On Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Sony presents initiatives for products and services intended for people with disabilities or problems with hearing or vision, for example. These initiatives and adjustments can be found in Sony’s Bravia TVs, speakers, headphones and in-ears, among others.
Sony is committed to building an inclusive future where everyone can share the moment. Sony does this by promoting accessibility with the theme “delivering innovation for an accessible future.” Especially today, because it is Global Accessibility Awareness Day or a day to think about accessibility, you can read more about this here. Below you will find recent initiatives from Sony for products and services developed with inclusive design.
BRAVIA TV with Google TV
Television accessibility is improved by the BRAVIA series with Google TV. These televisions offer features such as Text enlargement and TalkBack, which allows visually impaired people to consult the TV program guide and change settings without looking at the screen. In addition, the Shortcut-button on the BRAVIA remote control provides an easier and faster way to activate accessibility features. Voice control with Google Assistant provides an enhanced television experience: by saying “OK Google” and naming a task, users can easily search for videos on YouTube or control the television, such as changing the volume.
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SRS-LSR200 Wireless TV Speaker
The SRS-LSR200 is convenient for controlling the TV and setting a custom volume level without disturbing other viewers. With the speaker nearby, users can listen to any content without having to turn up the volume. The compact design integrates a remote control and speaker, making it easy to operate the television with the essential buttons without having to make major movements.
SRS-NB10 and SRS-NS7 Headphones
In terms of sound, the SRS-NB10 and SRS-NS7 headphones are very suitable for people with hearing problems. Worn around the neck, these headphones provide clear, easy-to-listen audio from any smart device such as a smartphone, tablet or television, without disturbing others. They make it possible to receive calls via the neckband and process ambient sounds, so that users always stay connected to their environment.
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LinkBuds S series in-ears
The in-ears from the LinkBuds S series are suitable for people with limited vision. They keep the user always connected to ambient sounds and provide multiple functions without having to look at the smartphone screen. Features such as controlling Spotify playlists by simply touching your face, activating voice assistants by saying “Hotword/Wakeword”, making and answering calls via the voice-activated Google Assistant or Alexa, and automatically adjusting the volume based on ambient noise improve the user experience .
Xperia smartphones
Accessibility features of Xperia smartphones include Photography Pro, which helps everyone take better photos. With the latest Photography Pro, you can choose to play a sound when your Xperia camera tilts to one side or the other. This way, someone who is blind or visually impaired can still take a straight photo. We’ve also updated the user interface to make it easier to use. You can display in a way that suits you. If you find it difficult to see text or images on the screen, you can make them smaller or larger on the website as needed. With Display Size & Text you can adjust the colors on your device and even bold text to improve readability. If you are color blind or have trouble reading text on a screen, you can apply a color correction mode that adjusts the display of colors on your device to make it easier to see and read. Hear what’s happening on the screen TalkBack Enable it and your Xperia can give you spoken feedback, read text on the screen and guide your touches if you’re having trouble seeing the screen.
Talking with text is Live Transcribe that makes it easier for you to participate in conversations around you. It displays speech as text on your screen, alerts you when your name is spoken, and lets you type responses on the screen while you view the transcript. Today’s larger smartphones can be difficult to operate with one hand. One-handed mode solves this problem by moving the screen down so you can easily reach the top part that can be difficult for your thumb to reach. The Accessibility Menu provides a large onscreen menu of icons to make it easier to lock your device, adjust volume and brightness, take screenshots, and more. Handle calls with simple movements – when you receive a call, you can answer, reject or silence it without touching or looking at the screen. You can answer incoming calls by bringing the device to your ear, reject calls by shaking the device, or turn off the ringer by holding the device face down. Switch Smart Call Handling now in the Gestures settings and make controlling your device easier than ever
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LinkBuds Wireless Earbuds integration with Eye Navi, a walking assistance application
The LinkBuds are designed with a unique open-ring design that allows users to focus on the outside world without compromising the listening experience. This design allows users to continue hearing ambient sounds while listening to music or participating in online meetings. For people with visual impairments, the LinkBuds now offer a new voice guidance feature in Japan, allowing users to hear intuitive voice navigation along with the natural sounds of their environment.
PS5 has a wide range of accessibility support
Detailed information about accessibility features related to PlayStation 5 and the Access controller is available via the following URL: www.playstation.com/de-de/accessibility
Guides to QR codes on audio product packaging
To help users with visual impairments set up BRAVIA Theater home audio products, a raised square frame is provided on the packaging that indicates a QR code for the BRAVIA Connect app, which provides screen reader support. More details: https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/articles/00339015
Initiatives in Europe
In 2023, for the fifth year in a row, Sony participated in and sponsored TechShare Pro, Europe’s largest meeting on accessibility and digital inclusion. Sony representatives participated in several sessions to share their initiatives, knowledge and technology trends in accessibility and inclusive design. In addition, Sony conducts disability, accessibility and inclusive design awareness across Europe through our IDEA (Inclusive Design Education and Accessibility) Lab. This initiative aims to understand the challenges people with disabilities face with technology and educate on ways to ensure everyone can use and enjoy our products, services and experiences.