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This article introduces the accessibility options currently available for supported platforms in DIVA.
What is accessibility?
Accessibility sets out to make websites, or web elements, such as DIVA's video player, as usable as possible for all.
The accessibility features available in DIVA include; keyboard navigation, alternate input methods, tab navigation, shortcuts, badges, screen opacity, Subtitles and Captioning enhancements, high-contrast mode, Text-to-Speech (TTS), and custom input reactions (voice command support).
Select a platform below to view available accessibility functionality:
Alternate input methods
Keyboard navigation
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.0 on Responsive web
To be more accessible to users, DIVA Player on Responsive web permits keyboard shortcuts and tab navigation. Features within the video player are also screen-reader compliant.
DIVA Player on Responsive web supports the following keyboard navigation:
- Tab to navigate between the following functions:
- Play and autoplay
- Pause
- Mute/unmute
- Enter full-screen
- Tab through chapters (if enabled)
- Tab through every event (if enabled)
- Text-to-Speech (TTS) support for menu items
Note: the full-screen shortcut is not available on Safari.
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Skip video backward/forward 10 seconds | Left arrow ← Right arrow → |
| Mute/unmute audio | m |
| Enter/exit full-screen view | f |
| Pause/resume video | k/space |
| Jump to the start/end of the video | Home/end |
| Jump to a point in the video e.g., select 5 to jump to the halfway point, or 9 to jump to the 90% mark | 0-9 |
Accessibility features on the WebTV platform include:
- Alternate input methods
- Badges
- Shortcuts
- Screen opacity
- Subtitles and Captioning enhancements
- Text-to-Speech (TTS)
- Custom input reactions (voice command support)
Alternate input methods
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.2 on WebTV.
Note: we plan to extend the list of supported alternate input devices in future releases.
Users can choose to use alternative devices other than the default platform remote control, helping users with disabilities and offering a familiar, comfortable, and flexible alternative when navigating and interacting with DIVA Player. Features within the video player are also screen-reader compliant.
What alternate input devices are supported?
- Standard keyboard
- Game controller (Gamepad)
- Braille keyboard
| Standard remote control | Standard keyboard | Gamepad |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation | ||
| Up button | Up key | D-pad up |
| Down button | Down key | D-pad down |
| Left button | Left key | D-pad left |
| Right button | Right key | D-pad right |
| Back/return button | Backspace/delete keys | B or circle |
| Home | Home key | Xbox or Playstation button |
| Interaction | ||
| OK/action | Enter/space keys | A or X keys. These keys action the focussed UI element, e.g., jumping to the selected timeline event card. |
Tab navigation
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.2 on WebTV. Apple-specific keyboards are not yet supported.
WebTV supports a simplified and linear way of navigating DIVA Player UI for users with visual impairments and disabilities. Tab navigation involves using a keyboard tab key or gamepad L1 (left) and R1 (right) bumpers to move forward and backward, limiting the number of keys used. On-screen navigational movement (the order in which the focus moves) follows the order in which the UI elements display on the screen, starting from the uppermost left element to the lowermost right.
Keyboard tab key:
Gamepad left/right bumpers:
Example of tab navigation using a keyboard and Gamepad:
| Function | Keyboard | Gamepad |
|---|---|---|
|
Move focus forward to next item |
Tab key | Left bumper |
| Move focus backward to previous item | Shift + tab keys | Right bumper |
Badges
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.2 on WebTV.
Example of "CC" and "AD" badges:
What are badges?
Badges are icons that display on video list items/cards. They indicate to users that there’s further accessibility support on content before a selection is made. Badges are recognized by Text-to-Speech and are read aloud if enabled.
Where do badges display?
Badge display is optional and controlled by operators, although badges are included and shown for any list item/card on all video lists by default. Badges on WebTV are right-aligned and display beneath the video card title. Any badges remain right-aligned if a video doesn't have a secondary tagline recorded.
What badges are available?
If video assets have additional tracks available and badges are enabled, the “AD” (Audio Description) and/or “CC” (Closed Captions) badges display. Read on for more information on each:
“AD” Audio Description badge
When a video list item/card has more than one Audio Description track available, an "AD" badge displays in line with the secondary tagline of the video.
