Page 33 - ITU Journal, ICT Discoveries, Volume 3, No. 1, June 2020 Special issue: The future of video and immersive media

ITU Journal: ICT Discoveries, Vol. 3(1), June 2020

1) The EU Directive on the Accessibility of in Europe [12]. Results from this project are still
Websites and Mobile Applications [6]. This is valid in some regions across the world where the
based on Web Content Accessibility shift has not taken place yet (e.g., Sweden). Then,
Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 [7] guidelines, and the HBB4ALL project [13] explored new
references EN 301 549 [8] as the standard accessibility possibilities in the emerging hybrid
which will enable websites and apps to meet broadcast broadband media ecosystem, within the
accessibility requirements. umbrella of the Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV
(HbbTV) standard [14]. This hybrid multiplatform
2) The Audiovisual Media Services Directive
(AVMSD) [9]. This governs a coordination of ecosystem enables to augment broadcast services
with additional broadband content, to be consumed
national legislations on audiovisual media,
addressing key issues like new technological on the same main screen as the broadcast content
developments, preserving diversity, or on companion screens (i.e., tablets and
protecting the whole spectrum of consumers, smartphones), in an interactive and personalized
and safeguarding media pluralism. manner. HBB4ALL targeted at leveraging these
features in order to seamlessly integrate the
3) The European Accessibility Act [10]. This is a presentation of access services (subtitling, audio
law that aims to make media products and description and sign language) with traditional
services more accessible. It takes the form of broadcast programmes. In the same context of
a Directive, which is legally binding for all EU hybrid media delivery, the ImmersiaTV project
Member States. developed an end-to-end platform to enable

These pieces of legislation demand accessibility customizable and immersive multiscreen TV
solutions in all media services, products and events, experiences [15]. By adopting novel storytelling
including the offered content and information. This formats, the contributions from ImmersiaTV
therefore also applies to immersive media. allowed augmenting traditional broadcast TV
Monitoring and control strategies are being programmes with multilocation 360° views and
established by public sector organizations to ensure interactive content (e.g., notifications, picture-in-
these accessibility demands are successfully met. picture videos or images) delivered via broadband.
Most recently, the ImAc project [16] has aimed at
3. STATE-OF-THE-ART following the same success story as in the DTV4ALL
3.1 Related projects in the broadcast sector and HBB4ALL projects, but focusing on immersive
media formats (i.e., VR360 videos and spatial audio),
Typically, accessibility has been only considered and also exploiting the expertise from the
after a technology has matured to meet the demand ImmersiaTV project.
of the mass market, and to fulfill legal requirements. 3.2 Research on accessibility in immersive
This approach, however, results in significant
disadvantages and barriers for the population with media
disabilities, the aged, and those who do not speak or As for every media content, VR360 videos need to
read the language of the media content. However, be accessible. VR360 videos include audio and
when it comes to novel and not-yet mainstreamed visual elements which, at the same time, may
services, the development of accessibility solutions contain linguistic and non-linguistic components.
becomes more challenging. It is due to the fact that A user meaning-making process is possible thanks
accessibility not only becomes an issue of sensorial to the intersection and interaction between all these
disabilities, but of capabilities, skills and usability diverse components, which contribute to a
aspects [11]. However, considering accessibility comprehensive information understanding.
since the early development of novel technologies Therefore, alternatives must be provided to cater
contributes to more effective solutions, a wider for the needs of users who cannot access all
adoption and less financial burden. audiovisual components. This is commonly
Different research projects have targeted the provided by means of access services, like subtitling,
provision of accessibility solutions within the audio subtitling, audio description and sign
broadcast sector, as soon as new TV-related language. As reviewed in [1], while scarce research
technologies or formats have been developed. The on proposing subtitling solutions for VR360 content
DTV4ALL project addressed access service exists, that is yet not the case for the other access
provision when TV moved from analogue to digital services. The study in [1] also highlights existing

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