Ensuring Accessibility Features in OTT Platforms

Ensuring Accessibility Features in Your OTT Platform

Features Every Platform Should Include

Closed captions and subtitles are at the top of this list, and they should provide text for both dialogue and non-dialogue sounds. You'll need a mechanism in place to ensure these are accurate, synchronized, and customizable.

For users with motor impairments, if you enable keyboard navigation and voice control you'll make it easy for them to browse even if they can't use a mouse. Screen reader compatibility will ensure that your apps work with tools like VoiceOver on iOS or TalkBack on Android, which reads interface elements aloud for the visually impaired.

Beyond that, make sure you've provided a customizable interface so that users can adjust the contrast, text size, and playback speed to what works for them. Seizure-safe designs keep the screen from displaying flashing lights or rapid animations that could trigger those with photosensitive epilepsy.

Difficulties in Implementing Accessibility

The problem is that many legacy systems still don't support modern standards like Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). This leaves you having to retrofit apps every time a new rule comes down, and that eats up your time and resources; not to mention it might not work or could leave your app so buggy that your users bail.

Content sourcing is another issue, because the licensed shows you've acquired might not have any built-in captions or descriptions, which means you have to create them retroactively. This process demands a skilled team and increases your costs. User diversity complicates the matter even further, because needs are going to vary widely.

It's important to employ good testing of every feature across all devices, from smart TVs to mobile phones, to ensure consistency and quality assurance, but that's neither simple nor quick to do. Regulatory differences across countries are also a pain here, as your platform has to navigate all the varying requirements. These obstacles are real, but addressing them proactively is the best way to ensure your reputation and prevent any legal issues.

Best Practices

Start by adopting WCAG standards early on in development and embedding features like alt text for images and ARIA labels for all the interactive elements. Collaborating with disability advocacy groups can often provide some quite valuable insight during design phases. There are also automated tools, such as WAVE or Axe, that can scan for obvious issues and let you get those out of the way nearly instantly.

Beyond that, prioritize content creation with accessibility in mind and train your producers to include captions and descriptions right from the beginning. Get user feedback through surveys or beta testing, and always get to work on how to implement it quickly: updates should be fairly regular.

It's a lot to get right, but we can help. Visit Lightcast.com today to get a free demo and see how we can help build apps that work and extend your reach.