Guidelines at a glance

This page provides a listing of all the universal design guidelines for digital tv eqipment and services organised in 4 sections:

1. consumer equipment
2. programme content
3. customer services
4. additional resources

1. consumer equipment - section introduction and index

1. hardware, connectivity and set up
   • ensure that packaging is safe and easy to open
   • include all essential accessories
   • ensure that external connections are easy to reach, clearly marked and secure
   • automatically tune in and number channels and inform users of changes
   • allow operation without the remote control
   • ensure that users can easily restart the equipment after a failure
   • allow users to select preferences on initial set-up, with universal defaults
   • provide a headphone facility with separate controls
2. on-screen interfaces
   • make navigation and menu selection easy
   • ensure that information can be understood by all users
   • ensure that text and graphics are readable by users with limited vision or reading disorders
   • ensure that information is available to users with no sight
   • ensure that information is available to users who are deaf or hard of hearing
   • ensure that users know when content access services are available
   • ensure that users always know what is happening
   • eliminate the risk of causing seizures
   • allow individual users to quickly configure the user interface according to their needs and preferences
3. remote controls
   • ensure that the remote control is as simple as possible, given the required functionality
   • ensure that the remote control can be used with low physical effort
   • ensure that the remote control can be used by people with limited vision
   • ensure that the remote control can be used without requiring sight
   • ensure that the remote control can be used by people who have difficulty reading or understanding text or symbols
   • provide convenient access to essential universald design features via the remote control
4. content access service provision
   • decode and record content access servies when they are included with a programme
   • allow supplementary audio tracks to be routed through the headphones socket
5. spoken output
   • include the ability to speak all displayed information
   • speak the appropriate information at the appropriate time and in the appropriate order
   • ensure that the spoken output is understandable
   • put the information into the right words
   • give the user control
6. documentation and consumer information
   • sources of infromation used for the guidelines on documentation and consumer information
   • ensure that information can be understood by all users
   • ensure that information is available to every user in a form that is accessible to them
   • include as much useful information as possible with the product

2. Programme content - section introduction and index

1. flashing content
   • eliminate the risk of causing seizures
2. text and graphics displayed within a programme
   • ensure that the text is readable by all users including those with limited vision or reading disorders
   • ensure that information is available to users with no sight
   • ensure that information can be understood by all users
3. language translation
   • provide translations in the language of significant audience segments
   • ensure that subtitles are easy to read
   • ensure that subtitles match the timing of on-screen activity
   • ensure that subtitles provide equivalent information
   • test the quality of subtitles and invite audience feedback
4. subtitles for people who are deaf or hard of hearing
   • ensure that subtitles are easy to read
   • ensure that subtitles match the timing of on-screen activity
   • subtitle all relevant audio content
   • ensure that subtitles provide equivalent information
   • adopt recognised good practice style guidelines for subtitling where they exist
   • test the quality of subtitles and invite audience feedback
5. audio discription
   • sources of information used for the guidelines on audio description
   • priorities programmes according to the costs and benefits of audio description
   • describe the most relevant visual content
   • ensure that descriptions are accurate and unfiltered
   • insert descriptions between the programme sounds
   • adopt a style that is easy to listen to and unobtrusive
   • use language and a style of delivery that is consistent with the programme content
   • adopt a language and style that is suited to the audience
   • adopt recognised good practice style guidelines where they exist
   • test the quality of audio description and invite audience feedback
6. spoken subtitles
   • include spoken subtitles with programmes as a supplementary audio track
7. sign language interpreting
   • sources of information used for the guidelines on sign language interpreting
   • priortise programmes according to the costs and benefits of signing
   • ensure that the signing is understandable
   • ensure that the signer is easy to see and read
   • ensure that the timing of signing is relevant to the on-screen activity
   • ensure that interpretations provide equivalent information
   • use language and a style of delivery that is consistent with the programme content
   • test the quality of sign language interpretation and invite audience feedback

3. customer services - section introduction and index

1. develop universal customer service policies and procedures
2. train staff in universal customer service
3. ensure that public premises are accessible to and usable by all customers
4. use appropriate means to communicate with customers
5. where possible,provide personal assistance
6. ensure that customers are aware of the universal design features of products and services

4. additional resources - section introduction and index

1. television viewers experiences:case studies
   • case study 1: alot of things can be too complicated
   • case study 2: audio description reveals the plot
   • case study 3: deaf customer faces multiple issues
2. legislation & regulation
3. standards
4. references & bibliography