“CC” Closed Caption badge
When a video list item/card has at least one Closed Caption track available, a "CC" badge displays in line with the secondary title of the video.
Note: video list items/cards can show both "AD" and "CC" badges when at least one Closed Caption track and Audio Description track are available.
For more feature information, read our subtitles and captioning, and audio tracks articles.
Shortcuts
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.2 WebTV
WebTV supports shortcuts as an easy and direct way to access specific functions, features, modules, and components within DIVA Player.
Keyboard shortcuts:
Gamepad shortcuts:
Shortcuts include:
| Function | Keyboard | Gamepad | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opens/closes “Subtitles” panel | C key | N/A | |
| Toggle play/pause | Space or K keys | Right trigger | Toggle play/pause only works if:
|
| Skip backward | J key | Move left stick to the left | Only when in full-screen mode (UI hidden) |
| Skip forward | L key | Move left stick to the right | Only when in full-screen mode (UI hidden) |
| Opens "Timeline event list" | T key | N/A | |
| Opens "Video list mode" | V key | N/A | |
| Opens "Audio panel" | A key | N/A |
Screen opacity
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.2 on WebTV.
Note: we plan to expand the list of UI elements in future releases.
Example of screen opacity disabled/enabled:
Screen opacity within DIVA can significantly impact the visibility of text on top of a video background. Supported platforms allow users to turn off the semi-opacity design on specific UI (User Interface) elements, helping to increase the contrast between the text and the background.
Opacity is enabled by default; however, visit the Settings panel to disable it. Upon disabling opacity, the background turns opaque for the following UI elements:
- Settings side panel
- Subtitles side panel
- Audio side panel
- DIVA timeline list items/cards
- Video lists
- Video list mode
Subtitles and Captioning enhancements
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.2 on WebTV.
We’ve enhanced the display of subtitles and captioning for better visibility, clarity, and sharpness of text. Accessibility options include enlarging text by 25% and enabling high-contrast mode (the contrast between text font color and text background color). Read on for more information on each.
Enlarge text by 25%
Follow these steps to enlarge the text size:
- Select the up arrow to display player controls.
- Select left/right arrows to navigate to the Subtitles icon.
- Select OK with the Subtitles icon in focus.
- Select the down arrow to navigate to the Caption style option.
- Select OK with the Caption style option selected.
- Select OK again to toggle on/off the Enlarge text option. Preferences apply automatically.
- Select the back button to exit the Subtitles menu and return to the event.
Example of enlarged text disabled:
Example of enlarged text enabled:
Note: by default, Closed Caption controls within the Subtitles panel display when additional Closed Caption tracks are available; however, operators can disable this.
High-contrast mode
Follow these steps to enable high-contrast mode, turning the text background opaque for better clarity:
- Select the up arrow to display the player controls.
- Select left/right arrows to navigate to the Subtitles icon.
- Select OK with the Subtitles icon in focus.
- Select the down arrow to navigate to Caption style.
- Select OK with Caption style in focus.
- Select OK again to toggle on/off styling - preferences apply automatically.
- Select the back button to exit the Subtitles menu and return to the event.
Example of high-contrast mode (style) disabled:
Example of high-contrast mode (style) enabled:
Text-to-Speech (TTS)
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.2 on WebTV.
Native Text-to-Speech (TTS), also known as a screen reader or TalkBack provides users with an audible description of specific events and interactive UI elements. TTS clearly states the user's position on-screen, significant events occurring in the player, and certain characteristics of the user-focused UI element (if applicable). This includes but is not limited to, operating main player controls, e.g., play, pause, skip, and other interactions such as browsing a video list or changing the subtitles track for a loaded video.
TTS supports the existing DIVA features as included up to the latest release.
How is TTS enabled?
TTS is enabled at an operating system (OS) level. If the device you’re using has TTS enabled, DIVA recognizes this and automatically reads aloud UI elements in focus.
Where is TTS supported?
TTS is available on the main player, video list mode, the settings panel, the audio languages panel, and the Subtitles and Captioning panel. All highlighted elements in the examples below support TTS:
Main player screen read elements:
- Main video title
- Timeline event card
- Video player bar (live or VOD)
- Settings button
- Audio languages button
- Subtitles and Captioning button
- Play/pause button
Video list mode screen read elements:
- Video list title
- Row title
- Number of titles in row
- Video card primary title
- Video card secondary tagline
- Attribute badges (Audio description, Closed captions)
- Live badge
How does TTS work?
