http www ukoln ac ukwebfocuseventsconferencesmuseumsweb2007 The Accessible Web

http: //www. ukoln. ac. uk/web-focus/events/conferences/museums-web-2007/ The Accessible Web Accessibility 2. 0: A Holistic And User. Centred Approach To Web Accessibility Brian Kelly UKOLN University of Bath Acceptable Use Policy Recording/broadcasting of this talk, taking photographs, discussing the content using email, instant messaging, blogs, SMS, etc. is Email B. Kelly@ukoln. ac. uk permitted providing distractions to others is minimised. Resources bookmarked using ‘ukmw 07' tag UKOLN is supported by: A centre of expertise in digital information management This work is licensed under a Attribution. Non. Commercial-Share. Alike 2. 0 licence (but note caveat) www. ukoln. ac. uk

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 2 www. ukoln. ac. uk

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 3 www. ukoln. ac. uk

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 What the accessibility are out-of-date? A centre ofifexpertise in digital informationguidelines management www. ukoln. ac. uk 4

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 K Can’t decide; it’s too complicated L Web innovations often enhance accessibility: Opportunity to exploit innovations and gain experiences A centre of expertise in digital information management 5 www. ukoln. ac. uk

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 A centre of expertise in digital information management www. ukoln. ac. uk 6

Review: WAI Approach Background: W 3 C WAI & WCAG W 3 C (World Wide Web Consortium): • Body responsible for coordinating development of Web standards WAI (Web Accessibility Initiative): • W 3 C 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) A centre of expertise in digital information management 7 www. ukoln. ac. uk

Review: WAI Approach 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? A centre of expertise in digital information management 8 www. ukoln. ac. uk

Review: WAI Approach Interpretation of WAI WCAG How 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 Objective Checking mostly objective Penalties for non-compliance Similar to checking that HTML complies with the standard Which reflects your organisations’ view most closely? • Advisory, with following characteristics: Useful guidelines, to be interpreted in context It's about providing useful, usable resources It's contextual Checking mostly subjective It's similar to checking that a Web site is well-designed A centre of expertise in digital information management 9 www. ukoln. ac. uk BK

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 W 3 C 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? A centre of expertise in digital information management 10 www. ukoln. ac. uk

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? A centre of expertise in digital information management 11 www. ukoln. ac. uk E

Usability & Interoperability What about: • Usability • Interoperability http: //www. rnib. org. uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/code/Internet. Home. hcsp Example: • Long, application-specific URLs can cause accessibility/usability and interoperability problems Addition 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 12 www. ukoln. ac. uk

Context 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) A centre of expertise in digital information management 13 www. ukoln. ac. uk

Universal Accessibility? A centre of expertise in digital information management 14 www. ukoln. ac. uk

Our Work Holistic Approach Q How do you make highly interactive e-learning services universally accessibility (e. g. 3 D model of molecules)? A If this would be unreasonable, make the learning outcomes (rather than e-learning resources) accessible. Can we apply this approach to cultural resources, with an emphasis on providing a diversity of cultural experiences? 15 See Developing A Holistic Approach For E-Learning A centre of expertise in digital information management www. ukoln. ac. uk Accessibility by Kelly, Phipps & Swift

Our Work Articulating the Approach The "Tangram Metaphor" developed to avoid checklist / automated approach: • W 3 C 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 userin digital information management A centre of to expertise 16 www. ukoln. ac. uk

Our Work 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 A centre of expertise in digital information management 17 Testable www. ukoln. ac. uk Baseline 1

Accessibility 2. 0 Paper presented at W 4 A 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 18

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! A centre of expertise in digital information management www. ukoln. ac. uk 19

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) A centre of expertise in digital information management 20 www. ukoln. ac. uk

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 21 www. ukoln. ac. uk

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 • of. Discussing and debating A centre expertise in digital information management www. ukoln. ac. uk 22

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 A centre of expertise in digital information management 23 www. ukoln. ac. uk

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 • … Compare with the BBC. Is the radio universally accessible to the deaf – or do A portfolio of solutions aimed the BBC Ahave a expertise portfolio of channels? centre of in digital information management www. ukoln. ac. uk at widening participation 24

Next Steps for Museums http: //museums. wikia. com/ wiki/Accessibility_2. 0 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) A centre of expertise in digital information management 25 www. ukoln. ac. uk

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) A centre of expertise in digital information management 26 www. ukoln. ac. uk

What Next? What should the next steps be in development of approaches for Web accessibility in a museum context? A centre of expertise in digital information management 27 www. ukoln. ac. uk