ICT Accessibility. Richard Hodgkinson FISTC

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1 ICT Accessibility Richard Hodgkinson FISTC 1

2 The e-society Information and Communications Technology pervades practically every aspect of modern life as increasingly more daily activities have to be performed both remotely and electronically. For example: Banking, Banking, Education, Home Home entertainment, Voting, Voting, Tax Tax returns, , , Internet Internet shopping,...we are now the e-society ICT Accessibility & EC M/376 2

3 Access to the e-society The e-society presumes that we all can access electronic services, e.g. PCs, mobile phones, PDAs, the internet, etc. However, this is not the case and new technologies can actually exclude large groups of users, especially the disabled and older people, from participating fully in society. ICT Accessibility & EC M/376 3

4 Handicapped by the e-society? In many areas there are no alternatives when a local bank branch closes, local shops disappear and societal services are computerised... ICT Accessibility & EC M/376 4

5 People with Special needs? People with Special needs are young, well-educated, educated, physically fit and affluent who require the latest functions on their laptops, mobile phones, PDAs such as GPRS, WAP, MP3, camera, games, etc. ICT Accessibility & EC M/376 7

6 People with Ordinary needs? People with Ordinary needs are all the others, including older and disabled people, who do not require all these functions. They require products that are simple to use. However, the industry constantly adds new functions the the Swiss Army Knife Syndrome ICT Accessibility & EC M/376 8

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9 Do-it-yourself Set-up or Up-set? Most new ICT and home entertainment products require the purchaser to install and set it up themselves. User manuals can be difficult to understand and use. Set-up often assumes special skills and knowledge that many people do not possess... ICT Accessibility & EC M/376 12

10 Why Accessible Design? 750 Million people world wide are disabled. Over 10% of users in the ICT market have disabilities. Increasing due to aging population. Developed countries will reach 17% of total population over 65, before In Japan this is predicted to reach 25%. In Europe there will be more people over 60 than under 20 by ICT Accessibility & EC M/376 14

11 Why Accessible Design? - UK Currently 10 million disabled adults...with a spending power in excess of 50 billion/year Ageing Countryside : 47% increase in over 50s 5.3m over 60s Three times as many over 85s Source: Newcastle University Centre for Rural Economy. More people over 60 than under ICT Accessibility & EC M/376 15

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13 WHO Definition of Disabled Those people, of all ages, who are unable to perform, independently and without aid, basic human activities or tasks because of health condition, physical/mental/cognitive/physiological impairment of a permanent or temporary nature. This includes wheelchair users, people who experience difficulty in walking, frail older people, people who suffer from arthritis, asthma or a heart condition, the visual and/or hearing impaired, people who have a cognitive impairment disorder, women in later stages of pregnancy, people impaired following the use of hard or soft drugs or some medicines, people who suffer a partial or complete loss of language, people impaired following exposure to environmental pollution and/or irresponsible human activity. ICT Accessibility & EC M/376 17

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15 Vision: A single disability? Possible variations: totally totally blind since birth, totally totally blind following an accident or an illness, partial partial vision (but can be registered as Blind ), eyesight eyesight corrected by lenses, Colour Colour blind, lost lost spectacles or injury....then add combinations of disabilities! ICT Accessibility & EC M/376 19

16 Why the focus on disabilities? eeurope eaccessibility initiatives. UK Disability Discrimination Act US Section 508 Requirements pervasive: US multinationals market products worldwide, Public procurement recognised as best enabler, EC Mandate 376. Similar legislation and regulations in industrialised countries...canada, Japan, Australia. A huge, potential market It It s s good business! ICT Accessibility & EC M/376 20

17 EC Mandate 376 Intention is to use the purchasing power of all EC governments to ensure that ICT products and services are accessible. Mirrors Section 508 of the Americans with Disabilities Act...VPATs VPATs.. Not accessible = No bid = No sale! Phase 1 completed: ETSI Report (ETSI TR ) on current European (and global) legislation, regulations and standards, CEN Report on conformance & testing. Phase 2 commences late 2009: Single EN containing all requirements & recommendations Web tools, procurement toolkit, etc ICT Accessibility & EC M/376 21

18 How will this be achieved? Legislation supported supported by standards & guidelines: BS :2005 Guide to managing inclusive design. ISO (Guidance on software accessibility). ISO (Accessibility( guidelines - Information and communications equipment, software & services - Common Guidelines). W3C WAI WCAG Guidelines. ETSI ETR 334 (1996) The implications of human ageing for the design of telephone terminals. ETSI TR (2002) Requirements for assistive technology devices in ICT. ETSI EG (2005) Guidelines for the design & deployment of ICT products & services used by children. ICT Accessibility & EC M/376 22

19 How will this be achieved? Universal Design (Design-for for-all) or Assistive Technologies? By designing accessibility features and functions into all products, they cost less and those features are readily available to users with temporary disabilities, i.e. a sprained wrist or lost spectacles. Whilst Assistive Technologies may be needed for users with less common disabilities, they tend to be expensive, and disabled people typically have lower incomes. ICT Accessibility & EC M/376 23

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23 Accessible software examples.. All mouse actions can be carried out by a keyboard. Font sizes can be increased. Alternative colour palettes, include high contrast and monochrome. Response timings can be adjusted. System sounds can be provided visually. Dialogues and tables can be read by a Screen- reader. Screen objects, e.g. icons, have text labels. Alternative provisions for audio and video content. ICT Accessibility & EC M/376 27

24 Accessible documentation Provide understandable documentation and Help. Provide user documentation in accessible electronic form. Documentation can then be read by a Screen reader and output to a voice output or refreshable Braille device. Provide text alternatives (to pictures & graphics) in electronic documentation and Help. Write instructions and Help without unnecessary device references. Provide documentation and Help on accessibility features. ICT Accessibility & EC M/376 28

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27 Thank you! ICT Accessibility & EC M/376 31