TTS generates a voice description upon receiving focus. For example, a user navigates through a video list to select a video to play. The screen reads the video list title “On now,” followed by the number of titles belonging to the row, “8 titles in this row”. With a primary video card title in focus, the screen reads the video card title, “Manchester - Chelsea,” followed by its secondary tagline, and any available attribute badges, e.g., Audio description (AD) or Closed Captions (CC), and the status badge (live or VOD).
TTS can help users apply Subtitles/Captioning, audio tracks, and HDR settings by calling out the focused element and guiding them through the user journey. The screen reader also supports advertisements, informing users when the advertisement ends and the video resumes.
TTS prioritizes the last generated announcement voiced by the screen reader, meaning in the case of multiple consecutive announcements, the last always overwrites the others. We are currently working on improving this aspect of the feature to combine and suppress overlapping announcements to ensure no information is lost.
Custom input reactions (voice command support)
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.2 on WebTV.
DIVA now supports custom input reactions. This allows integrators to expand a voice command system into DIVA Player or other custom inputs such as gestures.
How do custom input reactions work?
We have created a series of exposed actions that DIVA executes once an integrator customizes and pre-defined the input and receives a trigger. Actions include playing, pausing videos, and opening the settings panel.
Integrators are provided a set API function that listens to a callback and actions a command; for example, when paired with a voice command system, when a user says, “Open settings,” the input received triggers DIVA Player and opens the settings panel. Integrators must set up a voice command system and define their chosen commands (reactions).
DIVA TV reactions include:
| Input received | DIVA TV reaction | DIVA TV action upon recognizing command | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Integrator defined | Play video | If player status = playing, then keep playing loaded video. If player status = paused, then commence playing loaded video. |
If TTS is enabled, the voice announcement for changed player status is triggered, as expected based on this event. |
| Integrator defined | Pause video | If player status = paused, then keep loaded video paused. If player status = playing, then immediately pause loaded video. |
If TTS is enabled, the voice announcement for changed player status is triggered, as expected based on this event. |
| Integrator defined | Video skip forward | If player status = paused, and UI is shown, then command is ignored. If player status = paused, and UI is not shown, then perform a simple skip forward X number of seconds, and keep video paused. If player status = playing, then perform a simple skip forward X number of seconds. |
If TTS is enabled, the DIVA pre-defined voice announcement for simple video skip is maintained/triggered. |
| Integrator defined | Video skip back | If player status = paused, and UI is shown, then command is ignored. If player status = paused, and UI is not shown, then perform a simple skip back for X number of seconds, and keeps the video paused. If player status = playing, then perform a simple skip back for X amount of seconds. |
If TTS is enabled, the DIVA pre-defined voice announcement for simple video skip is maintained/triggered. |
| Integrator defined | Open DIVA "Settings" | Standard behavior for when "Settings" panel/menu is open, as if the user selects the on-screen "Settings" icon. | If TTS is enabled, the DIVA pre-defined voice announcement for opening the panel/menu is maintained/triggered. |
| Integrator defined | Open DIVA "Subtitles" | Standard behavior for when "Subtitles" panel is open, as if the user selects the on-screen "Subtitles" icon. | If TTS is enabled, the DIVA pre-define voice announcement for opening the panel/menu is maintained/triggered. |
| Integrator defined | Open DIVA "Audio" | Standard behavior for when "Audio" panel is open, as if the user selects the on-screen "Audio" icon. | If TTS is enabled, the DIVA pre-defined voice announcement for opening the panel/menu is maintained/triggered. |
| Integrator defined | Open DIVA "Video list mode" | Standard behavior for when Video list mode is activated, as if the user navigates to the first available video list. | If TTS is enabled, the associated voice announcement focusing a video list for the first time is triggered. |
Accessibility features on the Android TV platform include:
- Badges
- Screen opacity
- Subtitles and Captioning enhancements
- Text-to-Speech (TTS)
- Custom input reactions (voice commands)
Badges
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.2 on Android TV.
