Showing papers on "Web accessibility published in 2007"
15 Oct 2007
TL;DR: This remote study used an advanced web proxy that leverages AJAX technology to record both the pages viewed and the actions taken by users on the web pages that they visited and describes quantitative differences in the browsing behavior of blind and sighted web users.
Abstract: Web browsing is inefficient for blind web users because of persistent accessibility problems, but the extent of these problems and their practical effects from the perspective of the user has not been sufficiently examined. We conducted a study in situ to investigate the accessibility of the web as experienced by web users. This remote study used an advanced web proxy that leverages AJAX technology to record both the pages viewed and the actions taken by users on the web pages that they visited. Our study was conducted remotely over the period of one week, and our participants used the assistive technology and software to which they were already accustomed and had already configured according to preference. These advantages allowed us to aggregate observations of many users and to explore the practical effects on and coping strategies employed by our blind participants. Our study reflects web accessibility from the perspective of web users and describes quantitative differences in the browsing behavior of blind and sighted web users.
154 citations
07 May 2007
TL;DR: It is argued that the focus on technologies can be counter-productive and that the priority should be for a user-focussed approach, which embeds best practices through the development of achievable policies and processes and which includes all stakeholders in the process of maximising accessibility.
Abstract: The work of the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) is described in a set of technical guidelines designed to maximise accessibility to digital resources. Further activities continue to focus on technical developments, with current discussions exploring the potential merits of use of Semantic Web and Web 2.0 approaches. In this paper we argue that the focus on technologies can be counter-productive. Rather than seeking to enhance accessibility through technical innovations, the authors argue that the priority should be for a user-focussed approach, which embeds best practices through the development of achievable policies and processes and which includes all stakeholders in the process of maximising accessibility.The paper reviews previous work in this area and summarises criticisms of WAI's approach. The paper further develops a tangram model which describes a pluralistic, as opposed to a universal, approach to Web accessibility, which encourages creativity and diversity in developing accessible services. Such diversity will need to reflect the context of usage, including the aims of a service (informational, educational, cultural, etc.), the users' and the services providers' environment.The paper describes a stakeholder approach to embedding best practices, which recognises that organisations will encounter difficulties in developing sustainable approaches by addressing only the needs of the end user and the Web developer. The paper describes work which has informed the ideas in this paper and plan for further work, including an approach to advocacy and education which coins the "Accessibility 2.0" term to describe a renewed approach to accessibility, which builds on previous work but prioritises the importance of the user. The paper concludes by describing the implications of the ideas described in this paper for WAI and for accessibility practitioner stakeholders.
108 citations
IBM1
TL;DR: This study aims at obtaining quantitative results about the current accessibility status of real world Web applications, and analyzes real users' behavior on such websites, and discusses future possibilities for improving navigability, including proposals for voice browsers.
Abstract: Various accessibility activities are improving blind access to the increasingly indispensable WWW. These approaches use various metrics to measure the Web's accessibility. “Ease of navigation” (navigability) is one of the crucial factors for blind usability, especially for complicated webpages used in portals and online shopping sites. However, it is difficult for automatic checking tools to evaluate the navigation capabilities even for a single webpage. Navigability issues for complete Web applications are still far beyond their capabilities.This study aims at obtaining quantitative results about the current accessibility status of real world Web applications, and analyzes real users' behavior on such websites. In Study 1, an automatic analysis method for webpage navigability is introduced, and then a broad survey using this method for 30 international online shopping sites is described. The next study (Study 2) focuses on a fine-grained analysis of real users' behavior on some of these online shopping sites. We modified a voice browser to record each user's actions and the information presented to that user. We conducted user testing on existing sites with this tool. We also developed an analysis and visualization method for the recorded information. The results showed us that users strongly depend on scanning navigation instead of logical navigation. A landmark-oriented navigation model was proposed based on the results. Finally, we discuss future possibilities for improving navigability, including proposals for voice browsers.
108 citations
07 May 2007
TL;DR: In order to assess the current state of university web site accessibility, a multi-method analysis of the home pages of 100 top international universities was performed.
