Watch Computing Take Off!
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Retain present level of access to functionality
Increase reach by enabling wider access
Wider access:
Bring within reach of more users
Enable access in more user contexts
Improve user effectiveness by enabling rapid task completion
Important to go beyond the status-quo
(Content,UA,AT)
Together determine overall user experience
Content — Capture adequate semantics
UA — Degrade gracefully
AT — Bridge the gap
Hosted Web applications enable:
Easy deployment
Light-weight user interaction
Ubiquitous access to data
Easy upgrades
Desktop access technologies do not fit this model.
Major shift in application deployment model
Web Apps — The document is the interface
Light-weight UI hosted in Web pages
Current adaptive technologies assume desktop application model
App model shift requires shift in AT.
When Web Apps And Desktop Screen-readers Collide
Adaptive technology installed on client workstation
All of the disadvantages,
And none of the advantages!
The Access Challenge
Web promises anytime, anywhere access
Equal access for users with special needs:
Email access at airport?
Edit/share information from a borrowed laptop?
Rich markup for Web content
Separate content from presentation
Structure content to reflect its intent
Add content annotations to provide smart navigation
Identify role of content particles
Expose current state via DOM properties
Accessible Content = Clean Markup annotated with ARIA.
Enable rich spoken feedback
Provide Web developers direct access to speech layer
Enable rich auditory presentations of content
Treat spoken output as a first-class citizen.
Speech is silvern, but silence is golden!
Event handlers implement web interaction
Eventing determines when things change
Attach handlers that produce relevant output
Data resides on the network
Interaction resides on the client
Network operations to synchronize data
Browser widgets to create UI
Shift away from monolithic applications
Adaptive technologies embrace, extend Web model
AT dynamics no different from mainstream
Web applications fulfill new needs
Web AT access enables Web-based tools
Evolve today’s AT to meet tomorrow’s needs
Separation of interaction from data:
Go beyond one size fits all access
Specialize user interaction to user’s needs
Multiple UIs can collaborate
One size no longer need fit everyone
New opportunities for AT:
A new market for consumer applications
Custom services tailored to end-user needs
Task-driven access tools
This generation of AT will be user-driven.
Chrome OS — Built-in access
Android — Platform access present on all devices
ChromeVox — Web Accessibility for desktop and mobile
C-A-z activates accessibility on the login screen
Built-in ChromeVox provides complete Web Access
Downloadable ChromeVis provides low-vision support
Access technologies update with the rest of the platform!
Built-in TalkBack screenreader provides complete access
Touch exploration on ICS enables complete access
Open platform encourages innovation from third-party developers
Open platform empowers user choice
ChromeVox enables Android Web access
Activated when accessibility is enabled
Supports modern Web standards including ARIA
Web applications force separation of user-interface from core application
Makes development of multiple user interfaces affordable
Opens up new opportunities for meeting user needs