Trend #1
The Web is becoming increasingly ubiquitous:
- Mobile technologies
- Technology convergence
- The Web is everywhere
Trend #2
The Web is becoming increasingly complex:
- Sophisticated formats
- Client-side processing
- User interface interaction
Trend #3
The Web is becoming increasingly essential:
- Education
- Workspace
- Civic participation
- Entertainment
Impact on Web Accessibility
- Solutions are becoming increasingly technical
- Requirements need to be considered from the start
- Support within the document format is essential
- Authoring tools and user agents are critical
Example: Blog Software
Blog software is essentially an authoring tool
- ...that extends user agent functionality
- ...and vice-versa
Web Accessibility Guidelines
- WCAG - Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
- WAI-ARIA - Accessible Rich Internet Applications
- UAAG - User Agent Accessibility Guidelines
- ATAG - Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines
Components of Web Accessibility
![Essential Components of Web Accessibility](Images/specs.png)
ALT-text example
![specific example for alternative text on images which is a requirements by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0. Web developers provide text alternatives for the images using authoring tools. The HTML specification provides a mechanism to supplement images with such text. Finally, this redundant coding is used by browsers and assistive technology to convey the information to the end users according to their preferences, for example visually, through voice synthesis, or in form of text.](Images/example.png)
WCAG 2.0 - Latest News
- Candidate Recommendation - testing phase
- Focusing on requirements marked as At Risk
- Expecting to go to the next stage in Q3 2008
- Expecting to finalize guidelines within 2008
ICCHP: "Bringing Accessibility to Today's Web", keynote by Michael Cooper on Friday 11 July
WCAG 2.0 Documents
![WCAG 2.0 Documents](Images/wcag20docs.png)
Why Bother with Accessibility?
Web accessibility increases your business opportunities:
- Mobile Web users
- Elderly Web users
(there are many other benefits too)
Mobile Web Users
- Rapidly growing community EU-wide
- Often have high purchasing power
- Needs are related to accessibility
- Well-received by Web developers
WCAG - MWBP Overlap
If you have already implemented...
- WCAG, how much more to MWBP?
- MWBP, how much more to WCAG?
http://www.w3.org/WAI/mobile/
ICCHP: "Web Accessible and Mobile", presented by Alan Chuter on Thursday 10 July
Elderly Web Users
- Rapidly growing community EU-wide
- Often have high purchasing power
- Needs are related to accessibility
- Requirements not well understood
WAI-AGE Project
Objectives of the project:
- Better understand the needs
- Encourage user participation
- Develop educational resources
- Pursue standards harmonization
http://www.w3.org/WAI/WAI-AGE/
Literature Review
Over 120 scientific papers and articles reviewed:
- Needs not well understood by industry
- Needs not well understood by users
- Often don't build on previous work
- Some reflect lack of technical knowledge
http://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/wai-age-literature
Finding #1
Many requirements are indeed similar:
- Colour contrast and font size
- Navigation and orientation
- Predictability and tolerance
- Links, headings, consistency, ...
Finding #2
Many requirements are general usability:
- Low computer literacy issues
- Lack of awareness for solutions
- Overwhelmed by functionality
Finding #3
Some requirements could be extensions:
- Font and alignment
- Design and layout
- Simplified Browsers
Finding #4
Some requirements are more common:
- Less use of assistive technologies
- Often progressive deterioration
- Often multiple functional limitations
Potential Results
Literature review could contribute to the discussion of:
- Boundaries between usability and accessibility
- Needs of people with cognitive disabilities
- Role of user agents in Web accessibility
ICCHP: "Web Accessibility for Older Users" presented by Andrew Arch on Thursday 10 July
Conclusion
Older users, mobile surfers and other trends show that:
- The Web is becoming inceasingly ubiquituous, complex, and essential
- Accessibility solutions are becoming increasingly sophisticated
- Business case for accessibility is becoming increasingly stronger
- Authoring tools and user agents are essential for the success
ICCHP: "Web Accessibility 2.0" open discussion on Wednesday 9 July