Hi to all.
David, while I'm not Bill and I can't answer all of your questions, I can answer one. Sun Sounds is now broadcasting on the HD3 channel of KJZZ-FM 91.5 in Phoenix (the HD2 channel is being utilized by a Spanish news service).
Ted Chittenden
---- David Andrews <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Bill:
>
> I know no more about audio description and pending legislation then
> you. Of the things I track, it is pretty low on my list!
>
> I regularly use a HD Radio. It isn't accessible in terms of having
> access to the information on its LCD, but I am able to tune in
> stations, and supplementary channels etc., in the same way you would
> use any other modern radio. Not great, and this access could be
> broken by a slightly different design.
>
> What do you mean when you say Sun Sounds is broadcasting in HD. Did
> your main carrier give you access to one of its supplementary
> channels? If so, how much bandwidth? Are they using standard mode,
> or extended hybrid mode?
>
> Dave
>
> At 11:50 AM 12/29/2008, Sun Sounds of Arizona wrote:
> >All: Here are some answers to your questions.
> >
> >* I will, in future, keep this list apprised of
> >developments. I've been keeping other groups in the loop,
> >but because this is a computer users list, I thought it off
> >topic.
> >
> >* HD Radio has not been mandated as yet. However, a
> >majority of stations in the major markets are now
> >broadcasting in HD. They aren't at full power yet though as
> >there are technical problems to work out which can interfere
> >with the analog signals. I believe the industry would like
> >to go full digital at some point, but it won't be anytime
> >soon. The FCC has not mandated a switch over date as it did
> >with television. For a long time to come, both analog and
> >HD radio will co-exist.
> >
> >* HD radios to date have been inaccessible, just as
> >satellite radios are, and for the same reasons. Most
> >everything is either menu driven, or tuned using a infinite
> >tuning knob. This is because the number of channels is
> >variable. A particularHD station may have only one program
> >feed, or it may have several. When using an HD radio, you
> >first tune to the base frequency, let's say 93.9, and the
> >radio determines if there is more than one additional
> >channel at that location. If there is, it indicates HD, and
> >you can then turn the knob a notch to the right and get the
> >second channel, or two notches and get the third channel.
> >
> >* To my knowledge, there is no move currently by XM /
> >Serius to market an accessible radio. IAAIS and others will
> >certainly make sure they are aware of the new standards
> >though. If they are made to recognize the potential sales
> >access will generate, they may follow the HD radio
> >manufacturers who are showing quite a bit of interest in
> >this.
> >
> >* Screen captioning on Television is an entirely different
> >subject. I know there are moves, and I believe pending
> >legislation, to deal with this problem, but I am not fully
> >up to date on this. However, Dave Andrews, who is also a
> >member of this list, is probably more up to date. Dave?
> >
> >* I understand the skepticism of the person who wrote me to
> >say he'd believe it when he actually touched it. I feel the
> >same way, so you can imagine my excitement when I did in
> >fact have the chance to have the Dice radio in my home for a
> >week to fool with. It was really cool. Every blind person
> >who has handled it that I know of has found it a real trip.
> >In my opinion, the only thing which may delay Dice, Best
> >Buy, Delphi, Radiosophy and others who have all been on
> >board for access standards, is the awful economy. That
> >creates a variable we weren't expecting. I do fully believe
> >though that these radios will be on the market in the near
> >future. If all of us who can, help promote them, and buy
> >them, it will lend credence to our claim that there is a
> >major market here. We believe that not only blind and low
> >vision people will benefit from these, but also older
> >people, and drivers who will not have to look at the radio
> >to operate it while driving.
> >
> >* A couple of radio reading services are already
> >broadcasting in HD Sun Sounds started broadcasting in HD
> >about two weeks ago. It sounds wonderful. Gone is all the
> >static and poor sound radio reading services traditionally
> >suffer from. It sounds as good as any FM radio station. In
> >our case, we aren't even encrypting the signal. WE are in
> >the clear, and anyone with a HD radio can now listen to our
> >service, though, of course, it is still primarily directed
> >to and produced for people with vision impairments.
> >
> >Happy New Year!
> >Bill
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List
> >[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Terri
> >Hedgpeth
> >Sent: Monday, December 29, 2008 10:01 AM
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: [VICUG-L] NPR, Harris Corporation and Towson
> >University Launch Global Effort To Make Radio Accessible to
> >Hearing and Sight Impaired
> >
> >Bill, please do keep us up to date on these matters. Have
> >you heard anything on an accessible satellite radio?
> >
> >Terri Hedgpeth Ed.D.
> >Director, Disability Resource Center
> >PO Box 873202
> >Arizona State University
> >Tempe, AZ 85287-3202
> >Assistant: (480) 965-3366
> >Direct: (480) 727-8133
> >Fax: (480) 965-0441
> >E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List
> >[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sun Sounds
> >of Arizona
> >Sent: Monday, December 29, 2008 8:58 AM
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: [VICUG-L] NPR, Harris Corporation and Towson
> >University Launch Global Effort To Make Radio Accessible to
> >Hearing and Sight Impaired
> >
> >This initiative was actually launched a year ago. I'm
> >surprised that this release is still circulating. Actually,
> >a lot more has happened since this release. These events
> >include:
> >
> >* The International Association of Audio Information
> >Services (IAAIS) is also a member of this group, a fact
> >which was accidentally left out of the release. I know
> >because I happened to attend the press conference and
> >demonstration and CES last January as the IAAIS
> >Representative.