Example of "CC" and "AD" badges:
What are badges?
Badges are icons that display on video list items/cards. They indicate to users that there’s further accessibility support on content before a selection is made. Badges are recognized by Text-to-Speech and are read aloud if enabled.
Where do badges display?
Badge display is optional and controlled by operators, although badges are included and shown for any list item/card on all video lists by default. Badges on Android TV are right-aligned and display beneath the video card title. Any badges remain right-aligned if a video doesn't have a secondary tagline recorded.
What badges are available?
If video assets have additional tracks available and badges are enabled, the “AD” (Audio Description) and/or “CC” (Closed Captions) badges display. Read on for more information on each:
“AD” Audio Description badge
When a video list item/card has more than one Audio Description track available, an "AD" badge displays in line with the secondary tagline of the video.
“CC” Closed Caption badge
When a video list item/card has at least one Closed Caption track available, a "CC" badge displays in line with the secondary title of the video.
Note: video list items/cards can show both "AD" and "CC" badges when at least one Closed Caption track and Audio Description track are available.
For more feature information, read our subtitles and captioning, and audio tracks articles.
Screen opacity
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.2 on Android TV.
Screen opacity within DIVA can significantly impact the visibility of text on top of a video background. Supported platforms allow users to turn off the semi-opacity design on specific UI (User Interface) elements, helping to increase the contrast between the text and the background.
Opacity is enabled by default; however, visit the Settings panel to disable it. Upon disabling opacity, the background turns opaque for the following UI elements:
- Settings side panel
- Subtitles side panel
- Audio side panel
- DIVA timeline list items/cards
- Video lists
- Video list mode
Note: we plan to expand the list of UI elements in future releases.
Example of screen opacity disabled/enabled:
Subtitles and Captioning enhancements
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.2 on Android TV.
We’ve enhanced the display of subtitles and captioning for better visibility, clarity, and text sharpness. Accessibility options include enlarging text by 25% and enabling high-contrast mode (the contrast between text font color and text background color). Read on for more information on each.
Enlarge text by 25%
Follow these steps to enlarge the text size:
- Select the up arrow to display player controls.
- Select left/right arrows to navigate to the Subtitles icon.
- Select OK with the Subtitles icon in focus.
- Select the down arrow to navigate to the Caption style option.
- Select OK with the Caption style option in focus.
- Select OK again to toggle on/off the Enlarge text option. Preferences apply automatically.
- Select the back button to exit the Subtitles menu and return to the event.
Example of enlarged text disabled:
Example of enlarged text enabled:
Note: by default, Closed Caption controls within the Subtitles panel display when additional Closed Caption tracks are available; however, operators can disable this.
High-contrast mode
Follow these steps to enable high-contrast mode, turning the text background opaque for better clarity:
- Select the up arrow to display the player controls.
- Select left/right arrows to navigate to the Subtitles icon.
- Select OK with the Subtitles icon in focus.
- Select the down arrow to navigate to Caption style.
- Select OK with Caption style selected.
- Select OK again to toggle on/off styling - preferences apply automatically.
- Select the back button to exit the Subtitles menu and return to the event.
Example of high-contrast mode (style) disabled:
Example of high-contrast mode (style) enabled:
Text-to-Speech (TTS)
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.2 on Android TV.
Native Text-to-Speech (TTS), also known as a screen reader or TalkBack, provides users with an audible description of specific events and interactive UI elements. TTS clearly states the users position on-screen, major events occurring in the player, and certain characteristics of the user-focused UI element (if applicable). This includes but is not limited to, operating main player controls, e.g., play, pause, skip, and other interactions such as browsing a video list or changing the subtitles track for a loaded video.
TTS supports the existing DIVA features as included up to the latest release.
How is TTS enabled?
TTS is enabled at an operating system (OS) level. If the device you’re using has TTS enabled, DIVA recognizes this and automatically reads aloud UI elements in focus.
Where is TTS supported?
