
News
Ofcom, Office of Communications
TV access
Disability
Blind or vision impaired
Deaf or hearing impaired
Captions
Inclusion
Audio description

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Study will review disabled consumer experiences with video on demand

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Curtin University academic Katie Ellis will investigate disabled consumer experiences of subscription video-on-demand (VOD) services in Australia in her project ‘Accessing Video on Demand: A study of disability and streaming television’.

Left hand pointing a remote control at a Smart TV

Taxonomy: 
General
TV & video
Video
Web
Research & policy
Australian policy and legislation
News
Q&A
Television
ACCAN, Australian Communications Consumer Action Network
Policy
TV terms
Catchup services
TV access
Disability
Blind or vision impaired
Deaf or hearing impaired
Solutions
Captions
Closed captions
Inclusion
Audio description

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Audio description trial on iview enters third month

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The trial of audio description on the ABC’s iview service is about to enter its third month, with feedback from viewers on the choice of programs and quality of the description being very positive.

ABC iview icon

Since the trial began in April, over 12,000 drama programs and over 5,000 factual programs have been played on iview with the audio description activated. The most popular drama program so far has been Poldark, and the most popular factual program The Killing Season.

Taxonomy: 
TV & video
News
TV terms
Catchup services
TV access
Disability
Blind or vision impaired
Solutions
Inclusion
Audio description

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Blind viewer sues ABC for not providing audio description

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Suzanne Hudson, a blind television viewer, has launched a case against the ABC in the Federal Circuit Court, claiming that it has unlawfully discriminated against her by not providing a regular audio description service for the blind and vision impaired.

Headphones resting atop a vintage microphone. Image credit: Ilmicrofono Oggiono via Flickr

Taxonomy: 
General
TV & video
Australian policy and legislation
TV access
Disability
Blind or vision impaired
Solutions
Inclusion
Audio description

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Accessible Live Events call for papers

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The University of Antwerp is hosting a special international symposium on Accessible Live Events on 29 April 2016 and is seeking proposals for papers and presentations.

Audience cheering whilst facing the stage at a live performance. A person's hands are raised in the foreground making a 'heart' shape.

Taxonomy: 
General
The arts
News
Cinema & arts
The Arts Terms
Theatre
Disability
Blind or vision impaired
Deaf or hearing impaired
Solutions
Captions
Inclusion
Audio description

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UK regulator releases access requirements for 2016

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The UK communications regulator Ofcom has released its list of TV channels which will be required to provide access services – captioning, audio description and signing – in 2015.

Remote control resting on a TV guide

Taxonomy: 
TV & video
International policy and legislation
News
Ofcom, Office of Communications
TV terms
Digital TV
TV access
Disability
Blind or vision impaired
Deaf or hearing impaired
Solutions
Captions
Inclusion
Audio description

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