Convergence of broadcasting and broadband Internet - a benefit for people with disabilities (and for us all)

Based on the analysis of the actual situation in Broadcasting, the paper describes how access services for people with disabilities (predominantly for those with hearing and viewing disabilities) can be improved substantially by linking broadcast and internet technologies. The novelty is to provide access services such as subtitles, audio-description, clean audio or sign language videos via the broadband Internet for simultaneous display with the broadcast content. People with disabilities could thus choose from a large selection of services made available for those who need these additional forms of content. The work of ITU is presented within this field of IBB (Integrated Broadcast-Broadband) systems. The main challenges (selection, mixing, synchronization, tailoring and displaying of such content in a consumer-type of device) are described. It is also shown that this kind of hybrid technique is not only to the benefit of people with disabilities but, at the end, to all of us.