Subtitles and Dementia Remote Control

[kaygilbert]

Hi there

My mother can no longer use the Sony remote control.  I have set up a special simple dementia friendly remote control instead. However, her original remote control has to be used to set up subtitles because it takes several key strokes to turn it on.  I can only program one key stroke onto the function key of the dementia friendly remote control so it can't be used for this.  I can turn on subtitles for her using the original Sony remote control but as soon as she turns off the tv with the dementia friendly remote control, it resets the tv to not having subtitles.  Any help with this gratefully received, it's massively important for her wellbeing to have the tv available with subtitles.

[LightFoot · Accepted solution]

Hi @kaygilbert 

I don’t know if it makes any difference, but you have asked your question in the Android TV community. The KD-43XF7073 is a Linux TV and covered by the Other TV Community

I believe the key here is to set Subtitles On in the settings. I can’t help you as I have a Google TV so have no idea what the Linux settings look like. However it my be worth reading the manual or looking at the web help pages:

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/televisions-projectors-lcd-tvs/kd-43xf7073

Looking at the help pages, the only place that I can see for Subtitles in the Settings is (using the TV remote): Home -> Settings-> System Settings -> Channel Setup -> Digital Setup -> Subtitle Setup.

[daveyh64 · Accepted solution]

 As Lightfoot has said the path to the settings for subtitles on your TV can be found by pressing the Home button on the Sony TV remote control.

From there scroll downwards to Settings.

Select System Settings.

On the next page scroll down to Channel Set Up.

Click right and select Digital Set Up.

Now select Subtitle Setup.

Click on Subtitle Setting and select either Basic or For Hard Of Hearing.

Also make sure that the Primary and Secondary Preferred Language options are selected for the languages(s) you prefer.

Now press the Home button to come out of the Settings menu.

Subtitles should now be permanently displayed on the TV.

Please note though that not all Channels and programmes carry subtitles, so no amount of going through Settings will bring them up. Perhaps you could explain that to your mother so she is not tempted to press random buttons in an effort to get subtitles when they are not available for a particular programme or channel.

There is a button on the Sony remote control which can switch on or off the subtitles.

This button is located on the bottom third of the Sony remote control, it is located in between the Audio and Title List buttons. 

It is a small square with four dots at the bottom.

Pressing this button will bring up a submenu Subtitle Language where you can switch off the subtitles by selecting Off, to switch them back on you would select English (assuming English was chosen as your preferred language.)

As the Sony TV remote controls so many functions on the TV you may want to hide it from your mother so she is not tempted to go on a button pressing frenzy which can only add to confusion and getting lost in the many options available.

Once you have got the TV set up to display subtitles permanently as described and you feel the dementia remote control offers the basic functions your mother needs, power on/ off, channel changes and volume control, you can maybe take the Sony TV remote away from temptation.

[kaygilbert]

I can’t wait to try this, thank you so much for taking the time to give such a comprehensive answer 😊

[kaygilbert]

I just want to say a massive thanks for everyone on this community thread because today, finally we managed to get my mum's tv sorted.  This has made a 91 yr old lady very happy and saved me a lot of stress.  Really appreciate your help everyone!