Showing papers on "Web accessibility published in 2006"

E-Learning and Disability in Higher Education: Accessibility Research and Practice

Abstract: 1. CONTEXTUALING THE SCENE Chapter 1: Opening up spaces for dialogue, critique and imagination in accessibility research and practice. Chapter 2: Being a disabled student in higher education. Chapter 3: Drivers for change in higher education accessibility practice. Chapter 4: The stakeholders of accessibility practice. 2. SURVEYING THE SCENE: MAKING SENSE OF PRACTICE Chapter 5: Guiding accessibility practice. Chapter 6: Evaluating accessibility practice. Chapter 7: Conceptualising accessibility practice. 3. CRITIQUING THE SCENE: MAKING SENSE OF VOICES AND SILENCES Chapter 8: Mediated voices: what do we really know about disabled students' accessibility experiences? Chapter 9: Missing voices: What do we really know about the perspectives and experiences of accessibility stakeholders? Chapter 10: The call for accessibility training and the silences surrounding what works. Chapter 11: Critical silences around Universal Design. 4. RE-IMAGINING THE SCENCE: VOICING THE FUTURE FOR ACCESSIBILITY RESEARCH AND PRACTICE Chapter 12: Re-imagining accessibility research: methods to enable a democratic voice to be heard. Chapter 13: Re-imagining accessibility practice: embracing the discourse of digital inclusion.

Web Accessibility: Web Standards and Regulatory Compliance

Abstract: The impact of web accessibility Implementing accessible websites Accessibility law & policy

Improving accessibility of the web with a computer game

Abstract: Images on the Web present a major accessibility issue for the visually impaired, mainly because the majority of them do not have proper captions. This paper addresses the problem of attaching proper explanatory text descriptions to arbitrary images on the Web. To this end, we introduce Phetch, an enjoyable computer game that collects explanatory descriptions of images. People play the game because it is fun, and as a side effect of game play we collect valuable information. Given any image from the World Wide Web, Phetch can output a correct annotation for it. The collected data can be applied towards significantly improving Web accessibility. In addition to improving accessibility, Phetch is an example of a new class of games that provide entertainment in exchange for human processing power. In essence, we solve a typical computer vision problem with HCI tools alone.

Contextual web accessibility - maximizing the benefit of accessibility guidelines

Abstract: We argue that while work to optimize the accessibility of the World Wide Web through the publication and dissemination of a range of guidelines is of great importance, there is also the need for a more holistic approach to maximizing the role of the Web in enabling disabled people to access information, services and experiences. The persistently disappointingly low levels of usability of Web content for disabled people indicates that focusing on the adoption of accessibility guidelines by content authors, tool developers and policy makers is not sufficient for a truly inclusive Web. This approach fails to acknowledge the role of the Web as an enabler in a broader context and may stifle creative use of Web content and experiences to enhance social inclusion.Using e-learning as an example, and describing current metadata developments, we present a framework that will guide Web authors and policy makers in addressing accessibility at a higher level, by defining the context in which a Web resource will be used and considering how best existing or new alternatives may be combined to enhance the accessibility of the information and services provided by the site in question. We demonstrate how guidelines such as those produced by the W3C's Web Accessibility Initiative have a role to play within this wider context, along with metadata and user profiling initiatives.

Web accessibility testing: when the method is the culprit

Abstract: Testing accessibility of a web site is still an art. Lack of appropriate definitions of accessibility and of standard testing methods are some of the reasons why Web accessibility is so difficult to achieve The paper describes a heuristic walkthrough method based on barriers; it then discusses how methods like this can be evaluated, and it shows experimental data about validity and usefulness of the method when compared to standards review

Understanding Web Accessibility

Abstract: The Web is providing unprecedented access to information and interaction for people with disabilities. It provides opportunities to participate in society in ways otherwise not available. With accessible websites, people with disabilities can do ordinary things:children can learn, teenagers can flirt, adults can make a living, seniors can read about their grand- children, and so on. With the Web, people with disabilities can do more things themselves, without having to rely on others. People who are blind can read the newspaper (through screen readers that read aloud text from the computer), and so can people with cognitive disabilities who have trouble processing written information. People who are deaf can get up-to-the-minute news that was previously available only to those who could hear radio or TV, and so can people who are blind and deaf (through dynamic Braille displays). People with quadriplegia who cannot move their arms or legs can shop online to get groceries, gadgets, and gifts delivered. People who cannot speak can participate in online discus- sions, such as through blog comments.

