More Accessibility: Starting today, audio streaming for hearing aids is available on Amazon Fire TV. The function can be used on the Fire TV Cube with compatible Bluetooth hearing aids from Starkey, Audible, NuEar, Telefunken, Pro Acoustic and KIND.
First streaming media players with ASHA
This makes Fire TV the first streaming media player to support Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids (ASHA), according to Amazon. Supported hearing aids connect to the Fire TV Cube at the system level, allowing customers to hear their streaming services, apps, games, and responses from Alexa directly through the hearing aid. To pair a hearing aid, customers select Settings from the Fire TV menu, then Accessibility, then Hearing Aids. The hearing aid can then be connected like a Bluetooth headset.
To control the volume for the hearing aid, customers can use the volume buttons on the Alexa Voice Remote. When the film is over, the connection can be disconnected by pressing and holding the remote's “Home” button and selecting “Disconnect hearing aids”. According to Amazon, the distance between the hearing aid and the Fire TV Cube must be comparatively small at a maximum of 3 meters and there should be a direct line of sight.
- Starkey: Evolv AI, Livio, Livio AI, Livio Edge AI
- Audible: Arc AI, Via, Via AI, Via Edge AI
- NuEar: Savant AI, Circa, Circa AI, Circa Edge AI
- Telefunken: TF 2PLUS X, TF 2/1PLUS X
- Pro Acoustics: ipro.7 AI, ipro.6, ipro.6 AI, ipro.6 Edge AI
- KIND: KINDvitalo KD40, KINDevo KD30, KINDvitalo KD30
Hearing aid audio streaming support will be expanded to more devices later this year, according to Amazon.
In addition, the following accessibility features are available for Fire TV devices in Germany :
- Subtitles can be turned on during video playback to display text for dialogue in movies and series. Subtitles are also known as “closed captions”. They can be enabled as a preference in the Fire TV's accessibility settings.
- VoiceView is a screen reader that reads the text on the screen aloud as viewers navigate through menu options and settings.
- The text banner is an assistive technology that consolidates information from different parts of the screen into one central location that doesn't move. A rectangular box appears on the screen with the title of the currently selected item and its associated text. This feature is important for customers with low vision and a limited field of vision.
- The screen magnifier is an assistive technology for customers with low vision. It magnifies the screen as customers navigate the Fire TV interface. This makes it easier to read and view.
- Fire TVs can display high-contrast text. This feature helps make text easier to read. This makes the on-screen text either black or white with a border of the opposite color.
- Alexa allows customers with limited mobility to turn on or off, search, control and play content on compatible TVs using voice commands.