ACCESSIBLE project concept and achievements

Accessibility Assessment Simulation Environment for New Applications Design and Development

ACCESSIBLE 224145, FP7-ICT-2007-2ACCESSIBLE 224145, FP7-ICT-2007-2Workshop, 13 July 2010Workshop, 13 July 2010

Project Presentation and Project Presentation and AchievementsAchievements

Dimitrios TzovarasDimitrios Tzovaras

CERTH/ITICERTH/ITI

ACCESSIBLE 1ACCESSIBLE 1stst Workshop, 13 July 2010 Workshop, 13 July 2010

The ACCESSIBLE Project ObjetivesThe ACCESSIBLE Project Objetives

Objectives

Main Objective 1 (MO1) - To research and develop an Assessment Simulation module to support the overall analysis and verification accessibility procedure of Web applications and services, mobile applications as well as description languages

Main Objective 2 (MO2) – To research and develop for the first time a Harmonized Accessibility Methodological framework (HAM)

Secondary Objective 1 (SO1)

- Development of a developer/designer-aid module for the design and developmentof Java applications

- Development of a multilayer ontology based knowledge Resource for incorporating the ACCESSIBLE harmonised methodology (MO2))

- Development of an EARL based Reporting module in order to export results in a form, helpful to potential receivers of test results


ACCESSIBLE: Consortium partnersACCESSIBLE: Consortium partners

Industries (1)Industries (1) Sun Microsystems (PRAGUE) Sun Microsystems (PRAGUE) Research Institutes (3)Research Institutes (3) CERTH/ITI (GREECE)CERTH/ITI (GREECE) CERTH/HIT (GREECE)CERTH/HIT (GREECE) FORTH-ICS (GREECE)FORTH-ICS (GREECE)Universities (2)Universities (2) USTUTT (GERMANY)USTUTT (GERMANY) FFCUL (PORTUGAL)FFCUL (PORTUGAL)SMEs (4)SMEs (4) SOFTECO (ITALY)SOFTECO (ITALY) SOLINET (GERMANY)SOLINET (GERMANY) MCA (BULGARIA)MCA (BULGARIA) NETSCOUTS (GERMANY)NETSCOUTS (GERMANY)

Strong consortium

Scientific expertise: accessibility, HCI, simulation, ontologies, semantic web and inference engines

Industrial and SMEs expertise: software providers, accessible software design and development, info mobility services

End Users (people with disabilities): MCA, NETSCOUTS


ACCESSIBLE tACCESSIBLE target user groups arget user groups

Software Developers and designers that will use ACCESSIBLE in order to Software Developers and designers that will use ACCESSIBLE in order to support them for the development and testing of accessible software support them for the development and testing of accessible software applicationsapplications

Groups and public bodies involved in policy making and providing basis Groups and public bodies involved in policy making and providing basis for policy making - for policy making - public bodies and SMEs dealing with e-accessibility, public bodies and SMEs dealing with e-accessibility, International Organisations for disabled persons, etc International Organisations for disabled persons, etc

Service providers and software SMEs - Service providers and software SMEs - public and private enterprises and public and private enterprises and organisations responsible for the development of software applications organisations responsible for the development of software applications

Users who benefit from enhanced accessibility - Users who benefit from enhanced accessibility - User groups with various User groups with various

disabilities (e.g. wheelchair users, blind, deaf, elderly, etc.).disabilities (e.g. wheelchair users, blind, deaf, elderly, etc.).


Barriers to e-Accessibility & Barriers to e-Accessibility & ACCESSIBLE InnovationACCESSIBLE Innovation

Main BarriersMain Barriers Assessment methodologies exist only for Web applicationsAssessment methodologies exist only for Web applications The implemented standards and best practices around accessibility are somewhat The implemented standards and best practices around accessibility are somewhat

confusing and incomplete confusing and incomplete Lack of a conceptual simulation framework for the design and development of Java Lack of a conceptual simulation framework for the design and development of Java

applicationsapplications Lack of methodologies dealing with more than one disabilityLack of methodologies dealing with more than one disability

InnovationInnovation ACCESSIBLE will develop a novel assessment methodology for a broad set of application ACCESSIBLE will develop a novel assessment methodology for a broad set of application

environments (web applications, web services, standard description languages (e.g. SDL), environments (web applications, web services, standard description languages (e.g. SDL), mobile applicationsmobile applications

ACCESSIBLE will implement a Harmonized Accessibility Methodological framework (HAM)ACCESSIBLE will implement a Harmonized Accessibility Methodological framework (HAM) ACCESSIBLE, will provide a holistic accessibility simulation approach, by developing a ACCESSIBLE, will provide a holistic accessibility simulation approach, by developing a

common assessment simulation module in order to provide designers / developers / testers common assessment simulation module in order to provide designers / developers / testers with appropriate accessibility assessment tools for testing the accessibility of their software with appropriate accessibility assessment tools for testing the accessibility of their software applicationsapplications