Abstract: University web pages play a central role in the activities of current and prospective postsecondary students. University sites that are not accessible may exclude people with disabilities from participation in educational, social and professional activities. In order to assess the current state of university web site accessibility, we performed a multi-method analysis of the home pages of 100 top international universities. Each site was analyzed for compliance with accessibility standards, image accessibility, alternate-language and text-only content, and quality of web accessibility statements. Results showed that many top universities continue to have accessibility problems. University web site accessibility also varies greatly across different countries and geographic regions. Remaining obstacles to universal accessibility for universities include low accessibility in non-English-speaking countries and absent or low-quality accessibility policies.
105 citations
TL;DR: It is found that all the surveyed Chinese e-government Web sites failed one or more W3C's accessibility measures and thus many disabled Chinese people may have substantial problems to access them.
105 citations
08 May 2007
TL;DR: The results show that the use of context can potentially save browsing time and substantially improve browsing experience of visually disabled people.
Abstract: Web sites are designed for graphical mode of interaction. Sighted users can "cut to the chase" and quickly identify relevant information in Web pages. On the contrary, individuals with visual disabilities have to use screen-readers tobrowse the Web. As screen-readers process pages sequentially and read through everything, Web browsing can become strenuous and time-consuming. Although, the use ofshortcuts and searching offers some improvements, the problem still remains. In this paper, we address the problemof information overload in non-visual Web access using thenotion of context. Our prototype system, CSurf, embodyingour approach, provides the usual features of a screen-reader.However, when a user follows a link, CSurf captures thecontext of the link using a simple topic-boundary detectiontechnique, and uses it to identify relevant information onthe next page with the help of a Support Vector Machine, astatistical machine-learning model. Then, CSurf reads the Web page starting from the most relevant section, identifiedby the model. We conducted a series experiments to evaluate the performance of CSurf against the state-of-the-artscreen-reader, JAWS. Our results show that the use of context can potentially save browsing time and substantiallyimprove browsing experience of visually disabled people.
100 citations
07 May 2007
TL;DR: A quantitative metric which is automatically calculated from reports of automatic evaluation tools is proposed and it is concluded that the metric is reliable for ranking purposes in Information Retrieval and accessibility monitoring scenarios and can also be partially applied in a Web Engineering scenario.
Abstract: This paper raises the need for quantitative accessibility measurement and proposes three different application scenarios where quantitative accessibility metrics are useful: Quality Assurance within Web Engineering, Information Retrieval and accessibility monitoring. We propose a quantitative metric which is automatically calculated from reports of automatic evaluation tools. In order to prove the reliability of the metric, 15 websites (1363 web pages) are measured based on results yielded by 2 evaluation tools: EvalAccess and LIFT. Statistical analysis of results shows that the metric is dependent on the evaluation tool. However, Spearman's test produces high correlation between results of different tools. Therefore, we conclude that the metric is reliable for ranking purposes in Information Retrieval and accessibility monitoring scenarios and can also be partially applied in a Web Engineering scenario.
97 citations
IBM1
TL;DR: The next generation of the Web is relying on new technologies to build rich interfaces and applications which enable community, collaboration, social networking and enhanced interactions, which has implication for people with disabilities who have come to rely on the Web to provide more independence, work opportunities, and social interactions.
Abstract: The next generation of the Web is relying on new technologies to build rich interfaces and applications which enable community, collaboration, social networking and enhanced interactions This has implication for people with disabilities who have come to rely on the Web to provide more independence, work opportunities, and social interactions New specifications such as Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) are being developed which provide more semantic information about Web components and can enable enhanced accessibility In addition, toolkits and testing tools are making it easier to reach the nirvana of accessibility by default in Web 20 projects
97 citations
Book•
04 Aug 2007
TL;DR: Consideration of Assistive Technology During IEP Development Hallmarks of Exemplary Assistive technology Decision-Making and Assessment Use of a Team Approach in Assistivetechnology Assessment Focus on Student Needs and Abilities.
