Spectral Edge launches new way to enhance accessibility to content for colour-deficient viewers

Enhances accessibility to content for viewers with colour vision deficiency on tablets and set top boxes without changes to consumer hardware

Spectral Edge (www.spectraledge.co.uk) today launched a new way for operators to enhance accessibility for colour-blind and colour-deficient viewers, through a server-based version of its innovative Eyeteq technology. This allows operators to automatically process content at the head-end, and then stream Eyeteq-enhanced video to subscribers in real-time via existing set top boxes or other devices, such as tablets, smartphones or smart, internet-enabled TVs.

As image enhancement takes place within the operator’s infrastructure, Eyeteq Server enables multiscreen content delivery while removing the need to update or replace consumer hardware. It will be demonstrated at the Connected TV World Summit in London on 16/17 March, alongside the established version of Spectral Edge’s existing client-based Eyeteq solution, working within a set-top box.

Based on Spectral Edge’s Phusion technology, Eyeteq allows colour-deficient viewers to better differentiate between colour combinations they struggle to see, allowing them to view image and video details they previously could not. This is particularly important when watching sports programming, where colour-deficient viewers can struggle to tell teams apart or even find that they merge into the pitch itself. One of the demonstrations will show the recent NFL playoff game between the New York Jets (who play in green) versus the Buffalo Bills (in red), which was impossible for colour-blind fans to follow. Another benefit is that Eyeteq delivers this strong enhancement for those with colour vision deficiency with minimal impact on the picture seen by “colour normals”, enabling families and friends to watch and enjoy the same screen together.

“Having already proved Eyeteq’s ability to transform the viewing experience for those with colour-blindness, extending our technology to the server provides operators with a choice of implementation methods, and makes multiscreen support seamless for consumers and providers,” said Christopher Cytera, Managing Director, Spectral Edge. “Operators can now easily deliver more accessible content to the 4% of the world’s population that suffers from colour-vision deficiency by making use of the existing user base of consumer premises equipment. This will enable them to roll out this new accessibility feature quickly and at low cost, making the service more inclusive for audiences.”

Eyeteq Server runs on the operator’s encoder within its Content Delivery Network, delivering enhanced video through a separate IP channel, meaning there is no processing required on the client device. Consumers simply select Eyeteq-enabled on the accessibility menu, choose the setting that best fits their needs, and will automatically receive enhanced content to their set-top box, tablet, smartphone or smart TV.