The Accessible Web
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Transcript of The Accessible Web
A centre of expertise in digital information management
www.ukoln.ac.uk
The Accessible WebAccessibility 2.0: A Holistic And User-Centred Approach To Web Accessibility
Brian KellyUKOLNUniversity of [email protected]
UKOLN is supported by:
http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/conferences/museums-web-2007/http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/conferences/museums-web-2007/
This work is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 licence (but note caveat)
Resources bookmarked using ‘ukmw07' tag Resources bookmarked using ‘ukmw07' tag
Acceptable Use PolicyRecording/broadcasting of this talk, taking photographs, discussing the content using email, instant messaging, blogs, SMS, etc. is permitted providing distractions to others is minimised.
Acceptable Use PolicyRecording/broadcasting of this talk, taking photographs, discussing the content using email, instant messaging, blogs, SMS, etc. is permitted providing distractions to others is minimised.
A centre of expertise in digital information management
www.ukoln.ac.uk
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Contents
• Reflections on today’s themes• Web accessibility & innovation• Revisiting Web accessibility:• Contextualising Web accessibility:• What Next?
A centre of expertise in digital information management
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Today’s Talks
What have we heard about today:• Museums 2.0: just do it• How tagging can help• Potential of Second Life• Maybe Semantic Web has a role• The challenges of the personalised Web
and the ethical Web
What do you think:• Toys for the boys?• Or not?
A centre of expertise in digital information management
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Accessibility and Innovation
“I’m looking at Web 2.0 / Museum Mashups / Facebook / Second Life /…. What do people think about these technologies?”
Common responses:
We are committed to complying with accessibility guidelines; we won’t be driven by new technologies
But might this actually mean:• We can’t be bothered• We’re threatened• We’re scared• …
What if new technologies actually enhance accessibility?
What if the accessibility guidelines are out-of-date?
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Where Does Accessibility Fit In?
What is your view? Web innovations typically add to the
accessibility barriers people with disabilities face:
Need for caution and delaying innovation until accessibility features are developed
Can’t decide; it’s too complicated
Web innovations often enhance accessibility:
Opportunity to exploit innovations and gain experiences
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My Views
My thoughts on this:• We’ve interpreted accessibility incorrectly• It’s not about:
Control Rules Universal solutions An IT Problem A worry Avoiding being sued
• It is not about: Empowering people Widening
participation Contextual solutions Blended solutions A great opportunity Being appreciated
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Background: W3C WAI & WCAG
W3C (World Wide Web Consortium):• Body responsible for coordinating development of
Web standards
WAI (Web Accessibility Initiative):• W3C group responsible for developing guidelines
which will ensure Web resources are widely accessible
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines):• One of three sets of WAI guidelines. WCAG
provides advice of accessibility on Web content (e.g. HTML pages)
• Other two WAI guidelines cover accessible user agents (UAAG) and accessible authoring tools (ATAG)
Rev
iew
: W
AI
Ap
pro
ach
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The WAI Model
The WAI model for Web accessibility is based on three components:
• Content• Authoring Tools• Browsers
Assumption: do three right universal accessibility
But:• We have no control over browsers & authoring tools• The browsers and authoring tools aren't great• The content guidelines are flawed• What if users are happy with their existing browser?
Rev
iew
: W
AI
Ap
pro
ach
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Interpretation of WAI WCAGHow do you interpret WAI WCAG (must use ALT tags for images; HTML must be valid; must use style sheets for presentation; …):
• Mandatory, with following characteristics:Clearly defined rules ObjectiveChecking mostly objectivePenalties for non-complianceSimilar to checking that HTML complies with the
standard
• Advisory, with following characteristics:Useful guidelines, to be interpreted in contextIt's about providing useful, usable resourcesIt's contextualChecking mostly subjectiveIt's similar to checking that a Web site is well-designed
Which reflects your organisations’ view most closely?
BK
Rev
iew
: W
AI
Ap
pro
ach
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Limitations of the WAI Model
WAI approach has shortcomings:• WAI model relies on conformant Web sites,
conformant authoring tools, conformant user agents• …and conformant users!• WCAG guidelines have flaws ("must use W3C
formats; must use latest versions; …")• Has a Web-only view of the world:
What about other IT solutions? What about blended (real world) solutions?
• Has a belief in a single universal solution: But isn't accessibility a very complex issue Is it reasonable to expect an ideal solution to
be developed at the first attempt?
Lim
itat
ion
s
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What do we mean by Web accessibility?Can we provide accessible Web services without a clear understanding of what we mean by this?
Small group exercise:• What do we mean by Web accessibility?• Where does usability fit in? • Where does interoperability fit in?
E
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Usability & Interoperability
What about:• Usability• Interoperability
http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/code/InternetHome.hcsphttp://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/code/InternetHome.hcsp
Example:• Long, application-specific URLs can cause
accessibility/usability and interoperability problemsAddition Problems:
• We’ve got WCAG AA (and checked with users) We don’t need to do anymore (it’s costly) We don’t need to address usability
The focus on priority levels can limit what’s done
A centre of expertise in digital information management
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Diversity – Content
WAI guidelines focus on informational Web sites:• Here’s the train timetable – I want the information
and I want it now• This is reasonable and desirable
But is this approach always relevant to learning and cultural contexts:
• Here’s something – you must interpret it (and being wrong can be part of the learning process)
Co
nte
xt
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Universal Accessibility?
