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Accessibility for Android TV™

profile.country.DE.title
Peter_S.
Genius
4,101  Views
March 2019
March 2019

This article describes some interesting features for barrier-free operation of your Android TV.

 

Vision Assist

  • Screen Reader (For Android™ 8.0 Oreo™)
    Spoiler

    Screen reader works by vocalising information on the TV screen, such as the programme guide and setting screen, which people with visual impairment might not be able to fully acquire from their sight.
    In order to use the screen reader function, an Internet connection is necessary.
     

    There are two ways to enable or disable Screen reader.

    1. Accessibility shortcut
      By pressing and holding the MUTING button on the TV remote control for three seconds, Screen reader will be activated or deactivated.
      NOTE: The default setting of this Accessibility shortcut function is set to Screen reader. This accessibility shortcut function is not available during the initial setup.
       
    2. Activating Screen reader from the Settings
      1. Press the Home button on your TV remote control.
      2. The Settings icon is located at the upper right-hand corner of the Home menu. Press and hold the Up arrow button for about three seconds, press and hold the Right arrow button for about two seconds to select Settings, and press the Enter button.
      3. Press the Down arrow button to select Accessibility, and press the Enter button.
      4. Press the Down arrow button to select Screen reader and press the Enter button
      5. Select Enable and press the Enter button.
      6. Select OK and press the Enter button.

     

    Changing the language

    1. Press the Home button on your TV remote control.
    2. The Settings icon is located at the upper right-hand corner of the Home menu. Press and hold the Up arrow button for about three seconds, press and hold the Right arrow button for about two seconds to select Settings, and press the Enter button.
    3. Press the Down arrow button to select Accessibility, and press the Enter button.
    4. Press the Down arrow button to select Text to speech, and press the Enter button.
    5. Press Down arrow button to select Engine configuration, and press the Enter button.
    6. Press Down arrow button to select Language, and press the Enter button.
    7. Select your desired language from the list and press the Enter button. The screen reader function works when the Language in Settings matches the language you selected in Engine configuration.

     

    Changing the speech rate

    1. Press the Home button on your TV remote control. 
    2. The Settings icon is located at the upper right-hand corner of the Home menu. Press and hold the Up arrow button for about three seconds, press and hold the Right arrow button for about two seconds to select Settings, and press the Enter button.
    3. Press the Down arrow button to select Accessibility, and press the Enter button.
    4. Press the Down arrow button to select Text to speech, and press the Enter button.
    5. Press the Down arrow button to select Speech rate, and press the Enter button.
    6. Select your preferred rate from Very slow to Fastest, and press the Enter button.

     

    NOTES:

    • The screen reader function is available only for focus points.
    • The screen reader function is available only for some areas and languages.
    • Only some apps such as YouTube support screen reader.
  • Voice search
    Spoiler

    The voice search function helps you find the content you are looking for by listening to your vocalised (spoken) search words. In order to use the voice search function, an Internet connection is necessary.

    When you are using an app, search results in the app will be displayed on your TV screen. Below are examples of apps where the voice search function can be used:

    • Google Play Store: You can search for apps available in the Google Play Store.
    • Google Play Movies & TV: You can search for content available in Google Play Movies & TV.
    • YouTube: You can search for content available in YouTube.
    • TV broadcast: TV programmes related to your search word are displayed on the TV screen.

    NOTE: If the app you are using is not supported by the voice search function, search results from YouTube content are displayed.

     

    How to use the voice search function

    1. Press the  (MIC) button or  (The Google Assistant) button on the TV remote control, depending on your TV model.
    2. Speak into the microphone at the top of the TV remote control, such as a movie title.
  • Audio Description/Video Description
    Spoiler

    The primary functional purpose of audio descriptions (video descriptions) is to convey additional information that is usually acquired visually, such as situational settings and scenery depictions, to people with visual impairment as complementary narration.

    By pressing the AUDIO button on the TV remote control and selecting Audio Description (Video Description) with AD, you can listen to a verbal description of the visual content.

    NOTE: The availability, applicability, and specifications of this function depend on the programme as well as your country/region.

  • Tactile dots on the TV remote button
    Spoiler

    The TV remote control has tactile dots on the PLAY, AUDIO, numerical 5, and Channel Up buttons (except when the remote control does not have these corresponding buttons) to help you locate the target button easily without looking.

    For example, the Channel and Volume buttons are the same shape, but you can distinguish between the two because the Channel Up button has a tactile dot.

  • Text Magnification (For Android™ 8.0 Oreo™)
    Spoiler

    The text magnification function is useful for people who have difficulty reading text on the TV screen because the text is too small to read.

     

    Enabling text magnification

    1. Press the Home button on your TV remote control.
    2. Select Settings at the upper right-hand corner of the Home screen and press the Enter button.
    3. Press the Down arrow button to select Accessibility, and press the Enter button.
    4. Press the Down arrow button to select Text magnification, and press the Enter button.
    5. Select Enable and press the Enter button.
    6. Select OK and press the Enter button.
    7. Press the Home button to exit.

    NOTE: The availability of the text magnification function varies depending on the country/region/language.

     

    Changing the colour of the text

    1. Press the Home button on your TV remote control.
    2. Select Settings at the upper right-hand corner of the Home screen and press the Enter button.
    3. Press the Down arrow button to select Accessibility, and press the Enter button.
    4. Press the Down arrow button to select Text magnification, and press the Enter button.
    5. Press the Down arrow button to select Configuration, and press the Enter button.
    6. Select Colour and press the Enter button.
    7. Press the Down arrow button to select your preferred combination of text and background colour from White on black, Black on white, and Yellow on black, and then press the Enter button.
    8. Press the Home button to exit.

