posted 1-10-03

Remote Control Button Assists Visually Impaired

SECAUCUS, NJ - Panasonic is proud to announce the continuing expansion of its single-button Second Audio Program access feature, conveniently located on the remote controls of the majority of the company's television and video products. The SAP button permits easy access to narritive broadcasts that are typicaly intended for those who are blind or visually impaired. The SAP function button is consistently located in the upper right hand corner of most Panasonic TV remote controls and is tactilely distinguished by three raised dots on the button surface. In 2002, Panasonic featured the easy-access SAP button on the remote controls of 46 different products, and will continue to incorporate this helpful feature in the remote controls of most 2003 stereo televisions, VCRs, combo products, (televisions with built-in VCRs, DVD players, or both) and DVD/VCR combos.

Television broadcasters use the SAP channel to simultaneously broadcast a second audio program either a second language or video description service which can be accessed from a television tuner. The video description service uses a narrator to describe a program's action and key visual elements, such as a character's movements, clothes, or body language, allowing people who are blind or visually impaired to enjoy more of the presentation's content.

The descriptive voice-over is inserted in natural pauses in the program so as not to interfere with dialogue, music and sound effects. Many movies and TV programs are described, primarily as a result of the efforts of WGBH's National Center for Accessible Media, which developed Descriptive Video Service®.
Government agencies must caption their videos and multimedia presentations for people who are deaf or hearing impaired, and describe those same presentations for people who are blind or visually impaired.

Although most stereo TV tuners are capable of decoding SAP—mono tuners are not capable of decoding SAP—many require users to access the TV's different audio settings via an on-screen menu display, something that is difficult, if not impossible, for people who are blind or visually impaired. Panasonic's single-button SAP access design allows users to easily toggle back and forth between a broadcast's regular audio channel and the SAP audio channel, without having to navigate a visual, on-screen menu.

Panasonic's commitment to accessibility for consumers with disabilities is a natural extension of the business philosophy created by Konosuke Matsushita, founder of parent company Matsushita Electric Industrial Company, Ltd. He believed that a company is indebted to the society in which it operates, and is therefore responsible for giving back to the community. The benefits of technology should be readily available and abundant for all to enjoy.

"We have been actively working on accessibility issues since 1990, and although there is still plenty of room for improvement, we are pleased with our progress so far," said Eugene Seagriff, Product Accessibility Manager for Panasonic.

Seagriff noted that amendments to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, put into effect June 25, 2001, encouraged Panasonic and other manufacturers and marketers of computers, audio, video, and document imaging products, and telecommunications equipment to increase their focus on accessible products. Section 508 is a federal procurement regulation requiring U.S. government agencies to buy electronic and information technology products that are accessible to persons with disabilities.

"Panasonic is very committed to helping the federal government comply with Section 508," commented Seagriff. "Features like Panasonic's SAP access button make our products the obvious choice in federal procurement."

Panasonic was the first to incorporate many accessibility features in its products. A few examples of products that have been enthusiastically received by people with disabilities are Panasonic cordless phones with Talking Caller ID, the Workio(Tm) line of multi-function, network-ready digital imaging products which are wheelchair-accessible even with the finishing units installed, and the Allure(Tm) Wireless phone the first TTY-compatible wireless phone. TTYs, or teletypewriters, are used by people who are deaf or hearing impaired to make and receive calls on their home phones. Users type their messages on a device which turns the letters into electrical signals for transmission over phone wires. When the signals reach their destination, they are converted back into letters, which appear on a display screen.

Panasonic is the best known brand of Matsushita Electric Corporation of America, the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., (NYSE:MC) of Japan. Other brands include Technics and Quasar. Matsushita, one of the world's largest developers and producers of innovative electronic and electric products for consumer, business and industrial use.

Matsushita's Universal Design program helps ensure that accessibility and compatibility issues are kept in mind at every opportunity during the design process, promoting the development of new accessibility features and products each year. For additional accessibility information, visit Panasonic's website. Consumers may also contact Panasonic by e-mail at consumerproducts@panasonic.com, by phone at (800) 211-7262 or by TTY at (877) 833-8855.