Opportunities for improving accessibility with the new specification 2.0.1 of standard HbbTV

Abstract

Connected TV allows the users to combine the spirit of consuming conventional television in big screens with the advantages of internet through different applications and services. Previous HbbTV specifications 1.0 and 1.5 presented a series of limitations, which the new version HbbTV 2.0.1 is trying to cover. Among these novelties, the terminal connection with Companion Screens (CS) (second-screen devices, such as smartphones or tablets) is highlighted, because it allows the synchronization and the exchange of information between both devices. This connection between devices plays a vital role in improving the accessibility, being this fact beneficial for users with concrete demands, such as subtitles, audiodescription or clean-audio. The user can access to the accessibility tools through its individual device but without losing the chance of sharing the experience together with the people in the same room. For this paper, we have developed and tested applications for this new specification of HbbTV 2.0.1 in order to demonstrate the advantages of Connected TV.