2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chapter 14, Accessibility

Outline
14.1 Introduction
14.2 Web Accessibility
14.3 Web Accessibility Initiative
14.4 Providing Alternatives for Multimedia Content
14.4.1 Readability
14.4.2 Using Voice Synthesis and Recognition with Voice XML
14.5 Accessibility in Microsoft Windows 2000
14.5.1 Tools for Visually-Impaired People
14.5.2 Tools for Hearing-Impaired People
14.5.3 Tools for Users Who Have Difficulty Using the Keyboard
14.5.4 Microsoft Narrator
14.5.5 Microsoft On-Screen Keyboard
14.5.6 Accessibility Features in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0
14.6 Other Accessibility Tools

2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.1 Introduction
Persons with disabilities make up a significant
portion of the population, and legal ramifications
exist for Web sites that discriminate by not
providing adequate and universal access to the
sites resources
In this chapter, we explore:
The Web Accessibility Initiative and its requirements
Various laws regarding businesses and their availability to
people with disabilities
How some companies have developed their systems,
products and services to meet the needs of this demographic

2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.2 Web Accessibility
In 1999, a lawsuit was filed by the National
Federation for the Blind (NFB) against AOL for
not supplying access to its services to people with
visual disabilities, a mandate of the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990
WeMedia.com is dedicated to providing disabled
individuals with the same opportunities as the
general population
Provides online educational opportunities for people with
disabilities
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.2 Web Accessibility
Act Purpose
Americans with Disabilities Act The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, state and
local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and
telecommunications.
Telecommunications Act of 1996 The Telecommunications Act of 1996 contains two amendments to Section 255 and
Section 251(a)(2) of the Communications Act of 1934. These amendments require
that communication devices, such as cell phones, telephones and pagers, be
accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act of 1997
Educational materials in the school setting must be made accessible to children with
disabilities.
Acts designed to protect access to the Internet for people with disabilities.
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.2 Web Accessibility
We Media home page. (Courtesy of We Media Inc.)
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.2 Web Accessibility
The Internet has also enabled disabled individuals
to work in a vast array of new fields
Prior to its advent, 25 percent of the 15 million Americans
with disabilities found employment as a result of the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Technologies such as voice activation, visual enhancers and
auditory aids afford disabled individuals with more work
opportunities
Information provided through technology will have to be
equally accessible to individuals with disabilities
Sites heavily laden with graphic images might have to
simplify their appearance
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.3 Web Accessibility Initiative
On April 7, 1997, the World Wide Web
Consortium (W3C) launched the Web
Accessibility Initiative (WAI )
An attempt to make the Web more accessible
Accessibility
Refers to the level of usability of an application or Web site
for people with disabilities
The vast majority of Web sites are considered inaccessible to
people with visual, learning or mobility impairments
A high level of accessibility is difficult to achieve
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.3 Web Accessibility Initiative
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 are
divided into a three-tier structure of checkpoints
according to their priority
Priority-one checkpoints are those that must be met to
ensure accessibility
Priority-two checkpoints, though not essential, are highly
recommended
Priority-three checkpoints improve accessibility slightly
The WAI also presents a supplemental list of quick tips
this list contains checkpoints aimed at solving priority one
problems
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.4 Providing Alternatives for
Multimedia Content
WAI requirement
Ensure that every image, movie and sound used on a Web
page is accompanied by a description called an ALT tag that
clearly defines its purpose
Intended to provide a short description of an HTML object
which may not load properly on all user agents
Specialized user agents
An application that interprets Web-page source code and
translates it into formatted text and images
Screen readers are programs that allow users to hear what is
being displayed on their screen
Braille displays are devices that receive data from screen-
reading software and output the data as braille
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.4 Providing Alternatives for
Multimedia Content
Web pages with large amounts of multimedia content are
difficult for user agents to interpret, unless designed properly
Images, movies and other non-HTML objects cannot be read
by screen readers
Provide multimedia-based information in a variety of ways
User-agent technology is unable to make image maps
accessible to blind people or others who cannot use a mouse
Include a link at the top of each Web page that
provides easy access to the pages content so users
can use the link to bypass inaccessible elements
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.4.1 Readability
Readability
When creating a Web page intended for the general public, it
is important to consider the reading level at which it is
written
Use of shorter words
Users from other countries may have difficulty understanding
slang and other nontraditional language
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0
Suggests that a paragraphs first sentence convey its subject
Gunning Fog Index
A formula that produces a readability grade when applied to
a text sample

