Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Best smart TV for the blind? (self.Blind)
submitted by throwaway153463
Which smart TV has the best screen reader? I’d ideally like to avoid external boxes like the Apple TV. Also I am in the UK if it makes any difference.
AndAdapt 1 points 3y ago
Mid range and high end Samsung televisions have voice guide. THis works fantastic for OTA channels in the UK. Makes the menus and TV guide accessible. Importantly when you change channel it will announce the channel and the show that is currently on.
For the smart apps voice guide is rubbish. Most of the elements just dont work at all.
For services like Netflix, iPlayer etc i use an Apple TV.
For the smart apps voice guide is rubbish. Most of the elements just dont work at all.
For services like Netflix, iPlayer etc i use an Apple TV.
Prefect316 1 points 3y ago
FireTv is my solution, either via a FireStick or a Fire TV enabled tv.
Netflix can be sluggish with TTS but definitely useable. iPlayer I have to cast from my computer though since the app is a dud on FireTv. Same with the iTV Hub.
Most other apps on FireTv are quite useable with the VoiceView screen reader which is installed by default on the Fire TV OS.
Netflix can be sluggish with TTS but definitely useable. iPlayer I have to cast from my computer though since the app is a dud on FireTv. Same with the iTV Hub.
Most other apps on FireTv are quite useable with the VoiceView screen reader which is installed by default on the Fire TV OS.
Hellsacomin94 1 points 3y ago
I believe Sam from the Youtube channel “ The Blind Life” reviewed a Samsung Smart TV a while ago. I have a similar model, it can be set to read the on-screen menus to you. I also have a Amazon Fire TV that will use Alexia to take verbal input and read output. I think this is a lower cost, lower performance solution than Apple TV. It has much more content though, at least that’s my opinion. Good luck!
RJHand 1 points 3y ago
In all honesty, the only smart tv I've heard of that had any kind of screenreader was apple tv with voiceover. I've never used it though. I didn't know the others mentioned here had anything.
SightlessBastard 1 points 3y ago
I know, you said, you want to avoid set top boxes. But if I were you, I would look into the NVIDIA Shield. In my opinion, it's the best, we can have at the moment.
But, if you really want to go with a Smart TV, your best bet would be something, that runs Android, I guess...
But, if you really want to go with a Smart TV, your best bet would be something, that runs Android, I guess...
throwaway153463 [OP] 1 points 3y ago
I thought third-party apps like Netflix and BBC iPlayer didn’t work with talkback on android TV?
SightlessBastard 1 points 3y ago
Since I am not living in the UK, I can't say anything about IPlayer. But Netflix works very well on AndroidTV. Much better than on the AppleTV.
Unfortunately, Amazon Prime Video doesn't work on the ShieldTV. But for that, you could still use the Chromecast feature on the ShieldTV.
Which Apps do you plan to use on your SmartTV in particular?
Unfortunately, Amazon Prime Video doesn't work on the ShieldTV. But for that, you could still use the Chromecast feature on the ShieldTV.
Which Apps do you plan to use on your SmartTV in particular?
throwaway153463 [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Mostly just Netflix and a few other UK TV channel streaming apps. But yes I could just crome cast anything I need to. Thanks.
SightlessBastard 1 points 3y ago
I see. Well, Netflix works well. What I probably should mention is, that Netflix doesn’t really use talkback. I think, it uses googles TTS directly. it doesn’t really make much of a difference. It is a little bit more sluggish than the regular talkback. But it is not as bad as it is on the Fire TV.
BBC iPlayer and I TV hub are standard apps on the shield. I think, there is a way to make them appear outside the UK. I will try that tomorrow. Maybe, I can tell you by then, if they are accessible or not.
BBC iPlayer and I TV hub are standard apps on the shield. I think, there is a way to make them appear outside the UK. I will try that tomorrow. Maybe, I can tell you by then, if they are accessible or not.
retrolental_morose 1 points 3y ago
interested to see responses here.
We're running a dumb Toshiba, a TVOnics talking box with a Chromecast and an Amazon Fire stick through HDMI passthrough and a DVD player hooked up to SCART (to replace the fancy blu-ray player that didn't have a button on the remote to cycle through disk audio tracks).
We're running a dumb Toshiba, a TVOnics talking box with a Chromecast and an Amazon Fire stick through HDMI passthrough and a DVD player hooked up to SCART (to replace the fancy blu-ray player that didn't have a button on the remote to cycle through disk audio tracks).
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