BBC iPlayer (Also known as iLater to Deaf community)
Please note this was in my draft folder and I forgot all about it
In the web news last few days are headlines such as:
BBC relaunches its iPlayer service
BBC iPlayer set to remove Beta tag on Christmas Day
Is iPlayer heading for a Christmas nightmare
On Christmas day the BBC iPlayer officially leaves Beta, and also marks the start of the consumer marketing.
Taking a few quotes below from the guardian newspaper :
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/dec/13/bbc.digitalmedia
‘The BBC has relaunched the iPlayer on-demand programming service today as a more user-friendly offering available to Mac users for the first time.’ Eric Huggers, the BBC group controller of future media and technology, also revealed today that the corporation is adding social media tools and better integration of features on the new look bbc.co.uk website, which will relaunch by the end of this week. The overhaul of the five-month-old iPlayer means it is now accessible for users on Macs and Linux-powered computers as well as PCs and will offer both streaming and downloading of content.’
Ah Now see that famous word is ‘accessible…’
My question is: Accessible to whom? Its not accessible to the deaf and it has now been 9 weeks without subtitles.
‘From Christmas Day, the BBC’s revamped iPlayer will be promoted in a marketing campaign. Speaking at the Future Media conference in
Why Christmas day? Do you think we would be too busy doing other things after a big Christmas meal? Will we have time to watch TV?
Although I am not a virgin media user, as we can’t get cable round our area, last time I visited in-laws house they have catch up TV how ever subtitles do not work.
I’d be very hard pressed to buy virgin media as they do not offer any new or value for money compared to the BBC.
But still it’s not accessible…
Its been over 15 weeks now and still subtitles don’t work and what I find amazing of all the technology in this world adding subtitles is the hardest thing anyone has to do!
It is becoming increasingly apparent that we cannot wholly rely on the goodwill of the industry and their interpretation of “reasonable adjustment”. Subtitling / Signing and other forms of access ought to be standardised and made compulsory, not a mere after-thought. Don’t ya just hate it having to rely on bloggers, obscure news and forums to put the flag up whenever a product have been made accessible and we all go “Whoopee!”. My general notion that if it is obligatory, we can move onto other stuffs to whinge about, more important stuff since access to the media is a fundamental human right and no-one should be subjected to “information poverty”. We’ve been complaining about subtitling since the 80s!! Oh gosh, I am fed up now and in dire need of a comforting cuppa tea.
BTW, Virgin is supplying me broadband and line rental at £2 per month (overall cost @ £13 but £9 knocked off for not providing Typetalk rebate). The cable is fibre optic down my neck of wood. It been ever-reliable.