Abstract: PART I: Benefits of Computer Use in Special Education Chapter 1: Introduction to Assistive Technology Focus Questions Introduction What Is Assistive Technology? The Legal Basis for Assistive Technology Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Brief History of Assistive Technology Assistive Technology Decision-Making Process Universal Design Universal Design for Learning A Note on Language Conclusion Chapter 2: Assistive Technology to Support Writing Focus Questions The Context-Process Writing Problems Students with Disabilities Have with Writing Technology Tools That Support the Writing Process Pre-Writing: Graphic Organizers Drafting Editing Reviewing Sharing or Publishing Technology Tools that Support Notetaking Portable Word Processors Portable Braille Notetakers Notetaking Services for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students Capturing Devices Technology Alone Will Not Improve Students' Writing Instruction on Technology Tools for Writing Putting It All Together Chapter 3: Assistive Technology to Support Reading Focus Questions Introduction What We Know About Teaching Children to Read: Evidenced-Based Strategies Findings of the National Reading Panel: Topic Areas Reading Problems in Students with Disabilities How Technology Can Address These Problems Learning to Read: Computer as a Remediation Tool Reading to Learn: Computer as a Compensation Tool Technology Tools to Access Alternate Formats Decision-Making: Instructional Tool or Compensatory Tool? Chapter 4: Technology to Support Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Differentiated Instruction Focus Questions Introduction UDL Principle 1: Multiple Means of Representation Provide Multiple Means of Representation What Multiple Means of Representation Looks Like in a Classroom UDL Principle 2: Multiple Means of Action and Expression Provide Multiple Means of Action and Expression What Multiple Means of Action and Expression Look Like in the Classroom UDL Principle 3: Multiple Means of Engagement Provide Multiple Means of Engagement What Multiple Means of Engagement Looks Like in a Classroom Web Accessibility Chapter 5: Computers and the Internet for Teaching Math Focus Questions Introduction Addressing the Needs of Students with Disabilities Features of Technology-Based Learning Activities Selecting Activities: Focus on Math Automaticity and Fluency Visual-Spatial or Motor Control Difficulties Math Concepts, Skills, and Problem Solving Software for Math Skills, Concepts and Problem Solving Authoring Software Chapter 6: Assistive Technology to Enhance Communication Focus Questions Introduction The Importance of Communication-Part 1 Problems Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Have with Communication Problems Resulting from Communication Problems Technology Tools That Address Communication Problems for Students Who Are Deaf/Hard of Hearing Hearing Lectures with Assistive Listening Devices Types of Assistive Listening Devices Interacting with Teachers and Peers Outside Class The Importance of Communication-Part 2 Problems Students with Physical Disabilities or Autism Have with Communication Problems Resulting from Communication Problems Technology Tools That Address Communication Problems for Students Who Cannot Speak: Augmentative Communication PART II: Access to Computers Chapter 7: Providing Access to Computers: Using What You Have Focus Questions Introduction Universal Design Flexibility in Use Accessibility Features for Users with Disabilities Keyboard Modifications and Mouse Control Modifications for Students with Sensory Impairments Chapter 8: Assistive Technology for Computer Access Focus Questions Introduction Low-Tech Adaptations for Computer Use Keyboard Labels Selecting/Pointing Devices Keyguards Moisture Guards Alternate Input Devices Mouse Alternative Keyboard Shortcuts Trackballs Joysticks Touch Screens Head Pointing Systems Eye Gaze Systems Alternate Input: Alternative Keyboards Expanded Keyboards Mini-Keyboards One-Handed Keyboards On-Screen Keyboards Customizable Keyboards Single Switches for Scanning and Morse Code Speech Recognition. Alternate Output Options Screen Magnification Screen Readers Refreshable Braille Braille Embossers Chapter 9: Issues in Selection of Access Method(s) Focus Questions Introduction Consideration of Assistive Technology During IEP Development Hallmarks of Exemplary Assistive Technology Decision-Making and Assessment Use of a Team Approach in Assistive Technology Assessment Focus on Student Needs and Abilities Examination of Tasks to Be Completed Consideration of Relevant Environmental Issues. Trial Use of Assistive Technology Providing Necessary Supports Viewing Assessment as an Ongoing Process Resources to Guide Assistive Technology Consideration and Assessment Quality Indicators for Assessment of Assistive Technology Needs Education Tech Points for Assistive Technology Planning SETT Framework Summary Suggested Activities PART III: Augmentative Communication Chapter 10: Selecting and Designing a Student's Augmentative Communication System Focus Questions Introduction Considerations in System Selection and Design Myths and Realities Who Should Assess? Collaborative Team Assessment Approach How Should the Team Assess? Features of the Collaborative Assessment Process Features of the Process of Selecting AAC Systems What Components Must Be Identified? Symbols, Vocabulary and Access Method Evaluating the Efficiency and Effectiveness of a Student's