Video script of "Accessible products and initiatives for inclusive design"

Opening

Takura: Sony Group is promoting activities to enhance accessibility using creativity and technology so that everyone, regardless of their age, disability, or other personal characteristics, abilities, or environment, can enjoy our products, services, and content.

Kinoshita: It is said that more than 1.3 billion people, or one in six people around the world, live with some form of disabilities. One of Sony's founders, Masaru Ibuka, prioritized achieving independence as a human being and creating environments to facilitate that rather than differentiating people based on whether or not they have a disability.

Sony continues to incorporate that spirit with "fill the world with emotion, through the power of creativity and technology" as its Purpose. Sony aims to contribute to providing accessibility, which it regards as being part of sustainability, through its business activities.

Takura: We want our games to be accessible to as many people as possible. We want to contribute to the creative process of as many people as possible. We want as many people as possible to participate in various activities where they can be themselves. We want to create a future where many people can share in the excitement. Each and every one of our employees, with these strong desires in mind, develop new awareness and insight by interacting with people with disabilities and those providing support for them. The insights gained are recognized not as individual issues, but as issues for society as a whole. Sony works together, beyond the organization and regardless of generational differences, to determine what value we want to provide to society.

Kinoshita: In this video, we will introduce our design initiatives developed together with users who require accessibility, such as people with disabilities or the elderly, as well as the employees actually involved in the development of products and experiences created through inclusive design. The exhibits shown here will also be displayed at the Sony booth during CEATEC 2023, which will be held from October 17. We look forward to seeing you there.

Initiative for Inclusive Design
Collaboration between Sony/Taiyo Corporation, a company where employees
with disabilities play an active role, and the Xperia™ Team 

Takura: First, I'd like to introduce one of Sony's inclusive design initiatives, the level in Xperia™ that sends audio alerts. Shinichi Hayashi from Sony / Taiyo Corporation will join us for this segment. Can you start by explaining what inclusive design is?

Hayashi: Inclusive design is a concept of inviting people with disabilities, elderly people, and people living with other limitations in their lives to join us from the product development stage, so that a wider group of people can use our products and services.

Takura: Thank you. Tell us about the function added to Xperia based on this inclusive design concept.

Hayashi: Sure. I'll explain the level function that notifies users through sound. This function is implemented in Xperia 1 V and Xperia 5 V. The level is a device used to determine whether an object is horizontal. In Xperia, it is used to determine whether user can hold the camera horizontally.
Employees from Sony/Taiyo where people with disabilities are actively working, collaborated with the Xperia development team to create an inclusive design. We asked the visually impaired employees for permission to accompany them. We observed how they took photos on the street using a smartphone and used the zoom function as a magnifier, and we interviewed them after that.
Then we noticed that it was difficult for them to take photos while checking the overall image composition. And when they looked at the photos afterward, they knew they didn't get a good picture. For example, sometimes the object was taken at a tilt.
That is why we added the level function to notify users with sound when the image is horizontal and when it is not. This helps visually impaired users to check whether an image is horizontal using sound.
In addition, we added a function to make it easier to see the display. For example, when the user changes a camera setting, the camera itself reverses the button color and indicates what has been changed.

Takura: You can see from the demo how easy it is to tell that the camera is level. How have things changed since implementing inclusive design?

Hayashi: I became aware of different perspectives that I had missed before, and I was able to experience how creating products with the mindset of making them accessible to as many people as possible is a strength in product design.

Takura: Thank you, Shinichi. Let's move on to the next product.

Alpha™ Full-frame Interchangeable-Lens Camera

Kinoshita: In this segment, we will introduce the screen reader function and the menu screen magnifying function in Sony's Alpha™ Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera. We will be joined by Sara Tomizawa from Sony Corporation.
I often take photos using a camera too. What features will you show us today?

Tomizawa: Alpha has the screen reader feature that reads the menu and operation screen out loud and the screen magnification function that provides operation assistance by enlarging the screen size. We developed the screen reader feature because we want as many people as possible to use the various functions of Alpha, and we worked with visually impaired employees who love cameras. I will show you how the screen reader actually works.

Kinoshita: It gives audio guidance at the exact right time for the various operations to change settings, such as turning the dial or pressing the button.

Hayashi: Indeed, we verified over and over again to determine the best order to read out the settings so that people with visual impairment can understand it easily. This feature is currently available in ten languages. In addition to the actual size, we also added three levels of screen display magnification, so users can adjust to their individual needs.
We want to support creators regardless of their age or disability by incorporating various accessibility functions in Alpha.