> >
> >* Radio Closed Captioning has now been demonstrated twice.
> >First in a controlled demo at the CES last year. Second on
> >Election Night this last November, closed captioning radio
> >was broadcast by NPR in many parts of the country for those
> >who have capable receivers.
> >
> >* In May, Sun Sounds of Arizona, a radio reading service,
> >was asked to review a Dice radio to determine what it would
> >take to make the radio fully accessible to blind users. HD
> >radios are generally not now accessible or friendly to blind
> >users.
> >
> >* In September, Dice Radio, produced the first demo
> >production HD radio which was fully accessible for blind and
> >low vision users. It announces all functions including
> >station, mode, clock, alarm, etc. It also has a dedicated
> >button that will automatically lock on to a local radio
> >reading service if one is available. The radio is a
> >production model, meaning, it is the same radio that a
> >sighted person would purchase. It will cost roughly $100
> >and will be on the market soon.
> >
> >* In October, IAAIS published the first ever radio access
> >standards for blind and low vision users. These standards
> >are being considered by the UN as a possible base to create
> >international standards. The full document is available
> >from http://www.iaais.org.
> >
> >* Best Buy has already climbed on board with the new
> >standards and will produce another HD accessible radio for
> >sale to the general public by summer.
> >
> >Stay tuned, I'll be happy to keep this list informed on
> >these events if the members wish. I am deeply involved with
> >these projects.
> >
> >Bill
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List
> >[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Peter
> >Altschul
> >Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2008 10:30 PM
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: [VICUG-L] NPR, Harris Corporation and Towson
> >University Launch Global Effort To Make Radio Accessible to
> >Hearing and Sight Impaired
> >
> >Press Release
> >
> >
> >
> >Source: Harris Corporation
> >
> >
> >
> >NPR, Harris Corporation and Towson University Launch Global
> >Effort To Make Radio Accessible to Hearing and Sight
> >Impaired Tuesday January 8, 12:00 pm ET First Over-The-Air
> >Transmission From Special CES Station
> >
> >
> >
> >LAS VEGAS, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- (LVCC S227) --
> >NPR, Harris Corporation and Towson University today
> >announced a new initiative to make radio more accessible to
> >the hundreds of millions of hearing and visually impaired
> >people around the world.
> >
> >
> >
> >At a press conference at the Consumer Electronics Show in
> >Las Vegas, the three organizations announced the global
> >accessible radio technology initiative and provided the
> >first live demonstration of the accessible radio technology.
> >The group also announced a new research center for
> >developing future technologies on the campus of Towson
> >University near Baltimore, MD. Additional plans call for the
> >establishment of an international consortium of equipment
> >manufacturers, broadcasters and other organizations to help
> >foster broad adoption of the initiative.
> >
> >
> >
> >The initiative will be spearheaded by the three founding
> >organizations and will leverage cutting-edge HD Radio(TM)
> >technology to enable hearing-impaired people to "see" live
> >radio content on specially equipped receivers by applying
> >television closed-captioning processes to radio broadcasts.
> >The technology also will provide audio cues and voice
> >prompts, as well as advanced radio reading services, for
> >those visually impaired and blind.
> >
> >
> >
> >"Digital radio technology makes it possible -- for the first
> >time -- to serve the sensory impaired," says Mike Starling,
> >vice president and chief technology officer of NPR. "Beyond
> >developing the technology, this initiative will ensure the
> >accessibility of these radio services at minimal costs."
> >
> >
> >
> >During the press conference, the organizations showcased the
> >first over- the-air transmission of the accessible radio
> >technology using a signal from WX3NPR, a special temporary
> >station authorized by the FCC for the live broadcast.
> >Attendees at the press conference watched the text
> >transcript of the NPR flagship morning news magazine
> >"Morning Edition" on the HD Radio receiver's viewing screen,
> >which is what a hearing-impaired listener will see using the
> >technology. Additionally, the demonstration carried a
> >digital radio reading service that will assist the visually
> >impaired with daily readings of current books, newspapers
> >and magazines.
