France TV now available on smart speakers for people who are blind or visually impaired

France Télévisions, the leading French public broadcaster, launches the first-ever voice assistant for the blind or visually impaired, to allow them to listen to the TV, with video description comments when available.

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Using simple voice commands on a smart speaker or a smartphone, blind or visually impaired users can now, at any time:

• easily easily to the nationwide channels of the France Télévisions group (France 2, France 3, France 4, France 5, France Ô and FranceInfo, channel 27)
• access the EPG, which allows you to search the list of programs available in video description.

This service is available today on smart speakers (compatible with Amazon ALEXA*) or on smartphones, tablets or computers through the progressive web app « francetv AD »** or the iOS native app "francetv AD" .

This test service was developed by France Télévisions' Innovation and Anticipation Department team, in collaboration with the French company Cybronics and with the help of associations representing the blind and partially sighted people.

Designed as part of the consultation mission between members of the audiovisual industry and representatives of the blind and visually impaired, which has been entrusted by the Ministry of Culture to the Mobile Media Forum, this technological innovation is fully aligned with the strategy of the France Télévisions group and its aim to improve accessibility for its programs and to address all audiences, in accordance with its public service missions.

The voice assistant will evolve in close collaboration with the representative associations for the blind and visually impaired. It will eventually be integrated to the France.tv application.

* or through the Amazon Alexa smartphone application

** https://audiodescription.lab.francetv.fr

About the France Télévisions Innovation and Anticiatipon Department : The Innovation and Anticipation Department's mission is to help France Télévisions imagine, explore and prepare for the future of Television by developing short-term and long-term innovations to allow it to succeed in its digital transformation and remain relevant throughout the digital revolution. For the moment, its work focuses on voice interfaces, virtual and augmented realities and artificial intelligence applications for media, new 8K video formats and new digital network technologies such as 5G.

Press contact

Célia Schmerber
Communications Officer (Jr)
+33 1 56 22 29 47
celia.schmerber@francetv.fr

Agnès Desplas
France Télévisions communication department
+33 1 56 22 70 10
agnes.desplas@francetv.fr

Djingo

CYBRONICS • 9 rue des Francs Bourgeois • 75004 Paris • France

Tél. : +33 1 83 62 35 37 • Fax : +33 9 72 13 59 09 • Website : www.cybronics.fr