TTS is available on the main player, video list mode, the settings panel, the audio languages panel, and the Subtitles and Captioning panel. All highlighted elements in the examples below support TTS:
Main player screen read elements:
- Main video title
- Timeline event card
- Video player bar (live or VOD)
- Settings button
- Audio languages button
- Subtitles and Captioning button
- Play/pause button
Video list mode screen read elements:
- Video list title
- Row title
- Number of titles in row
- Video card primary title
- Video card secondary tagline
- Attribute badges (Audio description, Closed captions)
- Live badge
How does TTS work?
TTS generates a voice description upon receiving focus. For example, a user navigates through a video list to select a video to play. The screen reads the video list title “On now,” followed by the number of titles belonging to the row, “8 titles in this row”. With a primary video card title in focus, the screen reads the video card title, “Manchester - Chelsea,” followed by its secondary tagline, and any available attribute badges, e.g., Audio description (AD), or Closed Captions (CC), and the status badge (live or VOD).
TTS can help users apply Subtitles/Captioning, audio tracks, and HDR settings by calling out the focused element and guiding them through the user journey. The screen reader also supports advertisements, informing users when the advertisement ends and the video resumes.
TTS prioritizes the last generated announcement voiced by the screen reader, meaning in the case of multiple consecutive announcements, the last always overwrites the others. We are currently working on improving this aspect of the feature to combine and suppress overlapping announcements to ensure no information is lost.
Custom input reactions (voice command support)
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.2 on Android TV.
DIVA now supports custom input reactions. This allows integrators to expand a voice command system into DIVA Player or other custom inputs such as gestures.
How do custom input reactions work?
We have created a series of exposed actions that DIVA executes once an integrator customizes and pre-defined the input and receives a trigger. Actions include playing, pausing videos, and opening the settings panel.
Integrators are provided a set API function that listens to a callback and actions a command, for example, when paired with a voice command system, when a user says, “Open settings,” the input received triggers DIVA Player and opens the settings panel. Integrators must set up a voice command system and define their chosen commands (reactions).
DIVA TV reactions include:
| Input received | DIVA TV reaction | DIVA TV action upon recognizing command | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Integrator defined | Play video | If player status = playing, then keep playing loaded video. If player status = paused, then commence playing loaded video. |
If TTS is enabled, the voice announcement for changed player status is triggered, as expected based on this event. |
| Integrator defined | Pause video | If player status = paused, then keep loaded video paused. If player status = playing, then immediately pause loaded video. |
If TTS is enabled, the voice announcement for changed player status is triggered, as expected based on this event. |
| Integrator defined | Video skip forward | If player status = paused, and UI is shown, then command is ignored. If player status = paused, and UI is not shown, then perform a simple skip forward X number of seconds, and keep video paused. If player status = playing, then perform a simple skip forward X number of seconds. |
If TTS is enabled, the DIVA pre-defined voice announcement for simple video skip is maintained/triggered. |
| Integrator defined | Video skip back | If player status = paused, and UI is shown, then command is ignored. If player status = paused, and UI is not shown, then perform a simple skip back for X number of seconds, and keep video paused. If player status = playing, then perform a simple skip back for X amount of seconds. |
If TTS is enabled, the DIVA pre-deined voice announcement for simple video skip is maintained/triggered. |
| Integrator defined | Open DIVA "Settings" | Standard behavior for when "Settings" panel/menu is open, as if the user selects the on-screen "Settings" icon. | If TTS is enabled, the DIVA pre-defined voice announcement for opening the panel/menu is maintained/triggered. |
| Integrator defined | Open DIVA "Subtitles" | Standard behavior for when "Subtitles" panel is open, as if the user selects the on-screen "Subtitles" icon. | If TTS is enabled, the DIVA pre-define voice announcement for opening the panel/menu is maintained/triggered. |
| Integrator defined | Open DIVA "Audio" | Standard behavior for when "Audio" panel is open, as if the user selects the on-screen "Audio" icon. | If TTS is enabled, the DIVA pre-defined voice announcement for opening the panel/menu is maintained/triggered. |
| Integrator defined | Open DIVA "Video list mode" | Standard behavior for when Video list mode is activated, as if the user navigates to the first available video list. | If TTS is enabled, the associated voice announcement focusing a video list for the first time is triggered. |
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.2 on tvOS.
DIVA tvOS uses native OS behavior. Refer to the Apple TV User Guide: Accessibility features on Apple TV for further information.