Augmentative Communication System Conclusion Chapter 11: AT Approaches to Teaching Early Communication and Literacy Focus Questions Introduction What Is Communication? How Do Communication and Language Develop? What Factors Promote Communication and Language Development? Problems Students with Disabilities Have with Early Communication Development Technology Tools That Support Early Communication Development Types of Switches to Promote Early Communication Determining the Use of Switches for Early Communication Examples of Switch Technology for Early Communication in the Classroom Emergent-Conventional Literacy Chapter 12: Integrating Augmentative Communication in the Classroom, Home, and Community Focus Questions Introduction Supportive Environments for Augmentative Communication Users: The Teacher's Role Curriculum Issues Ongoing Skill Development in Communication Importance of Selecting Appropriate Vocabulary Use of Peers as Communication Facilitators Other Strategies Need for Teacher Training Not Everything Is High-Tech Infusing Communication Development Within the IEP Transition from School to School and Teacher to Teacher Home and Community Use Using Augmentative Communication in the Community PART IV: Making It Happen Chapter 13: Implementation of Assistive Technology in Schools Focus Questions Introduction Legal Basis for Assistive Technology Integrating Assistive Technology into the IEP Specially Designed Instruction Supplementary Aids and Services, and Related Services Critical Issues in Assistive Technology Implementation The Digital Divide Culture Assistive Technology Consideration Misunderstood Educational Professionals' Lack of Knowledge and Skills Information Technology Policies Funding Implementing Assistive Technology Recommendations Chapter 14: Implementation of Assistive Technology in Transition Planning Focus Questions Preparation for Transition from High School to College Problems Students with Disabilities Face in College Typical Accommodations at College That Meet These Needs There Are No IEPs in College Reasonable Accommodations Procedures for Obtaining Assistive Technology in College Legal and Procedural Differences Between ADA and IDEA Importance of Transition Planning in High School Assistive Technology Skills Self-Advocacy skills Assistive Technology for Transition from High School to Home, Workplace, and Community Technology to Teach Functional Skills Instructional Software to Teach Functional Skills Authoring Computer-Based Activities to Teach Functional Skills Technology to Provide Visual Supports Computer-Generated and Video-Based Social Stories Simple Technology for Self-Care and Leisure Activities Planning for Transition to Home, Workplace, and Community Index
82 citations
07 May 2007
TL;DR: This paper argues for a holistic approach to accessibly which addresses all aspects of the user's life, and tracks the impact of the advent of Web 2.0 on Web accessibility in its widest sense.
Abstract: Web 2.0 has initiated a new age of Web interaction. Countless everyday activities such as seeking information, shopping, filling in forms and making appointments can be done effectively and often more cheaply on the Web. However many of the new community sites, and other Web 2.0 sites, do not promote accessibility in terms of inclusivity. They are built for, and are of most benefit to, young socially integrated people who own their own laptop and live in a world of readily available radio LAN and fast access broadband. However many older or disabled people are living on low budgets and do not have access to such things.Those for whom the Web is inaccessible for whatever reason will become increasingly excluded from mainstream life if it is not made accessible to them. This paper argues for a holistic approach to accessibly which addresses all aspects of the user's life. It tracks the impact of the advent of Web 2.0 on Web accessibility in its widest sense. It starts with a definition of accessibility, which in this context means apart from physical access, inclusion and acceptability. Through the use of case studies it examines worrying trends brought about by Web 2.0, and positive signs of improvement in accessibility, due to Web 2.0.
67 citations
29 Apr 2007
TL;DR: A structured participatory-based approach for developing targeted haptic sensations for purposes of web page exploration is proposed, and preliminary results showing how HTML elements can be represented through the use of force-feedback are reported.
Abstract: Haptic technologies are thought to have the potential to help blind individuals overcome the challenges experienced when accessing the Web. This paper proposes a structured participatory-based approach for developing targeted haptic sensations for purposes of web page exploration, and reports preliminary results showing how HTML elements can be represented through the use of force-feedback. Findings are then compared with mappings from previous studies, demonstrating the need for providing tailored haptic sensations for blind Internet users. This research aims to culminate in a framework, encompassing a vocabulary of haptic sensations with accompanying recommendations for designers to reference when developing inclusive web solutions.
TL;DR: It is indicated that despite an increase in accessibility, only 50 to 60 per cent of the web sites were free of Bobby‐detectable errors, which indicates that only properly designed web sites are accessible to people with print disabilities.
