Online television for the deaf and hard-of hearing: a review

For some years, whenever anyone missed certain television programmes, they have been able use their computer to watch them later online.

All the main UK channels support this 'watch it again' or 'catch up TV' service via the internet for what they call popular programmes - sadly not for all programmes. However, the problem for someone with hearing difficulties is that the poor quality of sound from a computer can make the service effectively useless. Fortunately help is at hand.

Improving the quality of online TV by turning on subtitles

I do, however, have difficulty using headphones for extended periods because of the pain associated with sound close to my ears. I am fairly unusual in the severity of this which used to make online television a non-starter for me. Now, though, a whole new vista of online viewing has opened up - for me and for anyone with severe hearing problems. This is because the technical problems of online subtitling have been overcome.

Online television is now viable for anyone with a hearing loss who has the use of a computer connected to the internet.

How to use online TV services with subtitles

I have the sites for the main online viewing channels saved in my laptop bookmarks / favourites, but it is straightforward to locate them by searching on "BBC online" or something similar. The links to the main UK providers are:

BBC iPlayer
ITV Player
4 on Demand
Demand 5
TV Replay
TVCatchup

Once in the site, it is straightforward to locate the programme you want to watch and then to use the standard buttons, such as Play and Stop, etc.

You will, though, wonder at first where the subtitles are and how to get them because they almost certainly won't immediately show. The reason is that the programmes start with adverts or previews which seldom have subtitles and can't be scanned through quickly. When the main programme starts, the ribbon at the bottom of the of the replay screen shows an S button. Click it and the subtitles appear; click it again and they disappear.

Some online TV channels require you to hover the cursor over the bottom of the replay screen to make the ribbon with the S appear.

Once the subtitles are working, you will probably want to click the button on the same ribbon to take the programme to full screen view. The escape key on your keyboard takes you back again.

Improving the quality of computer sound with headphones

The quality of sound from a computer really can be significantly improved by using headphones - see the headphones page.

Pros and cons of online television for deaf people

On the positive side:

• The sound quality of online television from a computer can definitely be made more acceptable for deaf people by using headphones.
• The use of such headphones relieves others in the same room from being disturbed by the volume being turned up for the benefit of a deaf person.
• The online subtitles work well.
• The subtitles can be turned on and off at will, which is impossible on a home TV recording which either embeds them or does not. So online TV is for all the family whereas a home recording is either with subtitles for a deaf person or without them everyone else.

For me, though, with my particular hearing problems, I do prefer a recorded programme on DVD or hard disk and to watch it on a regular television. All but the first of my reasons (see below) apply as much for people with normal hearing as for anyone who is deaf, and the first reason is negated for anyone happy to use headphones for extended periods.

1. As I explained in the subtitles section of Using radio and TV, subtitles help my eyes and ears work together to make sense of what I can manage to hear, and I suspect the same is true for most people with a moderate hearing loss. Without headphones the quality of sound on a computer is so very much poorer than on a regular television that I understand less than nothing with my ears and have to rely totally on my eyes. This excessive concentration detracts from the pleasure and relaxation.
2. There is no facility for fast-forwarding on the ads and previews, and although I understand the reason for this from the perspective of those funding the transmission, I do find it annoying. In particular it means a delay of several minutes before the programme itself starts. There is a progress bar at the bottom of the replay screen which you can move along with the cursor, but how far to move it is a matter of trial and error.
3. Online TV on a laptop necessarily involves viewing the screen at about arm's length. Although I can sit typing at a laptop for hours on end, I find it tiring on the eyes to watch a fast-moving action film so close.