Enabling or disabling technologies? A critical approach to web accessibility

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this article is to analyse the continuing problem of web accessibility for disabled people as a critical information systems issue.Design/methodology/approach – The ways in which the web is used by disabled people, and problems that can arise, are described and related to the development of critical disability theory from older models of disability, including the medical and social models, noting that the social construction of disability model may tend to mask the embodied, lived experience of disability.Findings – The lack of interaction of the critical disability approach and dominant discourses of web accessibility and internet studies, particularly in relation to embodiment, is a major contributor to the continuance of an inaccessible Worldwide web.Research limitations/implications – The paper does not offer a comprehensive set of web accessibility issues, concentrating instead on the most common problems as exemplars.Practical implications – The paper raises awareness of web...

Efficient edge-services for colorblind users

Abstract: Web Content Accessibility guidelines by W3C (http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10/) provideseveralsuggestionsforWebdesignersonhowtoauthorWebpagesinordertomakethemaccessible to everyone. In this context, we are proposing touse edge services as an efficient and general solution to theproblem of colorblind users: we, first, describe an efficientalgorithm that modifies any color in Web pages, by increas-ing contrast and lightness, in order to make them accessiblefor users with such a disability; then, the algorithm is im-plemented as an edge service called the

Accessibility first!: a new approach to web design

Abstract: This paper proposes an accessibility first pedogogy for web design, in which the course is organized around the requirement of implementing web pages accessible to visually impaired computer users. This approach and its advantages are discussed in detail.

A novel multimodal interface for improving visually impaired people’s web accessibility

Abstract: This paper introduces a novel interface designed to help blind and visually impaired people to explore and navigate on the Web. In contrast to traditionally used assistive tools, such as screen readers and magnifiers, the new interface employs a combination of both audio and haptic features to provide spatial and navigational information to users. The haptic features are presented via a low-cost force feedback mouse allowing blind people to interact with the Web, in a similar fashion to their sighted counterparts. The audio provides navigational and textual information through the use of non-speech sounds and synthesised speech. Interacting with the multimodal interface offers a novel experience to target users, especially to those with total blindness. A series of experiments have been conducted to ascertain the usability of the interface and compare its performance to that of a traditional screen reader. Results have shown the advantages that the new multimodal interface offers blind and visually impaired people. This includes the enhanced perception of the spatial layout of Web pages, and navigation towards elements on a page. Certain issues regarding the design of the haptic and audio features raised in the evaluation are discussed and presented in terms of recommendations for future work.

One year older, but not necessarily wiser: an evaluation of homepage accessibility problems over time

Abstract: A large number of users with disabilities use assistive technology devices to browse the web. However, the use of assistive technologies can only be successful when the web sites are developed in such a way that they are compatible with such devices. Guidelines exist for creating accessible web sites. However, they are seldom followed, and current levels of web accessibility are low. Therefore, the question arises as to which is the major cause of inaccessibility, and how accessibility features of web sites evolve over time. A set of 50 web sites has been studied over time to determine if accessibility improves or declines. This research-in-progress paper presents a comparison of the results obtained in 2002 and 2003. Such a comparison leads to the conclusion that, in the time period of 1 year, the 50 web sites have actually become more inaccessible. Implications for developers, webmasters, and educators are also discussed in the paper.