ACCESSIBLE will introduce for the first time a complete ontological framework (Multilayer ACCESSIBLE will introduce for the first time a complete ontological framework (Multilayer ontology based knowledge Resource), for assessing new multi-domain applications in ontology based knowledge Resource), for assessing new multi-domain applications in terms of accessibilityterms of accessibility

An open source developer-designer aid module for the design and development of Java An open source developer-designer aid module for the design and development of Java applicationsapplications

Support the assessment based on combination of disabilities, standards, devices, and Support the assessment based on combination of disabilities, standards, devices, and applications applications


The ACCESSIBLE ArchitectureThe ACCESSIBLE Architecture

ACCESSIBLE User Interface

EARL Reporting Tool

Developer & designer

aid Module

Ontology based Knowledge Resource and Inference engine

Assessment Simulation Module


ACCESSIBLE proposes four innovative pilots evaluating the ACCESSIBLE proposes four innovative pilots evaluating the accessibility of the implemented prototypes. At least one accessibility of the implemented prototypes. At least one application per each pilot domain will be tested within the application per each pilot domain will be tested within the ACCESSIBLE environment.ACCESSIBLE environment.

Mobile Web applications assessment – (Mobile Web applications assessment – (FFCULFFCUL, , SUN)SUN) Web services assessment - Web services assessment - infomobility and ASK-IT compliant web infomobility and ASK-IT compliant web

services - (services - (SOFTECO & CERTH/ITI)SOFTECO & CERTH/ITI) Web applications assessment – e.g. Web applications assessment – e.g. Web based ecommerce Web based ecommerce

application for goods & Web based ecommerce application for office application for goods & Web based ecommerce application for office supplies - (supplies - (NETSCOUTS)NETSCOUTS)

Description languages (e.g. SDL) assessment - e.g. Next generation Description languages (e.g. SDL) assessment - e.g. Next generation telecommunication services - (telecommunication services - (SOLINET)SOLINET)

ACCESSIBLE Application ScenariosACCESSIBLE Application Scenarios


Web Applications AssessmentWeb Applications Assessment

Extendable in order to support more standards/guidelinesExtendable in order to support more standards/guidelines New standard support: new guidelines, checkpoints, maybe rules added in the ontology. New standard support: new guidelines, checkpoints, maybe rules added in the ontology. New standard using similar approaches (primitive tests) with the already supported New standard using similar approaches (primitive tests) with the already supported

standards, not even a single line of source code has to be changed!standards, not even a single line of source code has to be changed! Updates to new versions straightforwardUpdates to new versions straightforward

Ontology update (new instances, rules, properties) Ontology update (new instances, rules, properties) no need for source code change. no need for source code change. The accessibility score of the examined web page(s) is being calculatedThe accessibility score of the examined web page(s) is being calculated

A normalized version of the WAB (Web Accessibility Barrier) metric is being used that A normalized version of the WAB (Web Accessibility Barrier) metric is being used that takes into account the priority of the checkpoints.takes into account the priority of the checkpoints.

The Web Assessibility Assessment tool supports many additional tests providing The Web Assessibility Assessment tool supports many additional tests providing warnings (warnings (possible errorspossible errors) and ) and extra extra informationinformation (ex. total number of the tables, (ex. total number of the tables, images, etc., Tips) concerning the structure of the web application.images, etc., Tips) concerning the structure of the web application.

IInnovation comparnnovation compareded to Hera, BenToWeb, WALIDATOR, to Hera, BenToWeb, WALIDATOR, WAVE, TAW, etc.WAVE, TAW, etc.:: support support of various standards / of various standards / guidelines / disabilities / assistive technologies via a guidelines / disabilities / assistive technologies via a unique framework (unique framework (ACCESSIBLE HACCESSIBLE HAM).AM).

Adaptive/Semi-automatic selection of testsAdaptive/Semi-automatic selection of tests Manual selection (using checkboxes)Manual selection (using checkboxes) Using the knowledge stored in the ACCESSIBLE ontologyUsing the knowledge stored in the ACCESSIBLE ontology

Choose the tests that correspond to one (or more) specific Choose the tests that correspond to one (or more) specific StandardStandard // Personas/ Personas/ Impairment / Disability / Functional Limitation / Assistive technology (devices)Impairment / Disability / Functional Limitation / Assistive technology (devices)


Accessibility of Web ServicesAccessibility of Web Services

Introducing the notion of Accessibility in Web Services towards their effective utilization Introducing the notion of Accessibility in Web Services towards their effective utilization Why?Why?

To ensure that HCI through applications To ensure that HCI through applications

utilizing Web Services is Accessibleutilizing Web Services is AccessibleHow?How?

