Sony begins campaign for audio description
By Julian Clover
July 26, 2007 15.39 UK
Sony is pressing the television industry to provide products and services for the blind and partially sighted. The manufacturer’s Bravia television range now provides access to the audio description service available over the digital terrestrial network. Audio description provides an additional explanation of visual plot points to enable the visually impaired better follow the storyline.
“We are all used to seeing and using subtitles on TV, but what many people don’t know is that the technology exists to make a similarly useful service available for the 30 million or so visually impaired people we have in Europe,” says Andreas Ditter, VP, Sony Europe.
The UK regulator Ofcom already has prescribed levels of up to 8% as to the amount of audio description that should be carried by broadcasters. In many cases the amount has been exceeded. However, the UK is the only country to mandate audio description.
Related Articles- More UK Boxes
- A sign from beyond the grave
- RTE stages access services trial
- New visions for mobile
- Ocean Blue works with RNIB to improve TV access
- Virgin puts broadband onto telegraph poles
- Shares climb on Sky delisting rumour
- Samsung launches first Full HD 3D LED TV
- Sky favourite to pick up Virgin TV business
- LG first with UK 3DTV model