Accessibility features on the tvOS platform include:
Alternate input methods
Keyboard navigation
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.2 on tvOS.
tvOS supports keyboard navigation and interaction as natively expected. This helps users with visual impairments and disabilities to navigate DIVA Player UI. On-screen navigational movement (the order in which the focus moves) follows the order in which the UI elements display on the screen, starting from the uppermost left element to the lowermost right.
Badges
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.2 on tvOS.
Example of "AD" and "CC" badges:
What are badges?
Badges are icons that display on video list items/cards. They indicate to users that there’s further accessibility support on content before a selection is made. Badges are recognized by Text-to-Speech and are read aloud if enabled.
Where do badges display?
Badge display is optional and controlled by operators, although badges are included and shown for any list item/card on all video lists by default. Badges on tvOS display in the bottom-right corner of the video card.
What badges are available?
If video assets have additional tracks available and badges are enabled, the “AD” (Audio Description) and/or “CC” (Closed Captions) badges display. Read on for more information on each:
“AD” Audio Description badge
When a video list item/card has more than one Audio Description track available, an "AD" badge displays.
“CC” Closed Caption badge
When a video list item/card has at least one Closed Caption track available, a "CC" badge displays.
Note: video list items/cards can show both "AD" and "CC" badges when at least one Closed Caption track and Audio Description track are available.
For more feature information, read our subtitles and captioning, and audio tracks articles.
tvOS native settings
The following features are native tvOS behavior. For additional details, see Apple TV User Guide: Accessibility features on Apple TV.
Reduce Transparency
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.2 on tvOS.
The ability to toggle on/off Reduce Transparency on tvOS helps to increase the contrast between text and the background.
TvOS elements affected by Reduce Transparency settings:
- Content within tabs
- Info
- Key moments
- Video lists
- Icons above the seekbar
- Language
- Subtitles
- HDR
To access the tvOS Accessibility Reduce Transparency settings, follow these steps:
1. Within the tvOS Settings menu, navigate to Accessibility.
2. Within the Accessibility menu, navigate down to Display.
3. Within the Display menu, toggle on/off contrast settings, including Reduce Transparency and Increase Contrast.
Example of Reduce Transparency off (transparent background behind video card list titles):
Example of Reduce Transparency on (dark opaque background behind video card list titles):
VoiceOver (screen reader)
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.2 on tvOS.
VoiceOver on tvOS is a screen reading functionality to help visually impaired users control and interact with DIVA using two native tvOS VoiceOver modes: navigation and exploration.
For further information, refer to the Apple TV User Guide: Use VoiceOver on Apple TV.
To access the tvOS Accessibility VoiceOver settings, follow these steps:
1. Within the tvOS Settings menu, navigate to Accessibility.
2. Within the Accessibility menu, select VoiceOver (screen reader).
3. Toggle on/off VoiceOver to enable/disable the feature and manage VoiceOver settings.
Subtitles and Captioning enhancements
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.2 on tvOS.
DIVA on tvOS supports subtitles and captioning enhancements for better visibility, clarity, and sharpness of text.
To access the tvOS Accessibility Subtitles and Captioning enhancement settings, follow these steps:
1. Within the tvOS Settings menu, navigate to Accessibility.
2. Within the Accessibility menu, navigate down to Display.
3. Within the Display menu, toggle on/off Bold Text settings.
Voice commands
DIVA supports voice commands on tvOS, allowing users to control DIVA via the Siri remote. For further information, read the Apple TV User Guide: Use Siri on your Apple TV.
Accessibility features on the Roku platform include:
- Badges
- Screen contrast
- Subtitles and Captioning enhancements
- Text-to-Speech (TTS)
- Custom input reactions (voice commands)
Badges
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.2 on Roku.
Example of "CC" and "AD" badges:
What are badges?
Badges are icons that display on video list items/cards. They indicate to users that there’s further accessibility support on content before a selection is made. Badges are recognized by Text-to-Speech and are read aloud if enabled.
Where do badges display?
Badge display is optional and controlled by operators, although badges are included and shown for any list item/card on all video lists by default. Badges on Roku are left-aligned and display beneath the video card title. Badges display in place of the secondary tagline for videos without this data.
What badges are available?
