RNIB leads ‘talking chipset’ development

The UK’s Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has teamed up with a consortium of companies including Ocean Blue Software, ST Microelectronics and TW Electronics to develop a ‘talking chipset’ to deliver spoken-word versions of onscreen text such as EPG information, digital displays and menus.

The RNIB hopes that the technology, which is expected to reach the market later this year, will be adapted by consumer electronics companies and integrated in digital TVs and other devices.