accessible television

Category: accessible Devices

Post 1 by beach bum (Generic Zoner) on Thursday, 15-Jan-2015 17:08:47

Hi: Can some one give me some advice? I am ready to buy a digital tv and I want it to interface with the att uverse network. Has any one already done this and what tv do you have? If so please the brand model number and the price. I have been researching tv's on amazon and it has been quite an eye openner (pardon the pun) People can spend $3000 on a tv but I don't want to spend over $400. I am going to purchase the att uverse bundle and I need a tv to fit in to this system and I would like it to be one that doesn't have to be mounted on the walland a tv that has an easy installation set up which would require sighted assistance, I am totally blind so I just want to set it up and go with out too much fuss. Do they all have hdmi input connectors and do I have to purchase a hdmi cable or will the att tech supply a cable along with the rest ot the items?Which tvs have good sound or have outputs for external speakers? What is a sound bar? The panasonic viera line is not an option for me because I live in the U.S. If I buy a wifi enabled tv would this be a smart tv? Any suggestions or advice is appreciated!

Post 2 by forereel (Just posting.) on Thursday, 15-Jan-2015 17:37:36

Smart TV's are Wi Fi enabled.
As to accessibility, that's hard.
Most are not.
You'll need some HDMI cables.
Go to an electronic store, like BestBuy. You can ask questions.
All TV's can now connect to a speaker setup.
They all come with stands for the table top as well.
That's about all I can tell you myself.
I've just done some looking and purchaseing, and the setup requires some help.
Buying from BestBuy can get you the delivery and setup.
After that, you'll be able to handle it.

Post 3 by chelslicious (like it or not, I'm gonna say what I mean. all the time.) on Thursday, 15-Jan-2015 21:54:00

I say take U-Verse out of the picture completely (at least as it relates to hoping for something TV-related that's accessible to those of us who are blind, and get Apple TV.
Apple TV is not an actual TV, but rather, a digital media player that looks like a cable box, and uses VoiceOver speech to read all the menus, allows you to search for TV shows, and what have you.
it can be streamed to cable TV through Wi-Fi, and gives you access to a variety of things such as Netflix, YouTube, and regular cable TV if you have it.

Post 4 by beach bum (Generic Zoner) on Friday, 16-Jan-2015 22:02:00

Thanks for the advice! I appreciate it! I am definitely going with best buy. I have read about apple tv and I know that it is accessible. Other than the $99 are there aditional charges? Can you set up anapple tv account with its own controler or do you have to go to a certain web site?

Post 5 by forereel (Just posting.) on Saturday, 17-Jan-2015 1:16:25

Your apple ID will do.

Post 6 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Saturday, 17-Jan-2015 16:17:44

The only additional charges with an Apple TV are the subscriptions to things like Netflics Hulu-plus, any other subscription services you might already use. You'll also have the choice to buy or rent shows and/or movies via iTunes. The only thing that doesn't work with Apple TV, so far that I've found, is amazon instant video. and

Post 7 by starfly (99956) on Monday, 19-Jan-2015 15:15:58

Beats music I found must be set-up via a IPhone or android device. Not via the apple TV, I tried it and voiceover whent silent on me.

Post 8 by beach bum (Generic Zoner) on Sunday, 25-Jan-2015 23:12:24

What is Beats music?

Post 9 by starfly (99956) on Monday, 26-Jan-2015 8:58:55

Beats music is a online music service which creates play lists of your music taste. also on another note, you can get a Chrom cast for less then the apple TV "35" dollars. What a chrom cast does is stream your videos, Netflix and more you latterly cast to the device. It must be on your home network to work. Lastly, you must have a device near by to toss the stream or videos, music and more you want to listen too or watch. When you have casted the stream to Chrom cast you can take your device and go back to checking email and more while the stream is being played via the chrom cast dongle. It can be even used via the IPhone as well.

Post 10 by forereel (Just posting.) on Monday, 26-Jan-2015 18:53:36

Best Buy has all these options. It was why I think a visit there will help.

Post 11 by forereel (Just posting.) on Monday, 26-Jan-2015 18:56:53

My ideal setup would be a large monitor paired to a desk top computer on my network.
The computer does the speech, can hold a large movie collection, and can stream from all the online services.
You can even get local channels, or cable connected.

Post 12 by The Roman Battle Mask (Making great use of my Employer's time.) on Tuesday, 27-Jan-2015 10:35:40

Tivo is fairly accessible using an iOS device as a remote. A decent TIVO costs $399 plus $15 a month in service fees so a computer is a lot cheeper option. Since I have sited people over a lot though it's easier to have the Tivo with a remote then them having to figure out how to shut jaws off and use a computer.

Post 13 by Jesse (Hmm!) on Friday, 13-Feb-2015 12:22:09

Uvers is also accessible with iOS.