2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.4.2 Using Voice Synthesis and
Recognition with Voice XML
VoiceXML
An XML application that uses speech synthesis to enable the
computer to speak to the user
Has tremendous implications for visually impaired people
and for people who cannot read
Reads Web pages to the user, also includes speech recognition
technologywhich enables computers to understand words
spoken into the microphone
ViaVoice
VoiceXML processed by a VoiceXML interpreter or browser
Platform independent
When a VoiceXML document is loaded, a voice server sends a
message to the VoiceXML browser and begins a conversation
between the user and the computer
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5 Accessibility in Microsoft
Windows 2000
Since Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft has
included accessibility features in its operating
systems and many of its applications
Accessibility Wizard
Guides a user through the Windows 2000 accessibility
features and configures the computer according to the
chosen specifications
Microsoft Magnifier
A program that displays an enlarged section of the
screen in a separate window
Disable personalized menus
A feature that hides rarely used programs from the
Start menu
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.1 Tools for Visually Impaired
People
Users can resize scroll bars and window borders to
increase their visibility
Users can resize icons
Users with poor visionas well as users who have trouble
readingbenefit from large icons
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.1 Tools for Visually Impaired People
Text Size dialog
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.1 Tools for Visually Impaired
People
Display Settings dialog
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.1 Tools for Visually Impaired
People
Accessibility Wizard initialization options
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.1 Tools for Visually Impaired
People
Scroll Bar and Window Border Size dialog
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.1 Tools for Visually Impaired
People
Setting window element sizes
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.1 Tools for Visually Impaired
People
Settings allow the user to change Windows color
scheme and to resize various screen elements
Wizard offers the user the choice of using larger
cursors, black cursors and cursors that invert the
colors of objects underneath them
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.1 Tools for Visually Impaired
People
Display Color Settings options
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.1 Tools for Visually Impaired
People
Accessibility Wizard mouse cursor adjustment tool
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.2 Tools for Hearing-Impaired People
SoundSentry
A tool that creates visual signals when system events occur
ShowSounds dialog
Enables you to add captions to spoken text and other sounds
produced by todays multimedia-rich software
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.2 Tools for Hearing-Impaired
People
SoundSentry dialog
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.2 Tools for Hearing-Impaired
People
Show Sounds dialog
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.3 Tools for Users Who Have
Difficulty Using the Keyboard
StickyKeys
A program that helps users who have difficulty pressing
multiple keys at the same time by allowing the user to press
key combinations in sequence
BounceKeys
Forces the computer to ignore repeated keystrokes
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.3 Tools for Users Who Have
Difficulty Using the Keyboard
StickyKeys dialog
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.3 Tools for Users Who Have
Difficulty Using the Keyboard
BounceKeys dialog
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.3 Tools for Users Who Have
Difficulty Using the Keyboard
ToggleKeys
Alerts the user that they have pressed one of the lock keys
(i.e., Caps Lock, Num Lock and Scroll Lock), by sounding an
audible beep
Extra Keyboard Help dialog
Used to activate a tool that displays information, such as
keyboard shortcuts and tool tips, when they are available
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.3 Tools for Users Who Have
Difficulty Using the Keyboard
ToggleKeys dialog
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.3 Tools for Users Who Have
Difficulty Using the Keyboard
Extra Keyboard Help dialog
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.3 Tools for Users Who Have
Difficulty Using the Keyboard
MouseKeys
A tool that uses the keyboard to emulate mouse movements
The arrow keys direct the mouse, while the 5 key sends a
single click
To double click, the user must press the + key, and to
simulate holding down the mouse button, the user must press
the Ins (Insert) key
To release the mouse button, the user must press the Del
(Delete) key
Mouse Button Settings window
Tool allows the user to create a virtual lefthanded mouse, by
swapping the button functions
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.3 Tools for Users Who Have
Difficulty Using the Keyboard
Fig. 14.16 MouseKeys window
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.3 Tools for Users Who Have
Difficulty Using the Keyboard
Mouse Button Settings window
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.3 Tools for Users Who Have
Difficulty Using the Keyboard
Mouse speed is adjusted using the MouseSpeed
Dragging the scroll bar changes the speed
Set Automatic Timeouts window
Specifies a timeout period for the tools
A timeout either enables or disables a certain action after the
computer has idled for a specified amount of time
Save Settings to File dialog determines
whether the accessibility settings should be used
as the default settings, which are loaded when the
computer is rebooted or after a timeout
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.3 Tools for Users Who Have
Difficulty Using the Keyboard
Mouse Speed dialog
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.3 Tools for Users Who Have
Difficulty Using the Keyboard
Set Automatic Timeouts
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.4 Microsoft Narrator
Microsoft Narrator
A text-to-speech program for visually impaired people
Reads text, describes the current desktop environment and
alerts the user when certain Windows events occur
A screen reader that works with Internet Explorer, Wordpad,
Notepad and most programs in the Control Panel
The Voice... button enables the user to change the
pitch, volume and speed of the narrator voice
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.4 Microsoft Narrator
Narrator Window
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.4 Microsoft Narrator
Narrator reading Notepad text
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.5 Microsoft On-Screen
Keyboard
On-Screen Keyboard
Clicker 4 by Inclusive Technology
Developed as an aid for people who cannot effectively use a
keyboard
Keys can have letters, numbers, entire words or even
pictures on them

