Accessible Radio Services An Idea Whose Technology is Arriving Ellyn G. Sheffield Towson University, Maryland Mike S

1. Accessible Radio Services An Idea Whose Technology is Arriving Ellyn G. Sheffield Towson University, Maryland Mike Starling NPR Labs, National Public Radio Washington D.C.  The two questions I�m sure you�re dying to know the answer to.The two questions I�m sure you�re dying to know the answer to.

2. Work supported by: National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) National Public Radio Harris Corporation

3. The impact of accessible radio 10% of the global population, 650M people, have moderate to serious hearing or vision loss Digital radio affords a unique opportunity to reach the blind, the deaf, print-handicapped, the elderly and the disabled. Radio is an immediate, companion medium that provides hundreds of programs not available on TV or web Radio is available during emergencies when power grid is down Radio CAN be a simple yet vital technology for aging baby-boomers accustomed to a wide range of communication services.

4. Current USA accessibility effort Focuses on HD Radio, the mainstream digital radio broadcast system currently being deployed NPR Labs and WGBH National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) developing accessible radio services with a 3-year grant .

5. Accessibility capitalizes on theflexibility of digital radio Service model includes: Multiple channels on a single station Improved sound quality at very low bit-rates Displays that can hold multiple lines of text Time shifting Targeted content

6. 3 critical services will be provided to disabled consumers Emergency notification Radio reading services Captioning for the deaf and hard of hearing

7. Goals of Funded Research Program Demonstration and best operating practice recommendations on Digital Radio Reading Services for the Visually Impaired Demonstration and best operating practice recommendations on Captioned Radio for the D/HH community

8. Digital Rollout in the USA

10. Keys to Deployment

11. NPR Labs� 1St Demonstration of Accessible Radio Services Concept at NAB 2006 Four Channel Extended-Hybrid HD Radio mode: News - 48 kbps Classical - 36 kbps Electronic - 24 kbps Reading Service - 12 kbps 120 kbps total Although the HD Radio system allows for 7 different audio streams, so far only four have been publicly demonstrated, by NPR Labs at the Harris and BE booths during NAB 06. Many stations are offering 3 HD radio channels with good results. If you want to run three channels, be sure to receive experimental authorization to tap the additional bandwidth available in the extended hybrid spectrum to maximize the sound quality on all three channels.Although the HD Radio system allows for 7 different audio streams, so far only four have been publicly demonstrated, by NPR Labs at the Harris and BE booths during NAB 06. Many stations are offering 3 HD radio channels with good results. If you want to run three channels, be sure to receive experimental authorization to tap the additional bandwidth available in the extended hybrid spectrum to maximize the sound quality on all three channels.

12. Radio Reading Services First established on analog subcarriers in 1969 Content includes newspapers, magazines, local advertisements and news, popular books Copyrighted materials exempted by Federal Regulations Over 100 radio reading services in the US and abroad broadcasting at 67kHz or 92kHz on FM public radio stations 1 million analog SCA radios delivered in person or by mail over the last 40 years

13. What value can digital add? Conditional access on mainstream receivers Better audio quality More affordable radios Immediate service

14. Conditional access progress Successfully tested over the air at WUSF-FM in Tampa Encryption provisioning technology provided by NDS CA functionality included on chipsets being produced Q3 2007 On floor at IBC 07

15. Audio quality for reading services Necessary to integrate low bit-rate coder that provides superior audio quality over existing analog SCA�s NPR Labs documented that this can be achieved at 11.8kpbs

17. Captioned Radio Through Advanced Application Services (AAS) data transport, radio broadcast captions can be transmitted Captioning depends on technology and people: Fast text channel Suitably sized display Adjustable display features Buffer for controlling scrolling Data burst to signal emergency alert Captioning providers Design requirements Manufacturing partners AND Funding partners

18. Happily everyone is coming on board Receiver partners emerging iBiquity pledging support of the fast text channel and burst data protocol Designated content providers assuming responsibilities to activate captioning

19. Assessing the needs of the sensory impaired community First year�s effort documented consumer needs An extensive survey was conducted with members of both sensory disabled communities

20. Survey Methodology Goal: Compile as many ideas and opinions as possible about future radio technology directly from consumers with disabilities. To start people thinking we developed two questionnaires that included open-ended questions about technologies and features that could be included in future radios. Wishes and dreams were encouraged!