Abstract: Purpose – Only properly designed web sites are accessible to people with print disabilities. The purpose of this paper is to follow up on earlier investigations of this kind by looking at the web sites of all 56 ALA‐accredited library schools, and of the libraries on these campuses.Design/methodology/approach – Bobby 3.1.1 was used to evaluate compliance with major accessible web design guidelines. In addition, key web pages were checked manually for the presence of skip‐navigation components, and the sites' re‐design status was ascertained. The results were presented in the form of basic descriptive statistics, including percentages of Bobby‐approved pages and the average number of barriers per page. Correlations of the current accessibility data with older data sets and with library school ratings were also calculated.Findings – The results indicate that despite an increase in accessibility, only 50 to 60 per cent of the web sites were free of Bobby‐detectable errors. Canadian sites were more accessible...
TL;DR: An alternative Web is explained that has been constructed and tested on a sample of participants with cognitive disabilities with positive results encouraging us to dedicate more effort to fine tune their requirements regarding specific cognitive deficits and automating the process of creating and testing cognitively accessible web content.
Abstract: Tim Berners-Lee claimed in 2001 that “the power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect”. A considerable amount of work has been done to make the web accessible to those with sensory or motor disability, with an increasing number of government and enterprise intranet webs being “accessible”, and also with some consortiums and groups seriously approaching this commitment. Some authors, such as Harrysson, have already highlighted the need for a cognitively accessible web. However, in spite of good intentions, there has been little work to date that has tackled this task. At least until now, the existing WAI and NI4 recommendations about cognitive disability are extremely difficult (if not impossible) to test, as they are only general recommendations. This article explains an alternative Web that has been constructed and tested on a sample of participants with cognitive disabilities (N = 20) with positive results encouraging us to dedicate more effort to fine tune their requirements regarding specific cognitive deficits and automating the process of creating and testing cognitively accessible web content. This alternative web implies the use of a simplified web browser and an adequate web design. Discussion of the need to have several levels of cognitive accessibility, equivalent (although not identical) content for this collective and the need for testable protocols of accessibility that support these people's needs is also included. This article finishes with conclusions about the potential impact of accessible pages in the daily life of people suffering from cognitive deficits, outlining the features to be considered within a user profile specification that support cognitive difficulties and with reflections about the suitability of Semantic Web Technologies for future developments in this field.
22 Oct 2007
TL;DR: A survey on techniques for Web accessibility and a classification into the processes of ISO/IEC 12207 standard are presented and indicate that several development activities have been poorly addressed by scientific research efforts.
Abstract: The Web has become one of the most important communication media, since it is spread all over the world. In order to enable everyone to access this medium, Web accessibility has become an emerging topic, and many techniques have been evolved to support the development of accessible Web content. This paper presents a survey on techniques for Web accessibility and proposes a classification into the processes of ISO/IEC 12207 standard. The survey was carried out applying systematic review principles during the literature review. The results include analysis obtained from the synthesis of 53 studies, selected from an initial set of 844. Although the survey results indicate a growth in research on techniques for design and evaluation of Web applications, they also indicate that several development activities have been poorly addressed by scientific research efforts.
15 Oct 2007
TL;DR: A new methodology and associated metric for measuring accessibility that efficiently combine expert reviews with automatic evaluation of web pages is presented.
Abstract: Although they play an important role in any assessment procedure, web accessibility metrics are not yet well developed and studied. In addition, most metrics are geared towards conformance, and therefore are not well suited to answer questions whether the web site has critical barriers with respect to some user group.The paper addresses some open issues: how can accessibility be measured other than by conformance to certain guidelines? How can a metric merge results produced by accessibility evaluation tools and by expert reviewers? Does it consider error rates of the tool? How can a metric consider also severity of accessibility barriers? Can a metric tell us if a web site is more accessible for certain user groups rather than others?.The paper presents a new methodology and associated metric for measuring accessibility that efficiently combine expert reviews with automatic evaluation of web pages. Examples and data drawn from tests performed on 1500 web pages are also presented.
TL;DR: It was found that most sites evaluated were inaccessible to those with disabilities, and only one of the selected sites passed all three priority levels set out by the WAI.