If video assets have additional tracks available and badges are enabled, the “AD” (Audio Description) and/or “CC” (Closed Captions) badges display. Read on for more information on each:
“AD” Audio Description badge
When a video list item/card has more than one Audio Description track available, an "AD" badge displays in line with the secondary tagline of the video.
“CC” Closed Caption badge
When a video list item/card has at least one Closed Caption track available, a "CC" badge displays in line with the secondary tagline of the video.
Note: video list items/cards can show both "AD" and "CC" badges when at least one Closed Caption track and Audio Description track are available.
For more feature information, read our subtitles and captioning, and audio tracks articles.
Screen contrast
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.2 on Roku.
Example of increased screen contrast disabled/enabled:
Increased screen contrast within DIVA can significantly impact the visibility of text on top of a video background. Supported platforms allow users to turn off the semi-opacity design on specific UI (User Interface) elements, helping to increase the contrast between the text and the background.
Opacity is enabled by default; however, visit the Settings panel to disable it. Upon disabling screen contrast, the background turns opaque for the following UI elements:
- Settings panel
- Subtitles panel
- Audio tracks panel
- Timeline event cards
- DIVA timeline list items/cards
- Video list mode
Note: we plan to expand the list of UI elements in future releases.
Increased screen contrast
Follow these steps to increase screen contrast:
- Select the up arrow to display player controls.
- Select left/right arrows to navigate to the Settings icon.
- Select OK with the Settings icon in focus.
- Select the down arrow to navigate to the Increase contrast option.
- Select OK to toggle on/off increased screen contrast, preferences apply automatically.
- Select the back/left arrow to exit the Subtitles menu and return to the event.
Subtitles and Captioning enhancements
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.2 on Roku.
We’ve enhanced the display of subtitles and captioning for better visibility, clarity, and sharpness of text. Accessibility options include enlarging text by 25% and increasing screen contrast (the contrast between text font color and text background color). Read on for more information on each.
Enlarge text by 25%
Follow these steps to enlarge the text size:
- Select the up arrow to display player controls.
- Select left/right arrows to navigate to the Subtitles icon.
- Select OK with the Subtitles icon in focus.
- Select the down arrow to navigate to the Caption style option.
- Select OK with the Caption style option in focus to display the Caption style panel.
- Select OK again to toggle on/off the Enlarge text option - preferences apply automatically.
Example of enlarged text enabled:
- Select the back/left arrow to exit the Subtitles and captioning menu and return to the event.
Note: by default, Closed Caption controls within the Subtitles panel display when additional Closed Caption tracks are available, however, operators can disable this.
High-contrast mode
Example of high-contrast mode (style) disabled:
Example of high-contrast mode (style) enabled:
Follow these steps to enable/disable high-contrast mode, turning the text background opaque for better clarity:
- Select the up arrow to display the player controls.
- Select left/right arrows to navigate to the Subtitles icon.
- Select OK with the Subtitles icon in focus.
- Select the down arrow to navigate to Caption style.
- Select OK with Caption style selected.
- Select OK again to toggle on/off styling - preferences apply automatically.
- Select the back/left arrow to exit the Subtitles menu and return to the event.
Text-to-Speech (TTS)
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.2 on Roku.
TTS is available on the following devices: Roku Streaming Stick (3600X), Roku Express (3700X) and Express+ (3710X), Roku Premiere (4620X) and Premiere+ (4630X), Roku Ultra (4640X), and any Roku TV running Roku OS 7.2 and later.
Native Text-to-Speech (TTS), also known as a screen reader, or TalkBack, provides users with an audible description of specific events and interactive UI elements. TTS clearly states the users position on-screen, major events occurring in the player, as well as certain characteristics of the user focused UI element (if applicable). This includes, but is not limited to, operating main player controls, e.g., play, pause, skip, as well as other interactions such as browsing a video list or changing the subtitles track for a loaded video.
TTS supports the existing DIVA features as included up to the latest release.
How is TTS enabled?
TTS is enabled at an operating system (OS) level. If the device you’re using has TTS enabled, DIVA recognizes this and automatically reads aloud UI elements in focus.
Where is TTS supported?