21. Survey respondents Respondents came from every part of the US, the UK and Canada 130 deaf and hard of hearing 170 blind and visually impaired Respondents either completed surveys via the web or e-mail, or called in their responses

22. Hearing and Vision questionnaire questions

23. Hearing Impaired Results

24. Captioning is the gold standard Captioning should Be accurate Be accessible to people who have both hearing & vision problems (e.g., Deaf/Blind) Give listeners contextual understanding of emotional content, intention of the talk show hosts, and should identify the hosts (split of opinion on appropriateness of interpretations) Include song titles, subtitles and musical lyrics as well as text from talk shows Be synchronized with speech

25. Radios that support captioning Display size paramount Many respondents want larger display with full control over contrast and font size - particularly important for the elderly �Please make it big enough to read without my reading glasses. If I forget them and an alert comes through, I�m cooked.� �Tiny displays and tiny print are out for old, tired eyes� �As I mature I know I need more glare free, larger print captioning�

26. Choice and flexibility matters Respondents want: radios as small as iPods with small displays � �enough for 3 lines of text� home radios with large displays - �the bigger the better� USB ports to connect radio to computer. Fonts, text color, contrast, and speed of text presentation should be user-adjustable Individually controlled speed

27. Synchronization matters �If live captioned, then the delay should be equivalent to real-time captioning of any of tv network news. If pre-recorded news or announcements, the text should be presented in synch or slightly ahead of the voice to allow people to read and hear at the same time� �The flow of talk on radio is so fast that captioning might not be a viable solution. But, if the display were to carry written captioning it could be helpful, if synchronization of the two were good.�

28. Emergency notifications At the top of everyone�s list - Notifications should include weather and natural disasters, but also major traffic jams, road closings and weather/disaster-related closings (i.e., schools) Redundant alerting systems would be helpful. �Flash display, use text, have an attachment antenna that flashes strobe� �Remote vibrating alert such as a pen-size device that combines with existing signal system�

29. Emergency notifications Focus should be on making radio compatible with alerting systems already in place �There�s already the NOAA Weather Radio with SAME Technology for this. However, I find this technology to be too limited in information. It would be nice if expanded support for emergency messages were included.� Ability for radio to be turned on remotely to broadcast an emergency message (iBiquity has developed this)

30. Pause, rewind, catch-up technology Although respondents were enthusiastic about �buffering� technologies, they were concerned about: Cost �Wow, we�re not talking about any little transistor, are we? <smile> Hey, if you can include all these features and make it so the thing is not really expensive, then go for it. But I would tend to favor broad appeal over bells and whistles.� Ability to make features accessible �visual feedback as to where I am when rewinding would be necessary� �make sure there�s feedback as to what buffer you�re in, and some indication on how full the buffer is�

31. VISION IMPAIRED RESULTS

32. Audible feedback Audible feedback considered the most important feature for the blind user Combination of beeps and tones may satisfy some feedback needs for verification of menu selections, but would not provide enough information to be useful in all circumstances Voice output to navigate menu selections considered �gold standard� Ability to disable feature important, especially in situations where quiet is needed (i.e., public places)

33. Voice command Respondents were divided on the usefulness of voice command �(Voice command) sounds great, but a lot of times, if a room is noisy, you are on the street, bus, etc., the voice commands do not work properly. The problem isn�t that blind people can�t enter information into devices using their fingers, its that they can�t see what the �screen� on the device reads, and what the buttons on the device say� Respondents felt voice command would be particularly useful for mobility impaired consumers and aging consumers. �It would be great as long as the directions were easy to understand and follow�

34. Look and feel Mirror currently existing offerings: walkman-style units, tabletop units, stereo component units Small, portable units desired by 99% of respondents For home units, sound quality most important (over looks or size) Affordable Simple to operate

35. Ergonomic design One button, one function! Raised/tactile buttons, good-sized and spaced well, easily identified and learned Respondents unanimously disliked flat keypads �most blind people can readily memorize the layout of a device without tactile differentiation. What is imperative is that there actually be discernable buttons and controls as opposed to a flat-panel surface� Keypads should be laid out in a logical sequence, such as a telephone pad Knobs are desirable

36. Sonalert Talking alarm clock with emergency function would be critical Ability of user to select features/settings is important Important to make alarm clock functionality equally as accessible as main functions.

37. 3 Year Effort Is On Track FCC has authorized extended hybrid FCC has encouraged voluntary industry solutions on accessibility Conditional Access is now being deployed See the demonstrations at NPR Lab booth Questions? esheffield@npr.org