E-Government Web Site Accessibility in Australia and China: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract: This article examined the accessibility of provincial government web sites in China and state-level web sites in Australia in December 2004 and again in September 2005. This research found that there were serious accessibility problems on Chinese e-government web sites in the first audition, and the situation was even worse in the second audition. This demonstrates that no efforts have been made to build accessible e-government web sites in China. As for the Australian e-government web sites, although they generally did well in terms of accessibility, some small errors found in the first audition were not eliminated in the second audition. It thus suggests that more efforts are still needed for Australian government web sites. Through the comparisons between China and Australia, some valuable lessons can be learned, especially for the development of accessible Chinese e-government web sites for people with disabilities.

Website accessibility: a survey of local e-government websites and legislation in Northern Ireland

Abstract: The provision of accessible websites is a legal requirement under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, which applies throughout Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Equality (disability, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 2000. A survey of local e-government websites indicated that few local councils in the devolved administration of Northern Ireland offered websites which were adequately usable by people with a disability, yet most citizen-government transactions occur at the local level. Design for all has obvious commercial benefits, but it has also become a legal obligation, and application of accessible design principles should improve the online experience of all users.

Meeting the on‐line needs of disabled tourists: an assessment of UK‐based hotel websites

Abstract: The easy exchange of rich information between often geographically dispersed parties is an important precursor of successful tourism transactions. Internet-based technologies, in particular the World Wide Web, offer possibilities to both buyers and sellers to exchange information without the constraints of geography and time diminishing its richness. The disabled, representing a significant part of any marketplace, may, however, have difficulties accessing the content of the Web and therefore sharing the benefits of rich information exchange. This is the principal concern of ‘Web content accessibility’. Focusing on the tourism sector, in particular UK-based hotels, this paper examines the accessibility of their websites. However, recognising that it is not just access to information that is important for the disabled, but also the quality of that information, the paper also examines the extent to which the information contained on websites serves their particular needs. Utilising the accessibility testing software ‘Bobby’, disappointingly low levels of Web content accessibility were found amongst the sample of websites. Against a framework of information needs developed from criteria provided by disability organisations, the sample also revealed disappointingly low levels of specific (relevant) information for the disabled. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

An exploratory study of the accessibility of state government Web sites

Abstract: This paper focuses on Web accessibility. Relevant legislation and judicial decisions are reviewed, and prior empirical research is presented. This study presents the results from the Web accessibility analysis of the home pages of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. It found that twenty-nine percent of the home pages do not meet the requirements for Conformance Level A Web accessibility. Only one state meets Conformance Level AA standards, which are the minimum standards recommended for Web accessibility, and no state meets Conformance Level AAA standards. This paper also discusses how to address common accessibility problems.

Interpreting results from large scale automatic evaluation of web accessibility

Abstract: The large amount of data produced by automatic web accessibility evaluation has to be preprocessed in order to enable disabled users or policy makers to draw meaningful conclusions from the assessment. We study different methods for interpretation and aggregation of the results provided by automatic assessment tools. Current approaches do not meet all the requirements suggested in the literature. Based on the UCAB approach decribed in UWEM 0.5 we develop a new aggregation function targeted at the requirements.

Interpreting results from large scale automatic evaluation of web accessibility

Abstract: The large amount of data produced by automatic web accessibility evaluation has to be preprocessed in order to enable disabled users or policy makers to draw meaningful conclusions from the assessment We study different methods for interpretation and aggregation of the results provided by automatic assessment tools Current approaches do not meet all the requirements suggested in the literature Based on the UCAB approach decribed in UWEM 05 we develop a new aggregation function targeted at the requirements

Improving deaf users' accessibility in hypertext information retrieval: are graphical interfaces useful for them?

Abstract: This paper explores the effect of substituting textual links for graphical ones on the performance of deaf signers in hypertext information retrieval (HIR). Both deaf and hearing users found more t...