> >
> >
> >
> >Following the demonstration, the participating organizations
> >unveiled details for the International Center for Accessible
> >Radio Technology (ICART), which will be headquartered at
> >Towson University in Towson, MD. Towson will house the
> >primary administrative and academic research office for the
> >initiative, with NPR Labs in Washington, DC, providing
> >technology R&D and software development, and Harris
> >Corporation supplying transmission and research support at
> >its radio broadcast technology center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
> >
> >
> >
> >Members of the global initiative went on to detail plans to
> >further study and understand the challenges faced by the
> >sensory-impaired population in accessing radio broadcasts,
> >and develop methodologies to address those issues through
> >cutting-edge technologies. To ensure that the effort
> >represents the widest range of participants and fosters the
> >broadest possible adoption, organizers said they will work
> >to bring together policymakers, broadcasters, transmission
> >equipment companies and receiver manufacturers from around
> >the world. Presently, the initiative has more than a dozen
> >members, representing virtually every aspect of the
> >"microphone to loudspeaker" chain: broadcasters, network
> >content providers, infrastructure and transmission equipment
> >companies, and receiver manufacturers. In addition to
> >founding members NPR, Harris and Towson University,
> >supporting organizations include iBiquity Digital
> >Corporation, Delphi, NDS, Radiosophy, Helen Keller
> >Institute, Carl and Ruth
> >
> >Shapiro Family National Center for Accessible Media at
> >WGBH(NCAM), Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and
> >Hard of Hearing Persons, and the G3ict, an Advocacy
> >Initiative of the United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and
> >Development.
> >
> >
> >
> >NPR, Harris and Towson will jointly determine strategic
> >direction of the organization, with assistance from the
> >initiative's full membership. NPR will provide much of the
> >content, Harris will provide much of the transmission-
> >related technologies, and Towson will provide research into
> >the needs of the sensory-disabled population and will house
> >the primary ICART facility on its campus.
> >
> >
> >
> >"We're working very closely with radio stations around the
> >world to ensure they have the right technical infrastructure
> >in place for this initiative," said Howard Lance, chairman,
> >president and chief executive officer of Harris Corporation.
> >"The new HD Radio transmission systems we're installing are
> >tailor-made for this effort, as their digital capabilities
> >will make it relatively easy for stations to transmit live
> >textual transcripts to HD Radio receivers."
> >
> >
> >
> >"There is tremendous need for accessible radio for
> >sensory-impaired people, including the deaf,
> >hard-of-hearing, blind, visually impaired, print impaired,
> >deaf/blind, and mobility impaired," said Dr. Ellyn
> >Sheffield, assistant professor of psychology at Towson and
> >co-director of ICART. "There is no question this initiative
> >will have a profound impact on the quality of millions of
> >people's lives. Finally, sensory-disabled individuals will
> >have access to all radio programming, as well as radio
> >emergency alerts and vital disaster recovery information."
> >
> >
> >
> >HD Radio enables station operators to split their broadcasts
> >up into multiple channels, providing several CD-quality
> >channels for their audiences. Through this accessible radio
> >initiative, a small amount of the total data capacity will
> >be used to carry textual data that will be shown live on a
> >screen on new versions of HD Radio receivers, essentially
> >providing a closed- captioning transcript of live broadcasts
> >for the deaf. Initially, the closed- captioning text will be
> >created by live, court-reporting-type captioners at
> >individual stations and networks. Ultimately, the initiative
> >is hoping to leverage advanced speech-to-text translation
> >software applications that one day allow expansion of
> >captioning across the radio dial. Specially equipped HD
> >Radio receivers are in development with several features to
> >provide the visually impaired audience with better access to
> >broadcasts, such as audio prompts that notify which
> >direction the tuner is going, what channel the radio is on,
> >
> >and larger, easier-to-read text on the radios.
> >
> >
> >
> >More than 1,500 radio stations are currently broadcasting in
> >HD Radio in the United States. Over half of the
> >CPB-qualified stations have been awarded HD Radio conversion
> >grants by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. According
> >to current estimates, by 2010, all 825 public radio stations
> >should be broadcasting digitally.
> >
> >
> >
> >More information on the initiative can be found at
> >www.i-cart.net.
> >
> >
> >No virus found in this outgoing message.
> >Checked by AVG.
> >Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.0/1865 - Release
> >Date: 12/26/2008 1:01 PM
> >
> >
> >________________________________
> >
> >Leave list: [log in to unmask]
> ><mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> >
> >VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
> >http://listserv.i cors.or g/archives/vicug-l.html
> ><http://listserv.icors.org/archives/vicug-l.html>
> >
> >Send questions on list operation to
> >[log in to unmask]
> ><mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> >
> >
> > VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group
> >List.
> >Archived on the World Wide Web at
> > http://listserv.icors.org/archives/vicug-l.html
> > Signoff: [log in to unmask]
> > Subscribe: [log in to unmask]
> >
> >
> > VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group
> >List.
> >Archived on the World Wide Web at
> > http://listserv.icors.org/archives/vicug-l.html
> > Signoff: [log in to unmask]
> > Subscribe: [log in to unmask]
> >
> >
> > VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
> >Archived on the World Wide Web at
> > http://listserv.icors.org/archives/vicug-l.html
> > Signoff: [log in to unmask]
> > Subscribe: [log in to unmask]
> >
> >
> >No virus found in this incoming message.
> >Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
> >Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.1/1868 - Release Date:
> >12/29/2008 10:48 AM
>
>
> VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
> Archived on the World Wide Web at
> http://listserv.icors.org/archives/vicug-l.html
> Signoff: [log in to unmask]
> Subscribe: [log in to unmask]
VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
Archived on the World Wide Web at
http://listserv.icors.org/archives/vicug-l.html
Signoff: [log in to unmask]
Subscribe: [log in to unmask]
|
