Navigating Netflix with NVDA

Please note: When navigating Netflix in a different browser, you may get different results. There are two audio tutorials demonstrating the difference you will hear between Inter Explorer (which is the updated version of Netflix) and an older audio tutorial using Mozilla Firefox (which was the original version of their site). Not all aspects were mentioned in the update (for example accounts section).

Signing up to Netflix

To join up to Netflix you will need to go to the following web address http://www.netflix.com
You will need to locate the sign in link and press the Enter key. If you have already signed up to Netflix, it is a matter of just entering in your email address and your Netflix password. Once you have entered your email address and password, tab to the Sign In button and press Enter.

If you have not signed up to Netflix before, you will need to sign up for a new account. It will basically ask you for your details and how you would like to pay (for example - via credit card or Pay Pal).  It will also ask you what sort of plan you want to be on. This will vary - depending on how many devices you want to connect to their service at any one time, and what quality of video you want. (For example standard, high definition or 4k).

The sign up process is pretty straight forward. You will need to enter in your details to sign up to Netflix. You can navigate the different sections of the form by using the up and down arrow keys, and/or tabbing. However, when you go to agree that you are over 18, the check box can not be seen by NVDA. Press the Spacebar and this will check the check box.

Once you have signed up to Netflix, you will be allocated a profile which you can tailor to your own preferences (for example JJ).

After you have signed up to Netflix

The first page it comes to should look like this:
Netflix
Who's watching?
Your name here (for example JJ) KidsKids
Add Profile

You could (should you wish to at a later date) create another profile should someone else in the house wish to use Netflix as well.

You will need to locate your profile, and making sure that you are on your profile link properly (for example JJ), press the Enter key and this should take you to the second page. You may get a slightly different result in another browser.

The second page of your Netflix account

To navigate around this Netflix page, you will find that it is broken up into different sections.  After your profile has been setup; to go to the top of the page, use the Ctrl key and the Home key. To go to the bottom of the page, use the Ctrl key and the End key.
Try exploring this page and the way it is set up, so that you can get a feel for the layout of the page. (For example use the NVDA key and the down arrow key to read what is on the page).

Interacting with Netflix and its media player

Below is an example of what to do, and how to interact with Netflix and its media player...
To jump down by Genres use the H key (which is a single letter navigation key in NVDA) to jump down by headings such as "comedys, popular on netflix, action thrillers" and so on.

Selecting a movie or documentary to watch (via its genre)

On the second page of Netflix where all the movies are located, use the Ctrl key and the Home key to go to the top of the page. You can now jump down by headings to the different genres by pressing the letter H while in browse mode in NVDA. To hear which movies are listed under any of the genres, press the letter K for links and this will take you through the various shows/movies in those sections. You can also use the elements list in NVDA to jump down to hear titles beginning with a certain letter. For example, press Insert + F7 to bring up the elements list, and then press the letter A to hear which titles begin with A, or B to hear which titles begin with B and so on.

This latest update from Netflix is a far quicker way of locating the titles you want to watch, compared to the last two alterations that Netflix have done. For example, when Netflix first arrived the titles were graphics and you had to jump down by the letter G to hear them; and in last July's alteration you heard the word application (which was a link you had to press Enter on, then change into focus mode in NVDA and tab through the different movies). As of the 1st of Jan 2016 (the date my latest Netflix tutorials were updated), it has now become much easier to use Netflix.

Searching for a specific movie/show on Netflix

On the main page, where all of your TV shows/movies are located, go to the top of the page. Next, locate the search link on the main movie page, and once it has been located, press the Enter key on it. This will default you to a search/edit box. (You may have to change NVDA into focus mode).

Type in your search term (for example Star Wars). Next, tab to the search button and press the Enter key and Netflix will come up with a list of movies/shows that match that criteria.

NVDA should go into browse mode, so you can see the results. Use the NVDA key and the space bar to do this, if it does not do it. You will either hear it say browse mode or a sound be played.

When it is in browse mode, you will need to jump to the first heading on the page if there is one. For example "Explore titles related to...". In this list it will come up with all of the movies/shows that refer to your search criteria.  You can use the letter K to jump down the list by links and hear the titles being spoken out.

If none of the movies/shows interest you, while still on this screen you should be able to arrow back up the page until you get back to the search area. This is located just above the search button. If you are lucky, you should hear NVDA say focus mode or the keyboard typing sound so that you can enter into a new search. If this is the case, clear what had been typed in there before and enter in your new search criteria (for example Doctor Who).

To watch a movie using Netflix and NVDA

When you have located a movie that you want to watch, (for example Doctor Who), simply press the Enter key. This will put you into the movie and it will automatically start playing the show or movie for you.

Below are some shortcut key combinations that you can use with the Netflix media player.

Shortcut key combinations for Netflix

Play and pause video – Spacebar or Enter
Play on its own - PageUp
Pause on its own - PageDown
Full screen - F
Exit from full screen - Esc
Volume down - Arrow down
Volume up - Arrow up
Fast forward - Shift and arrow right
Rewind - Shift and arrow left

Audio video statistics - Control, Shift, Alt, and D
Bring up menu - Control, Shift, Alt, and M
Bring up logging window - Control, Shift, Alt, and L
Load Player Info - Control, Shift, Alt, and P
Allow for Codes, Such as Frame Rate - Control, Shift, Alt and C

Change modes to frame forward and frame backward - Control and Spacebar
When in key frame mode (to move backward a frame) - Arrow Left
When in key frame mode (to move forward a fame) - Arrow Right
M - Mute toggle
Full Screen Mode
Control and spacebar - Change Modes to Frame Forward and Frame Backward
Arrow left - Move backward a frame
Arrow right - Move forward a frame