By assessingBy assessing The capability of Web Services to provide content which is accessible to the end users (diabled) of the client The capability of Web Services to provide content which is accessible to the end users (diabled) of the client

applicationsapplications The capability of Web Services to interact well with the client applications utilizing their functionalityThe capability of Web Services to interact well with the client applications utilizing their functionality

Result:Result: Enhancing the interaction between client applications and Web Services with WS Accessibility Enhancing the interaction between client applications and Web Services with WS Accessibility

featuresfeatures Ensuring that the client app – WS interaction part of the WS utilization chain allows for Ensuring that the client app – WS interaction part of the WS utilization chain allows for

accessible HCI at the user – client app Levelaccessible HCI at the user – client app Level

Accessible defines an Accessibility Framework ensuring that Web Services Accessible defines an Accessibility Framework ensuring that Web Services Are well-defined, well-working and easy to integrate within client applications Are well-defined, well-working and easy to integrate within client applications

Introducing Accessibility at the Service’s Operational LevelIntroducing Accessibility at the Service’s Operational Level

Provide content which is accessible to impaired users Provide content which is accessible to impaired users Introducing Accessibility at the Service’s delivered content Presentation LevelIntroducing Accessibility at the Service’s delivered content Presentation Level

Provide information actually helpful to impaired users, adapted to their needsProvide information actually helpful to impaired users, adapted to their needs Introducing Accessibility at the Service’s delivered content Information LevelIntroducing Accessibility at the Service’s delivered content Information Level


Mobile Assessment ModuleMobile Assessment Module

Foreseen added valueForeseen added value A set of assessment practices to aid designers and developers A set of assessment practices to aid designers and developers

evaluate Accessibility of Web sites for mobile devicesevaluate Accessibility of Web sites for mobile devices Focus on similarities/differences between Mobile Web and Focus on similarities/differences between Mobile Web and

Accessibility, to decrease the burden of improving adequacy to Accessibility, to decrease the burden of improving adequacy to people with disabilities in mobile scenariospeople with disabilities in mobile scenarios

Starting point for Mobile Accessibility for different technologies Starting point for Mobile Accessibility for different technologies

InnovationInnovation Mobile Accessibility is just starting to be Mobile Accessibility is just starting to be researched (hot topic!)researched (hot topic!) Bridged Mobile Web Best Practices (MobileOK Bridged Mobile Web Best Practices (MobileOK subset) and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines subset) and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to come with a superset of assessments (WCAG) to come with a superset of assessments towards Mobile Accessibilitytowards Mobile Accessibility Application of WCAG in non-desktop scenarios Application of WCAG in non-desktop scenarios (e.g., tailored mobile content)(e.g., tailored mobile content)


Description Languages AssessmentDescription Languages Assessment

The problemThe problem System design requires checking for accessibility in order to provide System design requires checking for accessibility in order to provide

accessible applicationsaccessible applications Lack of standards and guidelines for accessibility Lack of standards and guidelines for accessibility

The challengeThe challenge Accessibility checking at system design level in order to tackle Accessibility checking at system design level in order to tackle

accessibility issues of applications at an early development stage accessibility issues of applications at an early development stage Allow developers to early accessibility checking at system design levelAllow developers to early accessibility checking at system design level

The ACCESSIBLE innovationThe ACCESSIBLE innovation Define accessibility guidelines and associated techniques for Define accessibility guidelines and associated techniques for

description languages focused on GUI designsdescription languages focused on GUI designs Develop the description languages accessibility assessment tool by Develop the description languages accessibility assessment tool by

implementing the assessment techniques and provide implementation implementing the assessment techniques and provide implementation guidelines to the developers guidelines to the developers


Developer-designer aid (simulator) moduleDeveloper-designer aid (simulator) module

InnovationInnovation An open source tool for the simulation of disabilities (visual and upper limp An open source tool for the simulation of disabilities (visual and upper limp

impairments) for JAVA implementations (to help users to understand how impairments) for JAVA implementations (to help users to understand how capability loss affects the ability to interact with software applications and capability loss affects the ability to interact with software applications and services)services)

A plug-in version for the NetBeans IDE in addition to the standalone A plug-in version for the NetBeans IDE in addition to the standalone (developers often don't want to use applications that are excluded from the (developers often don't want to use applications that are excluded from the main IDE software packages they prefer to use)main IDE software packages they prefer to use)

Integration of the module with the Java Accessibility API Integration of the module with the Java Accessibility API

The problemThe problem Existing development tools and packaged solutions give Existing development tools and packaged solutions give little out-of-the-box assistance to users for the accessibility little out-of-the-box assistance to users for the accessibility design of ICT Java solutionsdesign of ICT Java solutions There is a obvious shortage of simulators for Java Swing There is a obvious shortage of simulators for Java Swing applicationsapplications Most of existing vision impairment simulators are Most of existing vision impairment simulators are independent applications and not offered through common independent applications and not offered through common Integrated Development EnvironmentsIntegrated Development Environments


ACCESSIBLE Public ResultsACCESSIBLE Public Results

Public DeliverablesPublic Deliverables ACCESSIBLE ontologyACCESSIBLE ontology Tools DownloadingTools Downloading PublicationsPublications

http://www.accessible-project.eu


Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!

Questions, commentsQuestions, comments

Technology

ACCESSIBLE project concept and achievements