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Holistic Approach
See Developing A Holistic Approach For E-Learning Accessibility by Kelly, Phipps & Swift
See Developing A Holistic Approach For E-Learning Accessibility by Kelly, Phipps & Swift
Q How do you make highly interactive e-learning services universally accessibility (e.g. 3D model of molecules)?
A If this would be unreasonable, make the learning outcomes (rather than e-learning resources) accessible.
Ou
r W
ork
Can we apply this approach to cultural resources, with an emphasis on providing a diversity of cultural experiences?
A centre of expertise in digital information management
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Articulating the Approach
The "Tangram Metaphor" developed to avoid checklist / automated approach:
• W3C model has limitations• Jigsaw model implies
single solution• Tangram model seeks to
avoid such problems
This approach:• Encourages developers
to think about a diversity of solutions
• Focus on 'pleasure' it provides to user
This approach:• Encourages developers
to think about a diversity of solutions
• Focus on 'pleasure' it provides to user
Ou
r W
ork
A centre of expertise in digital information management
www.ukoln.ac.uk
17
Tangram Model & Testability
"WCAG 2.0 success criteria are written as testable statements …" (nb. automated & human testing )
Issues:• What about WCAG principles that don't have defined success
criteria (e.g. "content must be understandable")?• What about 'baselines' – context only known locally• What about differing models or / definitions of 'accessibility'?
Note vendors of accessibility testing services will market WCAG tools e.g. see posting on BSI PAS 78
Tangram model can be used within WCAG• Distinguish between testable (ALT tags)
and subjective (content understandable)• Supports baselines
Baseline 1
Testable
Ou
r W
ork
A centre of expertise in digital information management
www.ukoln.ac.uk
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Accessibility 2.0 Paper
Paper presented at W4A 2007 conference:• “I don’t disagree – but WAI focusses on
accessibility of Web resources”
Our misunderstanding of WAI’s role:• Decide on the services you wish to
provide, then look at accessibility
not:• Look at accessibility guidelines to see
what is allowed
Note this ties in with Seb Chan’s talk on the processes for selecting technologies
A centre of expertise in digital information management
www.ukoln.ac.uk
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WCAG 2.0
Latest WCAG 2.0 draft is much improved
Focus on four key principles (POUR):Perceivable: Information and user interface components must be perceivable by users
Operable: User interface components must be operable by users
Understandable: Information and operation of user interface must be understandable by users
Robust: Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies
Note WCAG 2.0 draft removes some of the flawed guidelines – and HTML compliance is toned down. This may result in many Web sites will enhance their WCAG rating overnight!
Note WCAG 2.0 draft removes some of the flawed guidelines – and HTML compliance is toned down. This may result in many Web sites will enhance their WCAG rating overnight!
A centre of expertise in digital information management
www.ukoln.ac.uk
20
WCAG & Holistic Context
Proposal for a museum’s accessibility policy:• Museum services will seek to engage its
audiences, attract new & diverse audiences, ...
• Museum will take reasonable measures to maximise access to its services.
Interpretations:• Second Life, Web 2.0, … to attract new
audiences (e.g. young people)• Reasonable measures to ensure Web 2.0 is
widely accessible (e.g. WCAG if possible)
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On Reasonableness
How do we know what is reasonable?• Every page must be WCAG AA compliant
(including HTML-compliance, even if 99% of Web pages fail this test)
• No Podcasting, as can’t be heard by deaf users (to hell with blind users)
• No Flash – even if people say they like it• No surrealism – people won’t understand it
Or:• Staff training so they’re informed of best practices• Sharing our approaches – and learning from
others• Engaging with our user communities• Doing what museums are expected to do
A centre of expertise in digital information management
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Not In Isolation
How do we:• Develop staff?• Enhance the effectiveness of our
approaches?• Develop an understand on what is
reasonable?
Answers:• Documenting policies• Sharing our experiences• Sharing our resources• Discussing and debating
A centre of expertise in digital information management
www.ukoln.ac.uk
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An Emerging Roadmap
Accessibility Summit II held in Nov 2006 agreed:• Need for a manifesto:
Building on WAI’s foundations Developing a user-centric approach Developing a contextual model Developing an evidence-based approach
• A roadmap for future work: Engagement with disability communities Engagement with WAI Identifying areas of research Gathering case studies of best practices …
Follow-up workshop took place at MW 2007
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Application to Second Life
How do I make SL accessible?
Wrong question – ask:• “How do I maximise the
accessibility of my museum?”
Solutions:• Wheelchair ramps• Web sites• Accessible Web sites• Web experiences• Immersive environments• …
A portfolio of solutions aimed at widening participation
Compare with the BBC. Is the radio universally accessible to the deaf – or do the BBC have a portfolio of channels?
Compare with the BBC. Is the radio universally accessible to the deaf – or do the BBC have a portfolio of channels?
A centre of expertise in digital information management
www.ukoln.ac.uk
25
Next Steps for Museums
At MW 2007:• Museums wiki service
described• Accessibility 2.0 added
to wiki
An opportunity for you:• Use this to briefly
summarise your approaches to accessibility 2.0
(And keep copy for use elsewhere)
http://museums.wikia.com/wiki/Accessibility_2.0
http://museums.wikia.com/wiki/Accessibility_2.0
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Just Do It!!
What not to do:• Seek 2 year funding in order to explore
implications, set up case study database, QA processes, …
Instead:• Write case study on the train home!• Document what you’ve done - you’ve
probably adopted a user-focussed approach anyway! (cf. Tate’s i-Map work described by Caro Howell 2 years ago)
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27
What Next?
What should the next steps be in development of approaches for Web accessibility in a museum context?