Abstract: Irresponsible and inaccessible web design causes unnecessary problems to certain website users. By applying the web content accessibility guidelines to a website the amount of possible users who can successfully view the content of that site will increase especially for those who are in the disabled and older adult categories of online users. We present the results of assessing the compliance of a selection of websites with guidelines set out by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). It was found that most sites evaluated were inaccessible to those with disabilities. Only one of the selected sites passed all three priority levels set out by the WAI. In many cases, minor modifications to sites will make them accessible to people with disabilities. Therefore it can only be speculated that the reasons for lack of conformance may vary from lack of awareness of the issue, time constraints or the general stress of having to keep up with new technologies. Companies who overlook users with disabilities however may be doing so at long-term risk to their legal position, public image and ultimately business success.
TL;DR: Requesters' contextual requirements are referred to to the information that may affect their perceptions of browsing Web contents, such as requesters' preferences and sensations, situated places, as well as devices and network connectivity.
Abstract: Content adaptation has shown significant benefits by enhancing Web accessibility to meet user's requirements in heterogeneous environments. Adaptation rules can provide an efficient way to transform Web contents into adapted ones that conform to requesters' contexts. However, the rule base management becomes a challenge while taking requesters' contexts into account. In this paper, we refer requesters' contextual requirements (or contexts in short) to the information that may affect their perceptions of browsing Web contents, such as requesters' preferences and sensations, situated places, as well as devices and network connectivity. We have used JESS to design and implement dynamic adaptation strategies to guide the transformation process. Adaptation strategies are designed to improve rule base efficiency by performing dynamic scheduling of rule firing in an agenda. An adaptation strategy is composed of selected adaptation rules based on requesters' contexts. When a user's context changed, new adaptation strategy will be generated automatically by rearranging adaptation rules. By using JESS, we can dramatically reduce the number of adaptation rules from 54 to 22. The experiment results indicate our adaptation strategy can successfully adapt Web contents to satisfy requesters' contexts and obtain superior performance.
10 Sep 2007
TL;DR: This paper presents a framework and system to evaluate the accessibility of web pages according to the individual requirements of users with disabilities, which not only consist of users' abilities, but also users' assistive technologies and the delivery context.
Abstract: This paper presents a framework and system to evaluate the accessibility of web pages according to the individual requirements of users with disabilities. These requirements not only consist of users' abilities, but also users' assistive technologies and the delivery context. In order to ascertain interoperability with other software components, user requirements are specified taking advantage of the extensibility of the W3C CC/PP recommendation and other feature-specification vocabularies. An evaluation tool capable of understanding these specifications generates evaluation reports that are tailored to the user's individual needs. Quantitative accessibility measures resulting from personalized evaluation reports can be used to improve the web browsing experience for users with disabilities, such as through adaptive navigation support and by sorting the results of search engines according to users' personal requirements. In addition, developers benefit from personalized evaluations when developing websites for specific audiences.
25 Jun 2007
TL;DR: Experimental results from an evaluation exercise carried out by students showed that the use of screen readers was helpful to better understand and to reinforce the concepts of Web accessibility.
Abstract: This paper discusses an approach for Web accessibility education tacking advantage of short introductory courses. In this approach, screen readers were used toallimmerse students in the problems experienced by blind users while using the Web. Experimental results from an evaluation exercise carried out by students showedallthat the use ofallscreen readers was helpful to better understand and to reinforce the concepts of Web accessibility.
15 Oct 2007
TL;DR: These issues are investigated through an experimental evaluation of thirteen sampling methods applied to 32000 web pages, and some of the conclusions are not surprising (for example, that sample size affect accuracy), others were not expected at all.
Abstract: Except for trivial cases, any accessibility evaluation has to be based on some method for selecting pages to be analyzed. But this selection process may bias the evaluation. Up to know, not much is known about available selection methods, and about their effectiveness and efficiency.The paper addresses the following open issues: how to define the quality of the selection process, which processes are better than others, how to measure their difference in quality, which factors may affect quality (type of assessment, size of the page pool, structural features of the web site).These issues are investigated through an experimental evaluation of thirteen sampling methods applied to 32000 web pages. While some of the conclusions are not surprising (for example, that sample size affect accuracy), others were not expected at all (that minimal sampling size obtains a high accuracy level under certain circumstances).
TL;DR: Overall accessibility errors found from the Korean government websites are approximately two times higher than those from the US government websites.
