• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

SEENIT

TV, Film, Broadband, Pay-TV, Games, Computing and Tech | News, Comment & Reviews

  • NEWS
  • FEATURES
  • ADVERTISE
  • Twitter

YouView bolsters accessibility options for visually impaired users

November 27, 2013 - Martin Hoscik@seenituk

The update adds support for the ‘Grid 2’ computer programme.
The update adds support for the ‘Grid 2’ computer programme.
Connected TV service YouView is due to deliver a major upgrade aimed at making the service more accessible to TV viewers with visual and cognitive impairments.

The company has worked with the Royal National Institute for the Blind and other disability charities to implement a screen zoom feature and support for USB keyboards as well as the ‘Grid 2’ programme which lets users control their YouView box via a computer with a mouse or single button on a keyboard.

A software update will be rolled-out to shop bought YouView boxes next week and the new features will be added to BT and TalkTalk boxes early next year.

In October YouView introduced a high contrast colour scheme for the user interface and the ability to remove the mini-screen shown in some screens which can be distracting for those with cognitive impairments.

It also recently introduced text-to-speech support for its iOS and Android remote recording apps.

At a media briefing on Wednesday the enhancements were praised by the RNIB’s Steve Tyler who said they made the platform more accessible than any of its rivals.

Mr Tyler said that many people were reluctant to accept they had a visual impairment and that by embedding accessibility features into its core functionality, YouView was enabling them to continue enjoying their favourite programmes.

Susie Buckridge, Director of Product at YouView said: “We hope these accessibility updates will give a wider range of customers the means to discover great TV and radio, by providing the tools to make our user interface and mobile applications easy to navigate.

“We are particularly pleased with the new zoom function which is a UK first and will give visually impaired users a much clearer user journey.”

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Tagged With: TalkTalk, YouView

Blu-ray and Gaming Top Buys

Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments is coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray

Coming to America is getting a 4K Blu-ray release

Season 2 of Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone is coming to Blu-ray and DVD

RECENT

Disney+ confirms air dates for The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Loki and Turner & Hooch

ITV announces new Bear Grylls specials with Jonny Wilkinson and Nicola Adams

Reemah Sakaan named as BritBox’s new international CEO

The Secret Garden takes Number 1 spot in latest Official Film Chart

Popular

Sky bags first run rights to Entertainment One catalogue

Freesat adds BBC Sounds to app line-up

Coming To America sequel to get global release on Amazon Prime Video

Hitman developers announce new James Bond game

Featured

Ofcom calls for greater social and geographic diversity in TV and radio

BT Sport app now available on Now TV devices

StarzPlay is now available from Rakuten TV

Britbox – What does the new UK-centric streaming service offer?

ADVERTISE ON SEENIT

We’re pleased to offer a number of advertising opportunities to high quality brands including sponsored content, competitions and advertising placements.

Please contact us for details.

MORE FROM US

Copyright © 2021 · All Rights Reserved · Contact Us · Copyright · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy