Made in IBM Labs: Helping the Blind 'See' Internet Multimedia

IBM today announced a new emerging technology that helps blind and visually impaired people experience streaming video and animation on the Internet. Designed at IBM's Tokyo Research Laboratory, the new multimedia browsing accessibility tool potentially opens a world of rich content to visually impaired people around the world, who number more than 161 million.

The emergence of multimedia content has risen dramatically in the last two years yet people with low or no vision have not been able to enjoy the benefits of these advances. Screen-reading software and self-talking browsers cannot handle multimedia applications, which are designed for intuitive visual use. Visually impaired users cannot see multimedia control buttons appear on a screen. In addition, the audio of a streaming video -- which automatically starts playing after the page is loaded -- interferes with a synthesized assistive voice from screen-reading software, a vital assistant for visually impaired users. Furthermore, most multimedia content operates with a mouse rather than keyboard, making it impossible for visually impaired people to use it.

The new multimedia browsing accessibility tool offers people with visual impairment the same multimedia control features sighted people see and operate with a mouse. To enjoy a streaming video on video sharing websites, for example, visually impaired people can select the "play" button by simply pressing a predefined shortcut key to control the media instead of roaming the content to search for buttons to control the video. The tool also allows users to control video replay speed, volume and even speed up the sound since to people with visual impairment, listening to the sound streaming video offers is painfully slow.

"The new multimedia browsing accessibility tool will enable persons with visual impairments the opportunity to access dynamic multimedia web content, quickly and easily," said Frances West, director, IBM Human Ability and Accessibility Center. "IBM has a long history of developing innovative solutions for persons with disabilities, and this tool is another example of IBM innovation that will enhance the web experience for persons with visual impairments."

The new multimedia browsing accessibility tool can adjust the volume of an individual source, allowing users to identify and listen to different sound sources including screen-reading software and the sound of a video. If a content creator wants to offer a voice narrative to a video, the new accessibility tool provides the flexibility of utilizing the metadata, which contains a text script explaining what is happening on screen. The tool automatically makes adjustments to let voice guidance synchronize with the video, even with the speed control capability.

IBM has plans to open source the new multimedia browsing accessibility tool to accelerate the enhancement and adoption of the tool to make multimedia contents accessible for visually impaired.

Source: IBM

Related stories:

Motorola's Cost-Effective Wireless Ethernet Bridge Enables Connectivity Almost Anywhere
Motorola today announced its new Wireless Ethernet Bridge – the PTP 300 Series. This solution provides enterprises and government agencies with carrier class connectivity while offering a strong return on investment compared with alternatives.
Lenovo Launches Complete PC Solution for Small Businesses with New ThinkPad SL Notebooks
Lenovo today unveiled a complete computing solution for small-to-medium business (SMB) users that includes the new SL series of ThinkPad notebooks, value-added software and unique new services. The trio of notebooks – SL300, SL400 and SL500 - feature cutting-edge technologies, such as built-in high speed mobile broadband connectivity, excellent multimedia capabilities with an optional Blu-Ray DVD player on select models as well as a black glossy cover for a stylish design.
Windows Mobile 6 Update Now Available for U.S. Palm Treo 750 Customers
Palm, Inc. today announced an update to Windows Mobile 6 for Palm Treo 750 smartphone customers in the United States. Windows Mobile 6 brings increased functionality, enhanced user interface and strengthened security and performance to the Treo 750 smartphone, which is offered exclusively in the United States by AT&T. The update is available today as a free download for existing Treo 750 smartphone customers.
RIM Introduces First CDMA-enabled BlackBerry Pearl
Research In Motion today introduced the BlackBerry Pearl 8130, the first BlackBerry Pearl smartphone to run on CDMA networks.
Sony Ericsson announces M600 3G UMTS messaging phone
Sony Ericsson today announces the M600 phone and messaging device. This is a fully-specified email tool and mobile phone rolled into a stylish, slim device featuring a touch screen and handwriting recognition.
New search engine uses human touch
Humans are better at information-gathering than computers. That's the philosophy behind PreFound, the Web's new community-based search engine.
View from the Top: Video telephony
Most people living today do not remember a time before radio, television, and telephones. High school students cannot recall a time before personal computers, and kids entering first grade this September will not remember a time before mobile phones.
Sony Ericsson announces S600, Z520, J210, K608 and W600
On the same day with rival Nokia, Sony Ericsson today announced five new mobile phones.
The S600, Z520, W600, J210 and K608 expand the company's handsets portfolio.

News discussion:

Technology news