Abstract: Purpose – This study seeks to provide insightful information about web accessibility based on human judgment in one Asian country (i.e. South Korea) in comparison to the USA.Design/methodology/approach – This study applies both the automated software tool and the human review of web content to measure website accessibility.Findings – Overall accessibility errors found from the Korean government websites are approximately two times higher than those from the US government websites. The accessibility errors are found in virtually every non‐text information content group. Finally, results of the manual evaluation conducted by human experts show fewer accessibility errors than those found in the evaluation conducted by the automated software tool.Research limitations/implications – Because of the limited number of the websites evaluated and the automated software tools used in this study, the generalization of its findings may be inappropriate. However, the redundant accessibility errors identified by the aut...
TL;DR: This work provides an extension to an upper-level ontology which represents the interface between web documents and the programmatic transformation mechanism and considers this extension to be an annotation of the CSS elements implicitly encoded into the web document.
Abstract: Visually impaired users are hindered in their efforts to access the largest repository of electronic information in the world, namely, the World Wide Web (web). A visually impaired user's information and presentation requirements are different from a sighted user's. These requirements can become problems in that the web is visually centric with regard to presentation and information order/layout. Finding semantic information already encoded directly into documents can help to alleviate these problems. Our approach can be loosely described as follows. For a particular cascading stylesheet (CSS), we provide an extension to an upper-level ontology which represents the interface between web documents and the programmatic transformation mechanism. This extension gives the particular characteristics of the elements appearing in that specific CSS. We can consider this extension to be an annotation of the CSS elements implicitly encoded into the web document. This means that one ontology can be used to accuratly transform every web document that references the CSS used to generate that ontology. Simply one ontology accuratly transforms an entire site using a generalized programmatic machinery able to cope with all sites using CSS. Here we describe our method, implementation, and technical evaluation.
TL;DR: Investigation of accessibility of online databases from database vendors' perspectives finds that nearly all of the companies who participated in the survey consider their products to be mostly accessible to users of assistive technologies and are committed to improving product accessibil...
Abstract: Purpose – Web‐based research databases are common in today's libraries, but most librarians lack the ability to evaluate them for accessibility for persons with disabilities. Consequently, they rely upon resource providers to develop products that are ADA and Section 508 compliant. Are database vendors stepping up to the plate? As a follow‐up to a study reported in 2003, the purpose of this paper is to investigate accessibility of online databases from database vendors' perspectives.Design/methodology/approach – Researchers used a web‐based questionnaire to gather information from vendors of online databases concerning the accessibility of their products. The questions covered general information about product accessibility, compliance with Section 508 standards, and product accessibility/usability testing.Findings – Nearly all of the companies who participated in the survey consider their products to be mostly accessible to users of assistive technologies and are committed to improving product accessibil...
TL;DR: The standards, guidelines, and laws which affect web accessibility for academic library web sites in the USA are clarified as well as an explanation of the mechanism by which accessibility is enforced.
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to clarify the standards, guidelines, and laws which affect web accessibility for academic library web sites in the USA as well as an explanation of the mechanism by which accessibility is enforced.Design/methodology/approach – Along with the current W3C standards, the current Federal codes and regulations were examined, and in the case of codes and regulations, reaffirmed by the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.Findings – Despite the absence of an explicit connection between Section 504 and Section 508, public and private academic colleges and universities libraries must provide accessible web sites, as guaranteed by the “effective communication” standard found in Section 504 as interpreted by the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, as well as Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.Research limitations/implications – Having the authority to withhold Federal funding, the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights has su...
07 May 2007
TL;DR: How the use of the MathML markup language to embed mathematical expressions in Web pages could improve the accessibility and usability of Web published scientific documentation when consulted with speech synthesis and/or Braille devices is explained.
Abstract: This paper discusses the state of the art of mathematics on the Web in the context of its accessibility to visually impaired people. It goes on to explain how the use of the MathML markup language to embed mathematical expressions in Web pages could improve the accessibility and usability of Web published scientific documentation when consulted with speech synthesis and/or Braille devices. This work was carried out as part of the @Science project. @Science is a thematic network funded by the European Commission eContentPlus Programme. Its goal is the preparation of guidelines and best practices for production and use of digital scientific documentation accessible to visually impaired university students.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors assess the accessibility of Australian, UK and US-based hotel-accommodation websites and find that low levels of accessibility and little specific information that is likely to meet the needs of some disabled consumers.
