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Matt May | Accessibility EvangelistIs Universal Design Still Possible?

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How we got here

1990s HTML 2.0

<img alt> <table summary>

Accessibility guidelines Building around semantics WCAG 1.0 released in 1999

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Late 1990s - Early 2000s

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Late 2000s

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The first crossroads

Designing for mobile “One Web”

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2010

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2010

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What about Universal Design?

“The design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.”

Ron Mace

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Seven Principles of Universal Design

Equitable use Flexibility in use Simple and intuitive Perceptible information Tolerance for error Low physical effort Size and space for approach and use

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Is Universal Design still possible?

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Universal Design in technology

Universal design = accepting entropy If there are 3 types of screen, why shouldn’t we

expect a 4th? Designing for our future selves

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The tools of the trade

Materials Stone Brick Glass Metal Wood

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Technologies HTML CSS JavaScript SVG Flash

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The tools of the trade

Built on… Concrete Wheels Mud

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Running on… Mozilla WebKit IE

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The tools of the trade

By people… Who can’t walk well Who use a wheelchair Who can’t see Who need directions

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By people… Who can’t use a mouse Who can’t hear well Who can’t see Who need directions

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What makes a professional?

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Engineers have vitalized and turned to practical use the principles of science and the means of technology.Were it not for this heritage, my efforts would be feeble.

Obligation of the Engineer

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Professionalism

Rules vs. education Evolving knowledge of problems Designing for compatibility Designing for use Designing for situation

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The tools of the trade

People Needs and abilities Permanent, temporary and situational disabilities

Technology CPU Bandwidth Display Browser and OS Languages Content

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One more thing…

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Is Universal Design still possible?

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