Accessible Graphicson the

World Wide Web

Dan J. GraumanInformation Technology Specialist

National Cancer Institute, NIHdan.grauman@nih.gov

Salt Lake City, UtahMarch 13, 2003

Interface 2003:Security and Infrastructure Protection

35th Symposium on the Interface

Topics

• Accessibility

• Background (Atlas)

• The Atlas Web site Online atlas Customizable maps Interactive graphs

• Discussion

Accessibility requirements* as ofJune 21, 2001

http://section508.gov/

Section 508 requires that Federal agencies’ electronicand information technology is accessible to peoplewith disabilities.

* Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended 29 U.S.C § 794 (d)

Excellent resource: http://usability.gov/

Some statistics

An estimated 20% of the population inthe United States has some kind ofdisability, and 10% has a severedisability. Those individuals withsevere disabilities are limited in theway that they can use the Internet.

The Pew study found that 62% ofInternet users, or 73 million Americans,have gone online for health information.About 6 million use it on a given day –more than those who visit healthprofessionals.

According to Harris Interactive, 80% ofonline adults (110 million people) lookfor health information online. Thiscompares with 54 million in 1998, 69million in 1999, and 97 million in 2001.

What do we “see” on the Web?

This is what the SIGHTED user sees

What do we “see” on the Web?

This is what the VISUALLY-IMPAIRED user sees

What do we “see” on the Web?

This is what the BLIND user sees

• Text• Static graphics (pictures)• Dynamic graphs• Multimedia• Tables• Forms• Geospatial data (maps)

What are the main elementsthat can be found on a Web page?

Most difficult

EasiestRequires more effort

• Text• Static graphics (pictures)• Dynamic graphs• Multimedia• Tables• Forms• Geospatial data (maps)

How easily can these elements be made accessible to people with disabilities?

Examples of adaptive / assistive technology products

Low vision: software products

Magnification+

Screen reading

Magnification+

Screen reading

Examples of adaptive / assistive technology products

Low vision: hardware products

Hand-held magnification

Examples of adaptive / assistive technology products

Blindness: software products

Screen readers

Screen & Braille output

Examples of adaptive / assistive technology products

Blindness: hardware products

Braille displays

Examples of adaptive / assistive technology products

Blindness: hardware products

Braille embossers

Background (Atlas)

• Published in December 1999• Cancer mortality maps• Text & references• Tables & figures

http://cancer.gov/atlasplus/

Online atlas

Electronic version of book enabling user toview / print / download text, maps, graphscontained in the Atlas

“Home Page” for each cancer

User can read the text summary for a specificcancer, view / download maps or data, obtainhealth information for that cancer, and link tothe interactive graphs and customizable maps

Example of text summary

Customizable maps

Here users can generate maps not availablein the Atlas, zoom in on a region or state,animate rates over time

Input interface

Lung cancer, WM, 1970-94 (state)(monochrome)

Lung cancer, WM, 1970-94 (state)(Atlas colors)

Text version (partial) of map (d link)

Lung cancer, WM, 1970-94 (SEA)

Text version (partial) of map (d link)

Lung cancer, WM, 1970-94 (county)

Text version (partial) of map (d link)

Lung cancer, WM, 1970-94 (county) – highest 25%

Text version (partial) of map (d link)

Lung cancer, WM, 1970-94 (county) – highest 10%

Text version (partial) of map (d link)

Lung cancer, WM, 1970-94 (county) – highest 5%

Text version (partial) of map (d link)

Lung cancer, WM, 1970-94 (county) – highest 1%

Text version (partial) of map (d link)

Animation

1950-54

Lung cancer by state economic areaWhite males (common scale over time)

1955-59

Lung cancer by state economic areaWhite males (common scale over time)

1960-64

Lung cancer by state economic areaWhite males (common scale over time)

1965-69

Lung cancer by state economic areaWhite males (common scale over time)

1970-74

Lung cancer by state economic areaWhite males (common scale over time)

1975-79

Lung cancer by state economic areaWhite males (common scale over time)

1980-84

Lung cancer by state economic areaWhite males (common scale over time)

1985-89

Lung cancer by state economic areaWhite males (common scale over time)

1990-94

Lung cancer by state economic areaWhite males (common scale over time)

Interactive graphs

Electronic version of book enabling user toview / print / download text, maps, graphscontained in the Atlas

Rates by cancer

Parameter selection interface

Radio buttons enable userto navigate within andacross categories by useof the arrow and Tab keys

All cancers - rates by cancer (US by state)

Text version (partial) of graph (d link)

Discussion