URC based accessible TV

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a new architecture to make TV sets accessible for all. Our proposal is based on the ISO/IEC 24752 Universal Remote Console Framework standard. This standard defines an abstract user interface layer called the "user interface socket" and allows the development of pluggable user interfaces for any type of user. Since this architecture is standards based, the development of compatible pluggable interfaces is open to any third party. Besides, a prototype of the proposed architecture has been built. In this prototype, the Universal Control Hub (UCH) has been used as the URC framework implementation, a PC with Windows Vista Media Center has been used as a TV Set-top box, and two pluggable UIs have been developed. These UIs consist of an accessible DHTML page for the visually impaired, and a multimodal client, which allows interaction via touch screen and speech. Finally, these two pluggable UIs have been validated with user groups with special needs and preliminary results show encouraging results.

REFERENCES

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: Interaction styles (e.g., commands, menus, forms, direct manipulation)

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.2 Design Tools and Techniques
          Subjects: User interfaces

  H. Information Systems
  H.1 MODELS AND PRINCIPLES
      H.1.2 User/Machine Systems
          Subjects: Human factors
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: Input devices and strategies (e.g., mouse, touchscreen); User-centered design; Standardization; Theory and methods

  J. Computer Applications
  J.7 COMPUTERS IN OTHER SYSTEMS
      Subjects: Command and control; Consumer products

General Terms:
Design, Experimentation, Human Factors, Standardization

Keywords:
accessible tv, iso/iec 24752, multimodal interaction, pluggable user interfaces, universal control hub - uch, universal remote console -urc