Development of a Cognitive Model for Navigating on the Web

Abstract: The objective of this thesis is to build a cognitive model of human performance in Web-assisted tasks. The research is driven by the following questions: What are the most important factors in determining success in Web-assisted tasks? What cognitive mechanisms are involved in these factors? What kind of Web navigation support can be conceived based on the knowledge gained from the previous questions? The approach is based on the simultaneous consideration of theory, method and real-world applicability. Web navigation is grounded in theories of Cognitive Science (Text Comprehension in particular), and Information Science (Human-Computer Interaction in particular). Experimentation, statistical analysis and modeling are conducted. Practical needs of Web engineering are taken into consideration. This research investigates how real Web applications are used. A sequence of repeated studies shows that a combination of two factors is the most important determinant of human performance in Web-assisted tasks: a structure-related factor (spatial ability) and a content-related factor (domain expertise). Spatial cognition is involved in representing the structure of the information space, while domain knowledge is necessary for understanding and selecting relevant content. Factors, such as spatial ability and domain expertise, can only be measured with specialized tests, which cannot be implemented in realistic Web applications. For this reason, Web-logging data is used to calculate metrics of Web navigation behavior. Metrics referring to the structure of user navigation are called syntactic, whereas metrics referring to the visited content are called semantic. It is demonstrated that syntactic (structural) metrics indicate users' navigation styles, for example, if they prefer to revisit pages rather than viewing new pages, or if they return to previously viewed pages using the back button or just by following links. Semantic metrics indicate if users are effective in pursuing their goals independent of their navigation styles. These navigation metrics can be used in building user-models for adaptive Web applications such as recommender systems. A cognitive model of Web navigation (labeled CoLiDeS+) is proposed. Theoretical and empirical arguments are used to motivate the main assumptions of the model which are: (a) users build and update a mental representation of the information space being navigated; and (b) they assess relevance and make decisions to select particular contents based on both prior knowledge they have about those contents, and knowledge they gain from the local context of those particular contents (i.e., what contents they link to). CoLiDeS+, an augmented version of CoLiDeS (Kitajima, Blackmon, & Polson, 2000), uses Latent Semantic Analysis to model assessments of relevance and user navigation history (sequence of selected links) to model contextual information involved in making navigational decisions. This latter feature is the main distinguishing characteristic of CoLiDeS+. The model has been empirically tested for its accuracy in simulating actual user behavior and its utility in generating Web navigation support. It is shown that CoLiDeS+ performs better in modeling user behavior than its previous version (CoLiDeS) and the navigation support generated from its simulations has a positive impact on user behavior and task outcomes. This thesis advances the scientific understanding of human performance in knowledge-intensive tasks and contributes to designing useable and accessible information environments.

The Accessibility of Municipal Government Websites

Abstract: The Internet is increasingly being used by both citizens and governments for the transfer of information. There is a need to extend access to municipal websites to the portion of the population with disabilities. In 1998, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was amended by Congress to require federal government agencies and those agencies that receive funds from the federal government to ensure that their websites are accessible to the public. This paper presents the results of an evaluation of the level of accessibility of the 100 largest municipalities' websites. Webmasters in these cities were surveyed to determine their awareness of accessibility issues and their plans to make their municipalities' websites accessible. The results of this study show that while a number of cities have accessibility statements, overall compliance with Section 508 is low. However, compliance with accessibility standards can only be expected to increase in the future as technology improves and city staff...

Website accessibility: a cross-sector comparison

Abstract: The Web has transformed the way organizations interact with clients, customers, and constituents. A large portion of these groups is often neglected, namely people with disabilities. This study compares federal government, non-profit organization (NPO), and corporate homepages accessibility to determine how accessible these websites are to people with disabilities and how they compare to each other. The results indicate that federal homepages (23%), which are mandated to be accessible, are significantly more accessible than NPO (11%) and corporate homepages (6%).

