Watching Movies with Ears: How Blind People Interact with Netflix

In the world of streaming services, where access to media content is becoming universal, it’s crucial to ensure equal access for all users. But how does it work for blind viewers on Netflix? In this article, we’ll explore how technological solutions enable blind people to enjoy cinematic art, as well as the challenges and opportunities streaming platforms provide in creating an inclusive cinematic space.

About Netflix Briefly

Netflix is a global leader in the realm of streaming video content and entertainment services. Founded in 1997 in the USA as a DVD rental service by mail, the company has undergone significant development to become one of the largest and most popular platforms for streaming video.

Key Aspects of Netflix

• Netflix offers a wide range of movies, series, documentaries, animations, and original content available for streaming.
• Netflix is the creator of numerous original films and series, such as “House of Cards,” “Stranger Things,” “The Crown,” “The Witcher,” and many others, which have become incredibly popular worldwide.
• The service uses sophisticated recommendation algorithms, offering users content based on their previous views.
• Netflix allows content viewing on a wide range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and computers.
• The service is available in almost all countries around the world, making it one of the most global providers of streaming video content.

Blind User Experience on Netflix

To start enjoying the entertainment world of Netflix, you’ll need to register. For successful registration, you need to:

1. Visit the Netflix registration page.
2. Choose a subscription plan that suits you.
3. Provide an email address and create a password for your account.
4. Enter payment details.

Netflix subscriptions are billed monthly on the same day the subscription was made. You can change your subscription plan or cancel your Netflix subscription at any time. Next, you’ll be asked to enter your phone number, select the types of devices you plan to use for viewing, and pick 3 movies or series.

As a blind user, I can say that the registration process is fully accessible; button labels and input fields are properly labeled and function correctly. The whole procedure shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes. On Windows 10 and above, the Netflix app can be installed from the Microsoft Store.

You can also watch Netflix without the app, using one of the supported web browsers.

Netflix Use

Now let’s discuss the actual use of the Netflix web platform. Overall, interacting with the web version of Netflix doesn’t present significant problems, but there are some nuances related to navigation and interface responsiveness. Content is divided into categories, but navigation can seem a bit confusing. The interface in some areas can also appear slow and unresponsive, creating a sensation of action delays.

Another observation is that when selecting a movie or series, the information does not open instantly, and to get detailed information, one needs to scroll down the page (using Ctrl + End), then find and activate the “Dialogue” button. However, it’s worth noting that this element is not recognized as interactive.

After activating the “Dialogue,” use the “Up” and “Down” arrows to read the information. To start playback, find the “Watch” link and activate it. After this, you will be redirected to the player page, where there are also control buttons, but even with these, there are difficulties.

The issue is that the control buttons hide, so you need to quickly use the “Tab” and “Space” keys to interact with them. For rewinding, the hotkey combination “Alt + Left Arrow” (backwards) and “Alt + Right Arrow” (forwards) is used, but be careful with fast rewinding backwards to avoid going back to the previous page. Volume control is managed by the combination “Alt + Up Arrow” or “Down Arrow.”

Audio Description on Netflix

All these nuances are just minor features that are easy to get used to, especially considering the main advantage of Netflix: the active development of audio description technology. This provides blind viewers with a unique opportunity to enjoy content. Audio description is a verbal description of the visual elements of a film or series, allowing blind individuals to fully perceive the plot and atmosphere of the work.

One of the key technologies used by Netflix is the precise synchronized embedding of audio descriptions into content. This means that descriptions of visual elements, such as location, characters’ emotional states, or important scenic details, are embedded into the audio track while maintaining the naturalness of the perception process.

Unfortunately, the additional audio track with audio description (audio narration) is most often only available in English. Audio description tracks in other languages are less common.

Audio description tracks are available on all devices. You can activate this track from the same menu you use to change the audio language or subtitles.

Simply activate the “Audio and Subtitles” dropdown menu button and select the available audio track with description.

Typically, tracks are implemented in all Netflix original works. Netflix also states that it collaborates with studios to integrate the feature as naturally as possible.

Conclusion: Toward Inclusive Entertainment

Thus, Netflix has become an integral part of entertainment culture and continues to expand its content library, attracting viewers from all over the world.

The interaction of blind viewers with Netflix through audio description technologies represents an important step towards creating a more inclusive entertainment industry. With the development of modern audio description technologies, users facing vision impairments can enjoy the diverse content offered by this popular platform.