The Clean Audio Project: Digital TV as assistive technology

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Shirley, Ben | Kendrick, Paul

Affiliations: Acoustics Research Centre, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK. Tel.: +44 161 2954524; Fax: +44 161 2955145; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Technology used in Digital TV has the potential to enhance the viewing experience for millions of hard of hearing people. The Clean Audio project commissioned by the Independent Television Commission (ITC), and continued by Ofcom, looks at methods by which the extra information contained in 5.1 surround sound broadcasts may be used to improve the intelligibility and enjoyment of television audio for hard of hearing viewers and shows that audio processing can effectively turn a digital TV set top box into an assistive device to make digital TV more accessible. Listening tests were carried out which showed benefits in clarity and in perceived overall sound quality for hard of hearing participants by altering levels of centre and left and right channels. Further testing has shown average improvements in intelligibility of up to 9.4% by using surround sound equipment with a discrete central loudspeaker compared to stereophonic reproduction.

DOI: 10.3233/TAD-2006-18105

Journal: Technology and Disability, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 31-41, 2006