2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.5 Microsoft On-Screen
Keyboard
Microsoft On-Screen Keyboard
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.6 Accessibility Features in
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0
The accessibility options in Microsoft Internet
Explorer 5.0 augment the users Web browsing
Users are able to ignore Web colors, Web fonts and font-size
tags
Users can specify a style sheet that formats every Web site
the user visits, according to that users personal preferences
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.6 Accessibility Features in
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0s Accessibility options
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.6 Accessibility Features in
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0
Always expand ALT text for images
By default, Internet Explorer 5.0 hides some of the <ALT> text, if
it exceeds the size of the image it describes
Forces all of the text to be shown
Move system caret with focus/selection changes
Intended to make screen reading more effective
Some screen readers use the system caret (the blinking vertical bar
associated with editing text) to decide what is read and if this
option is not activated, screen readers may not read Web pages
correctly
Allows the user to select text size
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.6 Accessibility Features in
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0
Advanced accessibility settings in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.5.6 Accessibility Features in
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0
Accessing the Text Size menu in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.6 Other Accessibility Tools
Software exists to help those with different types
of disabilities
Braille keyboard
Similar to a standard keyboard except that in addition to
letters on every key, it has the equivalent braille symbol
Most often, braille keyboards are combined with a speech
synthesizer or a braille display, so users are able to interact
with the computers and verify that their typing is correct
The development of speech synthesizers is also enabling
other technologies, such as VoiceXML and AuralCSS to
improve
Allow visually impaired people and those who cannot read to
access Web sites
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.6 Other Accessibility Tools
Markup languages
Languages such as HTML and XML, designed to layout and link
text files
Hearing-impaired Web users benefit from Synchronized
Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL )
Designed to add extra trackslayers of content found within a
single audio or video file
Products are also being designed to help severely
handicapped persons
EagleEyes, developed by researchers at Boston College, is a
system that recognizes a users eye movements and translates them
to move the cursor
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.6 Other Accessibility Tools
CitXCorp
Developing technology that translates information over the
Web through the telephone
Information on regulations governing the design
of Web sites to accommodate people with
disabilities can be found at www.access-board.gov
Adobe Acrobat and Adobes PDF
Will be manufactured to comply with Microsofts
application programming interface (API), allowing
businesses to reach a disabled audience
JetForm Corp. server-based XML software
Allows users to download a format modified to best meet
their needs
2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.6 JAWS Feature
JAWS (Job Access With Sound) is a screen reader
Created by Henter-Joyce, a division of Freedom Scientific
and a company that tries to help visually impaired people use
technology
The JAWS demo is fully functional and includes
an extensive help menu that is highly customized
User can select which voice to utilize, the rate at which text
is spoken and create keyboard shortcuts
JAWS also includes special key commands for popular
programs, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer and Microsoft
Word