Netflix and Audio Description;
Ease of use and watching
habits amongst the blind
Producer notes
{Notice to the reader about accessibility: This document meets the Government of Québec SGQRI 008-02 standard to be accessible to anybody, disabled or not. All notices between braces are alternative texts for images, abbreviations or to describe any other information conveyed by sensory characteristics that transmits information, indicates an action, prompts a response, or distinguishes a visual element.
This document was made accessible by service Adaptation de l'InformationenMédiasSubstituts of Institut Nazareth et Louis-Braille being part of CISSS Montérégie-Centre.
955, d'Assigny – door 139
Longueuil (Québec) J4K 5C3
Phone: 450 463-1710, ext. 346
Toll free: 1 800 361-7063, ext. 346
Fax: 450 670-0220
E-mail:
Notes: Make sure you modified your Jaws' reading parameters by activating language detection and most punctuations reading.}
Navigation links
Producer notes
Navigation links
Netflix and Audio Description; Ease of use and watching habits amongst the blind
Introduction
Background
Purpose
Methodology
Results
Discussion
References
Netflix and Audio Description;Ease of use and watchinghabits amongst the blind
Sara Brennan MSc., SRDV
Introduction
In a settlement reached between Netflix and the American Council for the Blind in 2016, the media giant has committed to making Netflix accessible on all applicable devices by December 31, 2016 ("Netflix to Enhance Access for Customers Who Are Blind," n.d.). Today, Netflix offers over 250 audio described features.
Background
Today's Internet has verifiably transformed the landscape of movie watching with sites where content can be streamed online through a computer or other device (Roku, Wii etc.). According to the AFB's household survey in 1997, 99% of visually impaired individuals own a television and 97% watch television 2 to 3 times per week.
Moreover, a Statistics Canada survey reports that 3 in 4 people with a seeing limitation indicated having used the Internet in the previous 12 months. With audio description becoming more available, there is very little research into online television watching habits of this population.
Purpose
To gain a better understanding of the online leisure television watching habits of blind individuals using screen reading soft-ware. Considering the current improved availability of audio described content, increased variety and the expansion to a new platform, we question the ease of use of Netflix's newly improved online player and how enjoyable it is to use.
Methodology
A total of 110 individuals followed the link to the survey (54% male). Inclusion criteria; blind users of screen reading software, who have access to the internet (to access the survey)
Age of participants ranged from under 18 years of age up to 74 years old. The majority of respondents were between the ages of 24-44, making up 52.7% of the total.
SurveyMonkey was chosen as they comply with web accessibility standards and for their language options.
Recruitment; Social media (Facebook and Twitter) and community organizations; Both French and English community groups included the Quebec Federation for the Blind (QFB), Association Sportif des Aveugles du Quebec (ASAQ), Accessible Media Inc (AMI) and the Alliance for the Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC)
CERES ethics approval obtained.
{Illustration}
When watching a Netflix movie, what device do you prefer to use?
Answer Choices / Responses / ResponsesSmartphone (iPhone, Android smartphone, etc.) / 38.82% / 33
Tablet / 8.24% / 7
Laptop / 3.53% / 3
Desktop / 1.18% / 1
Apple TV / 29.41% / 25
Roku / 1.18% / 1
Smart TV / 7.06% / 6
Other (please specify) / 10.59% / 9
{/Illustration}
Results
A total of 105 respondents reported having watched audio-described features, with 5individuals reporting having never watched audio described content.
When asked whether those who have had experience with AD enjoyed watching audiodescribed movies, 96 reported "yes" while 14 reported "sometimes."{n1}
63 individuals reported enjoying watching AD content with sighted friend and family, while 21.8% reported that they never watch AD content with sighted friends and family.
When asked how often they watched audio-described content on Netflix, 46% reported watching once or twice per week, 21% a few times per month, 24.2% everyday, 4.2% a few times per year and 4.2% selected "never".
Discussion
The age distribution demonstrated that those individuals who chose to follow the link to the survey were primarily of working age (18-64) with the bulk in between 25-34 years of age. This could explain the popularity of Netflix amongst this age group. However, it is likely that this age group has a greater online presence as well based on the prevalence of Internet use among young adults.
Data obtained regarding screen-reading software used shed light on the popularity of various types but also on the number being used per person. Results demonstrated that it is not unusual for blind individuals to be using more than one type of screen reading software, with some using up to five different types. Further research could investigate preferences for screen reading software and under what circumstances they are being used.
Interestingly but not surprisingly, respondents reported only sometimes or never watching audio described content with sighted friends or family.
Number of Screen reading Software used / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6Number of participants / 27 / 39 / 31 / 10 / 1 / 1
{Chart}
Screen Reader Software Used
•Jaws: 70
•NVDA: 54
•VoiceOver: 75
•Narrator: 17
•Window Eyes: 6
•Other: 4
{/Chart}
{Chart}
Do you have a subscription to Netflix or make use of their service?
•Oui: 85,88%
•Non: 14,12%
{/Chart}
{Chart}
Netflix Ease of Use
Very Easy / Easy / Not Easy / Difficult / N/ABefore January 2017 / 18 / 38 / 25 / 6 / 8
After January 2017 / 52 / 38 / 3 / 0 / 2
{/Chart}
References
Audio description via Netflix by the American Council of the Blind. Retrieved from January 2016
Ellis, K. (2014). Netflix Closed Captions Offer an Accessible Model for the Streaming Video Industry, But What about Audio Description? Communication, Politics & Culture, 47(3), 3.
Netflix to Enhance Access for customers who are Blind. Disability Right Advocates. Retrieved from on December. 2016. Pauls, J. (2015). Audio Description Comes to Netflix. AFB Access World Magazine. Retrieved at DocID=aw160708 November 15th, 2015.
Statistics Canada. (2010). Participation and Activity Limitation Survey 2006: Technical and Methodological Report (Catalogue number 89-628-X 2007001).