Semi-automatic evaluation of web accessibility with HERA 2.0

Abstract: The evaluation of the accessibility of a web site calls for the participation of human evaluators: most of the checkpoints to be assessed cannot be evaluated fully automatically. This paper presents the second version of HERA, a multilingual online tool developed by the Sidar Foundation that automatically performs a preliminary analysis of a web page and then provides support for the complete manual evaluation process. This description includes the justification for a newer version, the technologies used, and the main strengths of HERA 2.0 as compared with other tools and version 1.0

Guidelines for the development of accessible computer games

Abstract: Games are very important for learning, teaching, entertainment, inclusion But they are of the most challenging applications concerning accessibility, and usability for people with disabilities Especially in the context of playing together or in groups equal access is critical In this paper we will present first attempts to define games accessibility guidelines helping game developers to design their products in a way that assistive technologies can interact with the game interface and that the parameters of usage can be adapted to the needs of people with disabilities

Design para a inclusão: desafios e proposta

Abstract: Although Web Standards, guidelines, checklists, techniques, methods and tools have been proposed and evaluated by the academic community and practitioners to improve Web accessibility and usability, efforts are still necessary to fit all those design artifacts in a design framework that deeply considers the multiplicity and diversity of users. This work presents the concepts and challenges of design for inclusion and combines contributions coming from some disciplines, especially Human-Computer Interaction, Organizational Semiotics and Software Engineering, to address the challenges that the users' differences bring to the process of constructing web-based systems applications and their interfaces. A process model for the inclusive design of information systems in the Web is delineated.

Two cultures? The disconnect between the web standards movement and research-based web design guidelines for older people

Abstract: The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), are increasingly being adopted as a core aspect of the Web Standards movement, a cultural revolution in web design that among other things seeks to produce Web content that can be accessed regardless of a user’s browsing technology or any disability they may have. Yet, according to a survey conducted by the author, this movement has not similarly embraced evidence-based guidelines that encapsulate necessary steps to overcome additional factors that limit older people’s ability to use Web sites. This paper discusses some of the reasons why such a gap exists, and what can be done by gerontechnology researchers and Web developers alike to address it.

Customer Relationship Management for the Web-Access Challenged: Inaccessibility of the Fortune 250 Business Web Sites

Abstract: Companies increasingly employ the World Wide Web to gather information from and disseminate information to actual and potential customers and for end-consumer business transactions and interactions. The challenge of attracting and keeping economically valuable customers while repelling and eliminating those who are not economically valuable is the focus of Electronic Commerce Customer Relationship Management (ECCRM). Many companies consider traditional usability when designing customer-oriented aspects of their Web sites, but they may not consider the critically important aspect of accessibility. On-line barriers may limit or preclude Web accessibility for potential customers with access challenges. ECCRM requires that companies communicate with current and potential customers to establish, develop, and manage relationships. However, this may be difficult or impossible for customers unable to access the company's Web site for information, let alone to place orders or interact with company representatives. Web site accessibility is an important aspect of usability for ECCRM that is being overlooked by most firms. This article describes the background of Web site accessibility from economic, market-oriented, legal, and usability perspectives. Then it presents the results of an evaluation of the accessibility of the top 250 2002 Fortune 500 company Web site home pages (actually, as will be explained below, there only 248 home pages were evaluated). The Bobby accessibility validation program quantified the number and severity of accessibility errors and problems for each site. The majority (182/247, i.e., 75%) of the Fortune 250 Company Web sites have Priority 1 accessibility errors, and many of these problems are so severe that the firms should give a high priority to correcting them. The study illustrates the need for companies to go beyond traditional usability testing to examine the accessibility of their Web sites so that they can successfully employ ECCRM and comply with ADA and other legal guidelines and requirements. The economic aspects of ECCRM should be enough to encourage firms to make their sites accessible to all current and potential customers. Suggestions for improving the accessibility of Web sites are provided as well as future research directions.

ViCRAM: visual complexity rankings and accessibility metrics

Abstract: The World Wide Web (Web) has become the means of distribution and use of information by individuals around the world. However, access to this information by visually impaired people is limited due to the Web's visual complexity. ViCRAM is a project that will relate user's implicit understanding of Web page visual complexity with its layout. Eye tracking methods and knowledge acquisition techniques will be used to elicit sighted people's visual perception. During this project we will also determine whether pages that sighted users identify as visually complex are complex for visually impaired users as well, from a Web accessibility perspective. We aim to develop a heuristic framework that will be used for describing Web page's visual complexity and as guidelines for transcoding a Web page into a less visually complex and more accessible one.