     

    Changing the duration of the appearance of text

    1. Press the Home button on your TV remote control.
    2. Select Settings at the upper right-hand corner of the Home screen and press the Enter button.
    3. Press the Down arrow button to select Accessibility, and press the Enter button.
    4. Press the Down arrow button to select Text magnification, and press the Enter button.
    5. Press the Down arrow button to select Configuration, and press the Enter button.
    6. Press the Down arrow button to select Duration, and press the Enter button.
    7. Press the Up arrow or Down arrow button to select your preferred duration from Very short to Very long, and then press the Enter button.
    8. Press the Home button to exit.

     

    NOTE: Similar functions are also available on the Internet Browser 

    • Zoom - Magnifies not only the text but all elements on the screen.
    • Text Size - Select a text size of either Normal or Large.

Hearing Assist

  • Closed Caption/Subtitle (For Android™ 8.0 Oreo™)
    Spoiler

    Subtitles are typically transcriptions of the audio portion of content displayed on the TV screen. They include sound effects and scenic narration, but whether non-speech elements are available depends on the content.


    Display subtitles on the TV screen

    The subtitle feature is enabled by pressing the SUBTITLE (CC) button on the TV remote control.
    Content for which subtitles are available are as follows:

    • TV broadcasts: Subtitles may not be available for some TV broadcasts.
    • Movies: Subtitles may not be available for some movies.
    • Apps such as Google Play Movies & TV: Some apps, such as Netflix, enable subtitles by using their own settings menu instead of pressing the SUBTITLE (CC) button on the TV remote control. In addition, some apps can change the text size and colour.

      NOTES:
      • Visit the support site of the apps for detailed information, including how to enable features.
      • The specifications of Google Play Movies & TV are subject to change without notice.

Action Assist

  • Switch Access (For Android™ 8.0 Oreo™)
    Spoiler

    Switch Access helps people with dexterity impairments operate the TV by connecting switch devices.
    Instead of pressing small buttons on the TV remote control, Switch Access allows users to move the focus on your TV screen and select desired items, such as apps and Inputs, by pressing a button on a switch device.

    NOTE: Switch devices are sold by companies such as AbleNet and Enabling Devices. Please check the compatibility with your TV beforehand.

     

    Connecting USB switch devices to your TV

    1. Connect a USB switch device to the USB port on the TV.
    2. Follow the instruction manual of your switch device for further usage and additional information.
      an image of USB switch device

     

    Connecting Bluetooth switch devices to your TV

    Set your Bluetooth switch device into pairing mode.

    1. Press the Home button on your TV remote control.
    2. Select Settings at the upper right-hand corner of the Home screen and press the Enter button.
    3. Press the Down arrow button to select Bluetooth settings, and press the Enter button.
    4. Press the Down arrow button to select Add device, and press the Enter button.
    5. Select your Bluetooth switch device when it is displayed on the TV screen, and press the Enter button.
    6. Your switch device name is displayed under Registered devices.
      an image of Bluetooth switch device

     

    Enabling Switch Access

    A computer mouse is required to enable Switch Access.

    1. Press the Home button on your TV remote control.
    2. Select Settings at the upper right-hand corner of the Home screen and press the Enter button.
    3. Press the Down arrow button to select Accessibility, and press the Enter button.
    4. Press the Down arrow button to select Switch Access, and press the Enter button.
    5. Select Enable and press the Enter button.
    6. Select OK and press the Enter button.
    7. Wait for the Switch Access Setup Guide window to be displayed on your TV screen.
    8. Connect a computer mouse to your TV and select One switch or Two switches.
    9. Select NEXT.
    10. Select Linear scanning or Row-column scanning.
    11. Select NEXT.
    12. Press a switch to activate Switch Access.
    13. Choose your desired scanning speed from Slow, Medium, Fast, and Custom, and select NEXT.
    14. Test your setup by following the directions on your TV screen.
    15. Select FINISH.

    By selecting PREVIOUS, you can go back to the previous page and change your setting.

     

    NOTE: Operation is not guaranteed for all switch devices.

  • TV remote control design for tabletop use
    Spoiler
    The BRAVIA remote control (except Touchpad Remote) is designed to be stable on flat surfaces so that you can press a button accurately with one finger.
  • Accessibility Shortcut (For Android™ 8.0 Oreo™)
    Spoiler

    The accessibility shortcut function provides an easier and faster way to switch your favourite accessibility function.
    Instead of starting from the setting menu, you can turn your desired accessibility function on or off by pressing and holding the MUTING button on the TV remote control for three seconds.

    NOTES:

    1. The default setting of the Accessibility shortcut function is set to Screen reader.
    2. The accessibility shortcut function is not available during the initial setup.

     

    Changing the assigned shortcut function:

    1. Press the Home button on your TV remote control.
    2. Select Settings at the upper right-hand corner of the Home screen and press the Enter button.
    3. Press the Down arrow button to select Accessibility, and press the Enter button.
    4. Press the Down arrow button to select Accessibility shortcut, and press the Enter button.
    5. Press the Down arrow button to select Shortcut service, and press the Enter button.
    6. Select your preferred accessibility function and press the Enter button.
    7. Select OK and press the Enter button.

 

*Android and Android TV are trademarks of Google LLC; Oreo is a trademark of Mondelez International, Inc. group. 

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