Kinoshita: Thank you, Sara. Let's move on to the next item.

Retina Projection Camera Kit

Takura: Next, we will talk about the Retina Projection Camera Kit. Miwako Ito from Sony Corporation will explain about the product. Let's welcome her.
Let's go straight to the point. What is the Retina Projection Camera Kit?

Ito: There are approximately 250 million people with low vision in the world, who have some form of visual impairment. They find it difficult to see things, find things to be too bright, or have a narrow range of vision, even when they put on glasses or contact lenses. We would like such people to also be able to enjoy photography and the joy of sharing photos and videos, so we created the Retina Projection Camera Kit.
We combined the viewfinder by QD Laser, Inc. with Sony Cyber-shot© Digital Camera. By using the laser retina projection method that is not easily affected by the focus adjustment function of our eyes, we can project focused images.
It is safe because the projected laser beam is not stronger than the light that enters our eyes in our daily lives. We expect it to help not only people with low vision, but also those with severe myopia, presbyopia, and other conditions. My eyesight has deteriorated in recent years, and I'm wearing glasses now, but with this, I can see without wearing any glasses.
To get it ready for commercial use, we asked teachers and students in schools for the blind to test and provide feedback on the product.
Sight differs from person to person, so if you are interested, please try it in a Sony Store or at exhibitions such as CEATEC 2023.

Takura: Thank you, Miwako. Let's move on to the next product.

XR Catch

Kinoshita: The next item we want to introduce is what you can see coming here from the screen... We have Ippei Tambata from Sony Group Corporation to introduce the next project.
What kind of demo will you be showing us?

Tambata: This is called XR Catch. It is a system that uses Sony's video, audio, and sensing technologies and the telepresence system called "MADO" by MUSVI Corporation. Users can experience throwing and catching a virtual ball based on sound.
The virtual ball thrown from your hand flies to your opponent after three tones. Relying on the rhythm of this sound, the opponent catches the virtual ball. In today's demo, I will play catch with my team member in our office in Minato Mirai, Yokohama, which is approximately 30 km away.

Kinoshita: What an incredible experience. I want to try it too.

Kinoshita: I was unsure at first, but once I understood the meaning of the three tones, I felt as if I was catching an actual ball. Tell us about the story behind the development of this system.

Tambata: The idea came from a person with visual impairment who "wished to be able to play catch with his son." During the actual design stage, we played with many different people and worked on creating something that anyone could play, regardless of their age or disability.

Kinoshita: This new entertainment experience also came from the inclusive design concept. Thank you, Ippei.

Ultra Light Saxophone

Takura: Next, we want to introduce Yuru Musical Instrument, which gives everyone the opportunity to play an instrument. Kayo Nishiyama from Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. will join us for this segment.
We have here with us a Yuru Musical Instrument called the Ultra Light Saxophone. Can you tell us what it is?

Nishiyama: Yes. Music is something that anyone can enjoy regardless of the language they speak or any disability they have. I think music will become much closer in our lives if we can play it easily without practicing how to use the instruments. With this Ultra Light Saxophone, you can play the saxophone simply by humming.

Takura: It is interesting that you can create the sounds from a saxophone just by humming. I want to give it a try.

Takura: It is really easy and fun to play an instrument by humming. With this shape, I felt like I was really playing the saxophone.

Nishiyama: Yes, we invited children with disabilities to try it too. Some of them were shy at first, but once they learned how easy it was to produce sounds with it, they began to enjoy playing music.

Takura: It is fun to play music together with others. Thank you, Kayo.

Access™ Controller for PlayStation®5

Takura: Last but not least, we will show you the accessibility initiatives of PlayStation®.
Sony Interactive Entertainment works to ensure that all players can enjoy their games. By enhancing the accessibility functions, products, and services using the latest technology for all PlayStation® users, we will keep achieving our mission of connecting the world through games.

Kinoshita: The Access Controller for PlayStation®5 was born out of such initiatives. The details can be viewed in the next video. The Access Controller was also designed to be customizable in various ways by talking to accessibility experts and players with disabilities. Please refer to the part of the video called " PlayStation® Accessibility."

Ending

Takura: We have just introduced Sony's accessibility initiatives. We hope you have enjoyed it.

Kinoshita: Sony will take part in CEATEC 2023 from October 17 with the following theme: "For the future where individuals of all abilities to share Kando (emotion)." During the exhibition, we plan to showcase Sony's various accessibility initiatives, including the products shown here. We looked forward to seeing you there.