A Holistic Approach To Web Usability, Accessibility And Interoperability: A Holistic Approach

1. Talk 4 http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/conferences/ili-2005/workshop/ A Holistic Approach To Web Usability, Accessibility And Interoperability:A Holistic Approach The talk in which we describe the holistic approach to usability accessibility and interoperability which has been developed by UKOLN and TechDis. Brian Kelly UKOLN University of Bath Bath Email: B.Kelly@ukoln.ac.uk UKOLN is supported by:

2. W3C WAI and 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) WAI Approach

3. Which reflects your views most closely? 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 • 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 WAI Approach BK

4. The WAI Model • The WAI model for Web accessibility is based on three components: • Content • Authoring Tools • Browsers • Get all three right and you'll have universal accessibility • But: • We have no control over browsers & authoring tools • The browsers and authoring tools aren't great • The content guidelines are flawed • Is universal accessibility really possible? WAI Approach

5. UsersNeeds TechDis – UKOLN Approach • Focuses on the user • and recognises importance of: • External pressures e.g. funders, QAA, … • Technical infrastructure • Resource implications • Learning & teaching outcomes • and requires quality assurance based on documented policies and systematic checking Holistic framework for e-learning accessibility published in CJLT: Holistic Approach Remember UK legislation expects organisations to take "reasonable measures" BK

6. Holistic Approach • The holistic approach we have developed: • Focuses on the needs of the user • Acknowledges the value of guidelines: • WAI WCAG Guidelines  Jakob Neilson's guidelines • … • But recognises that: • These are guidelines and not universal standards • Such guidelines can limit what you do • Also recognises that: • Usability, accessibility & interoperability are important • The will be constraints on what you can do • What you should do will be influenced by the area you're involved in, the resources you have, the wider cultural context, … Holistic Approach

7. Challenges For You • The holistic approach has been developed based on experiences in supporting the UK Higher and Further Education and cultural heritage sectors • There are still issues to be addressed: • How to apply the approach in a range of different contexts • What is a reasonable approach? • How to I embed this approach within my organisation? • …

8. Questions • Any questions or comments? • Implementation Challenges • But I prefer just having to check with Bobby • So what exactly should I do in my case • But the accessibility officer isn't involved in design issues; interoperability issues; … • …