Spectral Edge is enabling operators and set-top box manufacturers to improve the TV viewing experience for the estimated 4 per cent of the world’s population that suffers from colour-blindness, by integrating its Eyeteq image enhancement technology with STMicroelectronics’ Cannes set-top box chipset, making it available to operators and service providers.
Eyeteq allows colour-blind viewers to better differentiate between colour combinations they struggle to see, such as red-green and pink-grey, allowing them to see image and video details they previously could not. As a result, colour-blind viewers strongly prefer the processed output. Eyeteq is designed to deliver this enhancement with minimal impact on the picture seen by other viewers, enabling everyone to watch and enjoy the same screen together. With Eyeteq enabled, content streamed to a set-top box is enhanced on a frame by frame basis before being displayed on the TV screen.
Programmes which contain a large amount of red and green in their images, such as premium sports content, as well as motoring and nature programmes, are problematic for colour-blind viewers and stand to benefit from Eyeteq.
“Over 250 million people around the world, including 8 per cent of men, suffer some form of colour-deficient vision. This is a particular frustration when they want to watch TV with family and friends,” said Christopher Cytera (pictured), managing director, Spectral Edge. “The combination of our patented Eyeteq image enhancement technology and STMicroelectronics’ widely used set-top box platforms provides the perfect solution, transforming the viewing experience while enabling operators to differentiate themselves and add new subscribers by delivering content to this large demographic group.”
“Our collaboration with Spectral Edge demonstrates our commitment to innovation in the set-top-box market,” said Ismail Allalcha, strategic and ecosystem marketing, digital product group, STMicroelectronics. “ST’s leading-edge technology and its close cooperation with innovators like Spectral Edge allow operators and manufacturers to roll out transformative technology like Eyeteq quickly to their subscribers. We believe this solution will generate significant interest across the operator and set-top box industries.”
