Jutta Treviranus and Jan Richards
ATRC, University of Toronto
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Challenges
- obtaining an overview and determining the structure of the document,
- orienting and moving to desired sections of the document or interface, and
- obtaining translations of graphically presented information (i.e.,animation, video, graphics).
Addressed by modifications to:
- the access tool (i.e., screen reader, screen magnifier, Braille display),
- the browser, viewers and plug-ins,
- the authoring tools, (e.g., HTML, SGML, plug-in, Java, VRML authoringtools),
- the HTML specifications, HTML extensions, Style Sheets,
- the individual documents, and
- the operating system.
1. Access Tools
- HTML aware Screen Readers: http://www.prodworks.com
- macros, setups or profiles for browsers: http://idrc.ocad.ca
2. Browsers
- keyboard equivalents
- navigating links, input fields, frames
- supporting access related HTML elements
3. Standards
- HTML 4.0
- Aural Style Sheets
4. Documents
- published guidelines
- advocacy groups
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- webwatch
- accessibility checkers
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- Bobby
Supports in Authoring Tools
- reach large number of authors
- educate and inform
Authoring support:
- Easy to activate, so that users who are aware of the feature and accessibilityissues can easily utilize it.
- Automatic (with an option to deactivate), so that users who are unaware oftheir mistakes can correct them before the list grows too large.
- Helpful and non-judgmental, so that people are encouraged to do what theycan rather than take the deactivation option.
- Implemented to provide both instance-by-instance warnings that lead into anAccessibility Checker
Barriers Addressed
- missing alternative text for images, buttons or image links
- use of server-side image maps without textual alternatives
- missing alternative text descriptions for applets
- background images
- marquee or blinking text
- use of inaccessible form elements
- ambiguous link names (e.g., click here)
- non-separated links missing descriptive text or captions for an audio fileor video file...
Optional Levels
Prompts and guidelines while authoring
Accessibility Warning
Accessibility Checker
Checks:
- new documents
- existing documents
- imported documents
Text-only Wizard
- parallel text only sites
- frequently not updated
- wizard automates creation and updating of text-only site
Exploiting Web Publishing Tools
Constraints when using access tools
- small chunks of information,one at a time
- visually based conventions invisible
- slow navigation
Viewing a Document
- sizing up a document at first glance
- the overall sense
- inventory of content
- what is emphasized
- anything of personal interest
- organization/structure
- where are we?
- zero in on item of interest
Publishing/Viewing Tools
- dealing with large documents or sites
- intranet management
Tools include:
- navigators or dynamic, expandable tree views of a document
- dynamic tables of contents
- personal document views
- context sensitive searching
- annotations, and
- on-demand delivery of information.
Dynamic Tables of Contents
- expandable tree view
- local detail
- choice of what will be listed
- TOC of multiple documents
- points of view
Access
- keyboard navigation
- level information
- get overview
- zero in on specifics
Personal Document Views
- different page layout (columns)
- more or less detail
- different emphasis
Document Annotation
- hi-lite or mark areas of particular interest
- add text labels where missing
- personalized TOC
Context Specific Search Tools
- search within documents and sites
- results in TOCs
- navigated using keyboard equivalents
- dynamic TOC of areas of interest upon loading
Dynamic Information Retrieval Utilities
- newly posted items of interest automatically delivered
Conclusions
- more accessible documents through authoring tool supports
- exploit mainstream tools for easier information retrieval and documentmanipulation