The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has recently stepped in to save the UK's first talking digital video recorder (DVR) after TVonics went into administration in June 2012. TVonics had been a great support in RNIB's bid to bring about a sea change in accessibility in the area of TV and related products and services.
Peterborough based developer Pulse-Eight have re-licensed the intellectual property from RNIB, allowing it to continue developing the DVR while RNIB retains ownership and control of the technology.
RNIB and Pulse-Eight are looking to develop the existing TVonics boxes by incorporating further catch-up TV services - it already includes BBC iPlayer - and by building in video-on-demand services such as Netflix and Lovefilm. Existing customers will be able to update their boxes to the new software via the internet.
In the meantime, the TVonics' twin-tuner, 500GB DTR-HD500 is still available via the RNIB shop and our customers are able to call our Helpline if they need support.
Pulse-Eight hope to recommence manufacture of the existing TVonics boxes and to develop a next generation set top box running on top of Android. These devices will also be designed with blind and partially sighted people in mind, with features such as more clearly colour-coded connectors, funnelled ports to aid connect-by-feel cable insertion and removal, and Braille port labelling.
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Notes to Editor
For RNIB media enquiries, please contact Rachel Cafferty in RNIB's Public Relations Team on 0207 391 2043 or 0207 391 2223, email rachel.cafferty@rnib.org.uk
The TVonics set top box is available to purchase through RNIB's shop www.rnib.org.uk/shop
For Pulse-Eight media enquiries, please contact Martin Ellis on 01733 404 940, email martin.ellis@pulse-eight.com
About RNIB
Everyday around 100 people in the UK start to lose their sight. There are around two million people in the UK with sight problems. RNIB is the leading charity working in the UK offering practical support, advice and information for anyone with sight difficulties. If you, or someone you know, has a sight problem RNIB can help. Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk
About Pulse-Eight
Founded in 2010, Pulse-Eight is a specialist consumer electronics manufacturer focusing on the design, development and distribution of innovative Home Theatre products. Pulse-Eight's in-house design capability together with its involvement in the development of leading technologies such as HDMI, CEC and the XBMC media centre enables Pulse-Eight to create cutting-edge products that expand control of media devices and enhance viewing experiences in the home.