Abstract: Information is the lifeblood of tourism, influencing individual motivation to travel. Whilst the WWW offers opportunities for information’s ready supply and exchange there are often issues surrounding access to it, most notably, but not exclusively, for disabled users. This is the topic of web content accessibility. This paper assesses the accessibility of Australian, UK and US-based hotel-accommodation websites. Moreover, given the highinvolvement nature of the travel decision for disabled travellers, the study also assesses whether the information published meets the needs of the disabled. The study finds low levels of accessibility and little specific information that is likely to meet the needs of some disabled consumers. It concludes that organisations are a long way from meeting competitive, legal and technological imperatives for accessibility.
TL;DR: This special issue foregrounds questions of accessibility and inclusion as they are raised by disability, and has wider and deeper implications than are usually warranted, when it is custom-
Abstract: The pages of The Information Society have hosted and incubated a number of fine critical studies and discussions of inclusion and accessibility, not least on topics such as universal service, digital divide, community networking, development, and access to information, Internet, and telecommunications. In one sense, then, this special issue foregrounds questions of accessibility and inclusion as they are raised by disability. This may function as a more-or-less recognizable and indeed common characterization and understanding of disability. Indeed, the various contributions to this collection certainly do advance our understanding of the fundamental aspects of disability and impairment as they interact with and are constructed by information technologies. With the rise of concepts of the information society and developments with convergent information and communications technologies, this is a topic that has gradually become visible and legible to scholars, policymakers, scientists and technologists, business people, and civil society organizations. It still has not received, however, the sustained study, analysis, and debate it merits, so we hope the articles we present here will further this enquiry. Our theme, however, has wider and deeper implications than are usually warranted, when it is custom-
TL;DR: An exploratory eye tracking study is investigated by investigating how sighted readers use the presentation of the BBC News Web page to search for a link, demonstrating both qualitatively and quantitatively that the removal of the intended presentation alters “reading” behaviours.
Abstract: It is well known that many Web pages are difficult to use for visually disabled people. Without access to a rich visual display, the intended structure and organisation of the page is obscured. To fully understand what is missing from the experience of visually disabled users, it is pertinent to ask how the presentation of Web pages on a standard display makes them easier for sighted people to use. This paper reports on an exploratory eye tracking study that addresses this issue by investigating how sighted readers use the presentation of the BBC News Web page to search for a link. The standard page presentation is compared with a “text-only” version, demonstrating both qualitatively and quantitatively that the removal of the intended presentation alters “reading” behaviours. The demonstration that the presentation of information assists task completion suggests that it should be re-introduced to non-visual presentations if the Web is to become more accessible. The conducted study also explored the extent to which algorithms that generate maps of what is perceptually salient on a page match the gaze data recorded in the eye tracking study. The correspondence between a page’s presentation, knowledge of what is visually salient, and how people use these features to complete a task might offer an opportunity to re-model a Web page to maximise access to its most important parts.
TL;DR: The number of library home pages complying with basic accessibility guidelines is increasing, however, most sites that score well are built to comply with checkpoints that can be tested automatically, and few institutions included accessibility features which required manual verification.
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an update on the implementation of web accessibility guidelines at Kentucky academic library web sites.Design/methodology/approach – The academic library home pages of Bachelor‐degree granting institutions of Kentucky were tested for accessibility compliance using an online automated program. In addition, a series of manual accessibility tests were performed. Data were collected on errors against accessibility guidelines for each site. Data collected in 2003 were compared to data collected in 2007.Findings – The number of library home pages complying with basic accessibility guidelines is increasing. However, most sites that score well are built to comply with checkpoints that can be tested automatically. Few institutions included accessibility features which required manual verification.Research limitations/implications – This study relies largely on data collected with an imperfect accessibility‐checking software program. Some accessibility checkpoints c...
22 Jul 2007
TL;DR: The aim is to establish the UWEM as the basis for web accessibility evaluation, policy support and possible certification in Europe.
Abstract: Checking of web accessibility can be carried out in several ways along the same international standards and depending on the scale, the quality, availability of tools and the interpretation method that is followed. The Unified Web Evaluation Methodology is developed by European expert organizations and offers test descriptions to evaluate WCAG 1.0 conformance covering level AA, a clear sampling scheme, improved aggregations supporting confidence levels, Score cards and other instruments to help communicate the results of evaluations clearer and on more levels. The aim is to establish the UWEM as the basis for web accessibility evaluation, policy support and possible certification in Europe.