TTS is available on the main player, video list mode, the settings panel, the audio languages panel, and the Subtitles and Captioning panel. All highlighted elements in the examples below support TTS:
Main player screen read elements:
- Main video title
- Timeline event card
- Video player bar (live or VOD)
- Settings button
- Audio languages button
- Subtitles and Captioning button
- Play/pause button
Video list mode screen read elements:
- Video list title
- Row title
- Number of titles in row
- Video card primary title
- Attribute badges (Audio description, Closed captions)
- Live badge
How does TTS work?
TTS generates a voice description upon receiving focus. For example, a user navigates through a video list to select a video to play. The screen reads the video list title “On now,” followed by the number of titles belonging to the row, “8 titles in this row”. With a primary video card title in focus, the screen reads the video card title, “Manchester - Chelsea,” followed by its secondary tagline, and any available attribute badges, e.g., Audio description (AD), or Closed Captions (CC), and the status badge (live or VOD).
TTS can help users apply Subtitles/Captioning, audio tracks, and HDR settings by calling out the focused element and guiding them through the user journey. The screen reader also supports advertisements, informing users when the advertisement ends and the video resumes.
TTS prioritizes the last generated announcement voiced by the screen reader, meaning in the case of multiple consecutive announcements, the last always overwrites the others. We are currently working on improving this aspect of the feature to combine and suppress overlapping announcements to ensure no information is lost.
Custom input reactions (voice commands)
Compatibility notes: DIVA 5.4 on Roku.
DIVA now supports custom input reactions. This allows integrators to expand a voice command system into DIVA Player.
How do custom input reactions work?
We have created a series of exposed actions that DIVA executes once an integrator customizes and pre-defined the input and receives a trigger. Actions include playing, pausing videos, and opening the settings panel.
Integrators are provided a set API function that listens to a callback and actions a command; for example, when paired with a voice command system, when a user says, “Open settings,” the input received triggers DIVA Player and opens the settings panel. Integrators must set up a voice command system and define their chosen commands (reactions).
DIVA TV reactions include:
| Input received | DIVA TV reaction | DIVA TV action upon recognizing command | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Integrator defined | Play video | If player status = playing, then keep playing loaded video. If player status = paused, then commence playing loaded video. |
If TTS is enabled, the voice announcement for changed player status is triggered, as expected based on this event. |
| Integrator defined | Pause video | If player status = paused, then keep loaded video paused. If player status = playing, then immediately pause loaded video. |
If TTS is enabled, the voice announcement for changed player status is triggered, as expected based on this event. |
| Integrator defined | Video skip forward | If player status = paused, and UI is shown, then command is ignored. If player status = paused, and UI is not shown, then perform a simple skip forward X number of seconds, and keep video paused. If player status = playing, then perform a simple skip forward X number of seconds. |
If TTS is enabled, the DIVA pre-defined voice announcement for simple video skip is maintained/triggered. |
| Integrator defined | Video skip back | If player status = paused, and UI is shown, then command is ignored. If player status = paused, and UI is not shown, then perform a simple skip back for X number of seconds, and keeps the video paused. If player status = playing, then perform a simple skip back for X amount of seconds. |
If TTS is enabled, the DIVA pre-defined voice announcement for simple video skip is maintained/triggered. |
| Integrator defined | Open DIVA "Settings" | Standard behavior for when "Settings" panel/menu is open, as if the user selects the on-screen "Settings" icon. | If TTS is enabled, the DIVA pre-defined voice announcement for opening the panel/menu is maintained/triggered. |
| Integrator defined | Open DIVA "Subtitles" | Standard behavior for when "Subtitles" panel is open, as if the user selects the on-screen "Subtitles" icon. | If TTS is enabled, the DIVA pre-define voice announcement for opening the panel/menu is maintained/triggered. |
| Integrator defined | Open DIVA "Audio" | Standard behavior for when "Audio" panel is open, as if the user selects the on-screen "Audio" icon. | If TTS is enabled, the DIVA pre-defined voice announcement for opening the panel/menu is maintained/triggered. |
| Integrator defined | Open DIVA "Video list mode" | Standard behavior for when Video list mode is activated, as if the user navigates to the first available video list. | If TTS is enabled, the associated voice announcement focusing a video list for the first time is triggered. |
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