Universal Web Access: Delivering Services to Everyone

Document URL: www.acm.org/perlman/access/accessig.html
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This document is a summary of a SIG session accepted at the CHI 99 Conference on Human Factors in Computing to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA (May 15-20, 1999). Scheduled for: Wednesday, May 19, 1999 2:30-4:00pm

Gary Perlman
OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc.
6565 Frantz Road, Dublin, OH 43017 USA
+1 614-761-5058
http://www.acm.org/perlman
perlman@acm.org

Table of Contents


ABSTRACT

To deliver services to more users, developers can try to reach more diverse users (language / culture, handicapped / disabled, gender, age, etc.). By developing and sharing methods and resources to address many dimensions of diversity, developers may improve accessibility for all.

"The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect."

Tim Berners-Lee, http://www.w3.org/WAI/

Keywords

CHIkids; SIGCAPH; accessibility; aging; assistive technology; character set; children; disabilities; disabled; diversity; elderly; female; global; globalisation; globalization; group and individual differences; handicapped; i18n; impaired; impairment; intercultural; international; internationalisation; internationalization; male; multilingual; software localisation; software localization; special needs; translation; universal access;

INTRODUCTION

Several factors have made the Web increasingly available to millions of users around the world. If our goal is to provide Web-based services to broader markets, we need to understand the users in potential markets and how to make services accessible to them. Just what makes a market broader depends on your current market. If a service is directed to English-speaking normal-sensory / motor / cognitive males aged 35-45, then broader markets could include the other 99% of the world. Of course, not all services are going to be of interest to all users -- some are only of interest to a few people -- but for services that have the potential to be delivered to more users, this special interest group session may be of interest. Instead of focusing on one type of new user, it may be useful to consider many types of users at once; one benefit might be a more adaptive software architecture.

By its focus on universal access, no topics are excluded, but some general questions are:

What resources and methods are available for:


DIMENSIONS OF DIVERSITY

Multilingual/International/Multicultural

Language and culture have been topics for previous SIGs (e.g., [2]) resulting in a rejuvenated SIGCHI mailing list and new Web page (sigchi.org/intercultural).

Handicapped/Disabled

Disability has been a topic of previous SIGs (e.g., [1]). ACM SIGCAPH is concerned with a range of accessibility issues: sensory (hearing and vision); motor (orthopedic); cognitive (learning, speech, mental), which sponsors a link page (www.acm.org/sigcaph/links).

Gender

Along with other diversity issues, gender has been addressed at CHI (e.g., [3]).

Age

Both interfaces for children (e.g., [4]) and older users (e.g., [5]) have been topics of SIGs. Some issues of sensory, motor, and cognitive limitations could be relevant to developing services for broader age groups.

GOALS OF THE SIG SESSION

Although the focus of the SIG is Web-based services, many of the issues apply equally well to other software.

REFERENCES

  1. Edwards, A.D.N. (1996) HCI and Users with Disabilities. CHI 96 Companion ACM Press, p.322.
  2. Khaslavsky, J. (1998) Culture and International Software Design. CHI 98 Summary ACM Press, p.387.
  3. Leventhal, L. et al (1994) Designing for Diverse Users: Will Just a Better Interface Do? CHI’94 ACM Press, p.191-192.
  4. Lieberman, D.A. (1998) SIG: Children and the Internet. CHI 98 Summary ACM Press, p.386.
  5. Meyer, B. et al. (1998) Making Technology Accessible to Older Users. CHI 98 Summary ACM Press, p.373.

OTHER INFORMATION