Access For All

The ÆGIS project now also has a dedicated user forum available online where people that are interested to comment on various topics, can do so in various categories:

• Developers: Developers involved in software development for desktop, mobile, internet and rich internet applications can comment here on accessibility aspects related to assistive technologies.
• End-users: Web applications: What is your view on the accessibility of internet applications and the internet overall?
• End-users: Mobile applicationsEnd-users: What are your thoughts on the accessibility of mobile applications?
• End-users: Screen Readers: What are your experiences with screenreaders?
• End-users: Assistive Technologies: End-users can comment here on their experiences and opinions regarding assistive technologies in general.
• End-users: Desktop applications: Here is the area where end-users can comment on their experiences and opinions regarding assistive technologies in the area of desktop applications.

You only need to register after which you can share your expertise/experience with others.

The ÆGIS project seeks to determine whether 3rd generation access techniques will provide a more accessible, more exploitable and deeply embeddable approach in mainstream ICT (desktop, rich Internet and mobile applications). This approach is developed and explored with the Open Accessibility Framework (OAF) through which aspects of the design, development and deployment of accessible mainstream ICT are addressed. The OAF provides embedded and built-in accessibility solutions, as well as toolkits for developers, for “engraving” accessibility in existing and emerging mass-market ICT-based products, thus making accessibility open, plug and play, personalised and configurable, realistic and applicable in various contexts; ÆGIS is placing users and their needs at the centre of all ICT developments. Based on a holistic UCD, ÆGIS identifies user needs and interaction models for several user groups, (users with visual, hearing, motion, speech and cognitive impairments as well as application developers) and develops open source-based generalised accessibility support into mainstream ICT devices/applications:

• desktop,
• rich web applications, and
• Java-based mobile devices.

All developments will be iteratively tested with a significant number of end users, developers and experts in 3 phases and 4 Pilot sites Europe wide (in Belgium, Spain, Sweden and the UK).

The project includes strong industrial and end user participation (the participating industries are among the market leaders in the corresponding mainstream ICT markets). The project results’ uptake is promoted by strong standardisation activities, as well as the fact that much of the technology results will be either new open source applications or will be built into existing and already widely adopted open source ICT.

The VUMS (Virtual User Modeling and Simulation Cluster) cluster website has been launched and can be reached via www.veritas-project.eu/vums/. VUMS is a project cluster that includes the GUIDE, MyUI, VERITAS and VICON projects. The projects collaborate on future joint efforts. All projects work on improving the accessibility of various products and application areas, taking into account various impairments.

Via twitter.com/AccessForAll_eu, you can now also follow all our postings via Twitter. Equally, you can do so using Accessible Twitter. Accessible Twitter is essentially an alternative to using the main Twitter site. You go along to the homepage, log in with your usual Twitter account details, and use it in exactly the same way as you would the regular site. All the functionality that you’d expect is there – the Tweet roll, your status, mentions & messages, plus access to search, trending topics and popular links.
In addition, Accessible Twitter is:

1. Fully keyboard accessible;
2. Marked up semantically with headings optimised for screen reader users, and;
3. Fully functional with javascript disabled.

There are also some really nice touches that go the extra mile, such as audio cues when the tweet character limit is almost reached (as well as the visual counter), and feedback after Ajax actions so unsighted users know what’s happened (see the full list of Accessible Twitter features).

Twitter Access For All screenshot

The Access For All community registration is again open. Please register in order to comment on articles or to provide own contributions.

EuCAN (European Concept for Accessibility Network) is open to any person whose professional activity is related to accessibility or design for all.
EuCAN is an open network running on a purely volunteer basis and not benefitting from any funding.
The main purpose of the network is to support interdisciplinary exchange of knowledge and to create publications aiming at a harmonised approach to accessibility at European level.

More information can be found on www.eca.lu.

eABILITIES aims at developing a framework for current and future actions in research, education and technology transfer in the field of ICT accessibility in the home, vehicle and working environments in Europe. With this purpose, eABILITIES will enable, organise and promote the share of related knowledge, communication, facilities equipment and personnel resources.

In general, the objectives are to make an extensive and detailed map of current and possible future technological developments in ICT accessibility, to organise contacts and exchanges and to identify needs, breakthroughs and bottlenecks. This requires a focused effort into tracing research and development, transfer of technology, education and training based on cooperation between industry, academic and government institutions and research centres. The information will be spread to the appropriate target groups using the eABILITIES space for resource and knowledge sharing.

eABILITIES will become the platform where excellent, multidisciplinary organisations involved in eAccessibility in Europe, will collaborate to:
* Benchmark commercial products and research activities
* Propose Recommendations and Best Practices in User Experience for eAccessibility products
* Share research resources (personnel, equipment, facilities and expertise)
* Establish fora and workshops
* Disseminate the project results

eAbilities coordination action aims at developing a framework for sharing current and future actions in research, education and technology transfer in the field of ICT accessibility in the home, vehicle and working environments in Europe. With this purpose, eAbilities will enable, organise and promote the share of related knowledge, communication, facilities equipment and personnel resources.

The whole range of the key stakeholders in this field will be involved, namely Users; Social Research Centres; National Centres for Personal Autonomy and Assistive Technologies; Research Centres; Industrial Research Centres and SMEs.

More information you can find on the project website.