Bristol-based firm Ocean Blue Software has developed the world's first talking digital set-top box for televisions.

Chatterbox is a collaboration between The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and digital technology companies to develop the world's first "talking" TV technology – which will reach the market later this year.

Bristol-based Ocean Blue Software formed a consortium consisting of STMicroelectronics (also based in Bristol) and TW electronics. This consortium then created the world's first talking set-top box solution for the RNIB.

On-screen text such as TV programme guides, digital displays and menus are set to be brought to life with the power of speech thanks to the new "talking" technology.

It is hoped it will be adapted across the consumer technology market, offering benefits to millions of people with sight problems and different forms of impairment around the world. This technology breakthrough, codenamed Chatterbox, has been nominated for an IABM Design Awards Candidate 2009. The broadcast technology body received more than 70 submissions for the award this year and selected the "talking" TV technology as one of the Top 10 most innovative in design.

"We are absolutely thrilled to have been shortlisted for the prestigious award," said Ocean Blue Software CEO Ken Helps. "Ocean Blue constantly strives to develop innovative solutions for the digital TV industry, so we are very pleased with the nomination and look forward to the awards ceremony next month at IBC Amsterdam. With the digital switchover upon us, this new technology can be utilised to deliver accessibility benefits to both those with sight problems and sighted people. It is compatible with consumer products, such as televisions, that have screen- based menu systems and converts on-screen text into speech output."

Steve Tyler, the RNIB's head of innovation and disability access services, said: "We are really excited by this development as it has the potential to significantly improve the lives of nearly eight million people in the UK alone. These include the blind, visually impaired, deaf, severely dyslexic and the elderly who can all benefit from this advance in technology."