How to enable audio description using the Netflix player with NVDA

To quickly find audio described content on the main Netflix movie page, press the NVDA key (Ins) and the F7 key to bring up the elements list. Next, press the letter A until you hear NVDA say audio description and press the Enter key. This will take you to a page where there is audio described content. Use the Ctrl key and the Home key to take you to the top of the page. Next, use the letter K so that NVDA can jump down by links. You will hear the different movie titles being spoken out. Find a movie you would like to watch (for example Robocop) and press the Enter key. The next page that comes up will have a synopsis of the movie (for example running time, the actors etcetera). You can use the NVDA key and the down arrow key to read this information. After you have read it, use the Ctrl key and the Home key to take you to the top of the page. You should be able to press the letter H to jump you down to the heading of the movie. (This may not always be there). Locate the play link and press the Enter key. The movie should start playing. You will notice when the movie starts playing that there will be no audio description if you have not enabled it (so it may speak in your language but may not have the extra audio in the quiet parts). To enable audio description on the player, locate the play/pause button and pause the movie. Next, tab or shift tab until you hear NVDA say language. This is a button. Press the Enter key, then arrow down to English Audio Description and press the Escape key. It should hopefully save this setting for you.

A similar process can be used should you wish to jump through episodes of a series. It might pay to familiarise yourself with the player and how to interact with it.

Next, go back to your settings in Netflix, find the pause/resume button, and start your movie playing again. Only this time, it will have an audio described track with the movie or show.

This is only on certain shows at present, but more will be added in the future. If you would like to read the news article about audio description coming to Netflix please go to the following link (courtesy of the Washington Post) http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2015/04/14/netflix-makes-a-blind-superhero-accessible-to-blind-viewers/

What I would like to see in Netflix in the future

Even though these are early days for Netflix for audio description, I hope they will do the following sooner or later.

In the search part of Netflix, have it so you can search for audio described content only. Maybe a filter could be used for this so only audio described movies can be found if required. At present Netflix have put in an audio description link on the main Netflix movie page. This can be jumped down to using the elements list in NVDA by pressing the Insert key and the F7 key. Next, press the letter A until you hear NVDA say audio description. Once you hear it, press the Enter key and this will take you to a page with audio described content on it.

For the synopsis of the movie, say whether the movie is audio described or not.

On the main Netflix website, I would like to see (under their Frequently Asked Questions section rather than the help section) the services that Netflix offer to their customers. This includes services such as audio description (for those who are visually impaired / blind / dyslexic); subtitles (for the hearing impaired) and how these services can be enabled to enhance their customers movie experience. Not many people would look under the help section if they were looking for services. Help tends to be used more for troubleshooting rather than highlighting options available. The FAQ section would be used more for finding out about such options. This could in turn bring in more potential customers for Netflix if they can find this information easily enough on the main FAQ page.

To go back to the main Netflix page where your shows/movies are

Using the Alt key and the left arrow key will take you back a page. Alt + right arrow will also take you forward a page.

Removing a movie from your Netflix watchlist

You will need to go to the "your account" section and look for a link called viewing activity. Press the Enter key. Under this section, it will give you a list of movies you are watching (for example Men in Black). There will be a link called report a problem and the one under that called times. Press the Enter key on this link and shortly after it will be removed from the list unless you cancel it.  Also, just under this link it will give you a date. For example 07/04/2015.

Changing your account settings in Netflix

Here you can look up your billing details, language settings and so on.  Arrow up or down the page to find the sections you want to change. There are links to the different sections where you can make your changes (for example languages). To go into one of these sections simply use the Enter key, make your changes, then use the Alt key and the left arrow key to take you back a page.

Please note: It seems that you can change the settings from this section easily; but when you go to adjust them (where you go to watch the movie), even though you can tab/shift tab on a few of the settings there, I could not figure out how to interact with them. For example languages when it was closed. Some you can, some you can't. For some of them I had to use object navigation.

Your settings can be changed under your account. This will show when you go to sign out of Netflix.

To sign out of your Netflix account

To sign out of your account, you will need to locate your account. For example G.. You can jump to it quickly from the top of the page by pressing the letter G until you hear it being spoken out by NVDA. You will need to route your mouse to this graphic. Use the NVDA key and the divide key on the numeric keypad to do this. You should hear your profile being spoken out. For example G
This is a mouse over link.
This will give you some options underneath. Next, arrow down to "Sign out of Netflix" and press the Enter key. You are now signed out. This can not be done on the main page where you first signed into (for example the first page with only 3 links).

Notes relating to Netflix

To listen to an audio tutorial on how to navigate Netflix please go to https://www.dropbox.com/s/e2f4bnk89b7qh9w/navigating_net_flix_with%20nvda.MP3?dl=0

To listen to an audio tutorial on how to play a movie in Netflix, and also how to enable Audio Description in the Netflix player (with the new alterations to Netflix dated January 1st 2016) please go to https://www.dropbox.com/s/z1jnciwszkqb6mi/how%20to%20navigate%20Netflix%20with%20NVDA%20updated%20January%201st%202016.MP3?dl=0
Please note this second tutorial does not cover searching for a movie, removing a movie from your list, or checking under the account settings section. These topics are covered in the first audio tutorial above. Please also note where it referred to graphics in the earlier audio tutorial to locate your movies, these are now links. This second tutorial demonstrates that the enabling of audio description has now been made much easier.

To find out more about the accessible Netflix project, please visit the following link https://netflixproject.wordpress.com/  If you wish to help by completing an accessibility survey about Netflix, simply click on the link that says "our accessibility feedback form".
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