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Encyclopedia > A11y

In human-computer interaction, computer accessibility (also known as Accessible computing) refers to the accessibility a computer system to all people, regardless of disability or age-related limitations. It is largely a software concern; when hardware, or a combination of hardware and software, is used to customize a computer for a disabled person this is known as Assistive Technology. Human-computer interaction (HCI) or, alternatively, computer-human interaction (symbolized as Χ χ Chi, the 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet) is the study of interaction between people (users) and computers. ... Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a system is usable by as many people as possible without modification. ... A computer system is the synthesis of hardware and software. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Computer software (or simply software) refers to one or more computer programs and data held in the storage of a computer for some purpose. ... Assistive Technology (AT) is a generic term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices and the process used in selecting, locating, and using them. ...


There are several types of disabilities that impact computer use. These include:

In Free software contexts, accessibility is often abbreviated to a11y, where the number 11 refers to the number of letters omitted. This parallels the abbreviations of internationalization and localization as i18n and l10n respectively. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... DISCLAIMER Please remember that Wikipedia is offered for informational use only. ... It has been suggested that Autism mercury be merged into this article or section. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Color blindness in humans is the inability to perceive differences between some or all colors that other people can distinguish. ... The word deaf can have very different meanings depending on the background of the person speaking or the context in which the word is used. ... This article is about hearing impairment in the pathological sense. ... Paralysis is the complete loss of muscle function for one or more muscle groups. ... Cerebral palsy or CP is the most common childhood physical disability. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This article is about Free Software as defined by the sociopolitical Free Software movement; for information on software distributed without charge, see freeware. ... Internationalization and localization are means of adapting products such as publications or software for non-native environments, especially other nations and cultures. ... Internationalization and localization are means of adapting products such as publications or software for non-native environments, especially other nations and cultures. ...

Contents


Considerations for specific disabilities

Cognitive disabilities and illiteracy

The biggest challenge in computer accessibility is to make resources accessible to people with cognitive disabilities - particularly those with poor communication skills - and those without reading skills.


Visual disabilities

Another significant challenge in computer accessibility is to make software usable for people with visual impairment since computers are largely visual devices. For people with poor vision, it is helpful to use large fonts, high-contrast icons etc. supplemented with auditory feedback and screen magnifying software. In the case of blindness, text to speech (screen reader) software is essential. A Specimen of typeset fonts and languages, by William Caslon, letter founder; from the 1728 Cyclopaedia. ... Christ the Redeemer (1410s, by Andrei Rublev) For other senses of this word, see icon (disambiguation). ... Speech synthesis is the artificial production of human speech. ... A screen reader is a software application that attempts to identify and interpret what is being displayed on the screen. ...


About 8% of people, mostly males, suffer from some form of colour-blindness. In a well-designed user interface, colour should not be the only way of distinguishing between different pieces of information. However, the only colours that matter are colours that people with a deficiency might confuse, which generally means red and green and blue and green. Color blindness in humans is the inability to perceive differences between some or all colors that other people can distinguish. ...


An example in Web accessibility is a set of guidelines [1] and two accessible[2] web portals designed for people developing reading skills are peepo.com [3] — try typing a letter with your keyboard for more — and peepo.co.uk [4] with enhanced graphics, unique style controls and improved interactivity (requires SVG supported browser). Web accessibility refers to the practice of making Web pages accessible to people using a wide range of user agent devices, not just standard web browsers. ...


Motor disabilities

Some people may not be able to use a conventional input device, such as the mouse or the keyboard. Therefore it is important for software functions to be accessible using both or either device; ideally, software uses a generic API that permits the use even of highly specialized devices unheard of at the time of software development. Keyboard shortcuts and mouse gestures are ways to achieve this. More specialized solutions like on-screen keyboards and alternate input devices like switches, joysticks and trackballs are also available. A number of devices, called input devices, are used for entering data into a machine, typically a computer. ... Operating a mechanical 1: Pulling the mouse turns the ball. ... A computer keyboard is a peripheral modeled after the typewriter keyboard. ... API may refer to: In computing, application programming interface In petroleum industry, American Petroleum Institute In education, Academic Performance Index This page concerning a three-letter acronym or abbreviation is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... A keyboard shortcut (also known as an accelerator key, shortcut key, or hotkey) is a set of keyboard keys that when pressed simultaneously, perform a predefined task. ... A spiral mouse gesture in the computer game Black and White. ... Many people with severe physical or cognitive impairment use one or more switches to access computers. ... For other uses, see Joystick (disambiguation). ... Logitech Marble Mouse Trackball A trackball is a pointing device consisting of a ball housed in a socket containing sensors to detect rotation of the ball about two axes—like an upside-down mouse, but with the ball sticking out more. ...


The astrophysicist Stephen Hawking is a famous example of a person suffering from motor disability. He uses a switch, combined with special software, that allows him to control his wheelchair-mounted computer using his remaining small movement ability. This performs as a normal computer, allowing him to research and produce his written work, and as a Voice Output Communication Aid (VOCA) and environmental control unit. Spiral Galaxy ESO 269-57 // Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties (luminosity, density, temperature and chemical composition) of astronomical objects such as stars, galaxies, and the interstellar medium, as well as their interactions. ... Stephen Hawking Stephen William Hawking (born 8 January 1942), CH, CBE, FRS, is considered one of the worlds leading theoretical physicists. ... The international symbol of access depicts a person in a wheelchair A wheelchair is mobility device that takes the form of a chair on wheels, used by people for whom walking is difficult or impossible due to illness or disability. ...


Aural disability

While sound user interfaces have a secondary role in common desktop computing, usually limited to system sounds as feedback, software producers take into account people who can't hear, either for personal disability, noisy environments, silence requirements or lack of sound hardware. The system sounds like beeps can be substituted or supplemented with flashing parts of the screen or text (akin to closed captions). The word deaf can have very different meanings depending on the background of the person speaking or the context in which the word is used. ... Environmental Noise is unwanted sound, which may cause both nuisance and damage to health. ... Silence is a relative or total lack of sound. ... Beep may refer to: Beep (sound) BEEP, Blocks Extensible Exchange Protocol, a framework for creating network application protocols Beep (SWBLW) Beep, a song by The Pussycat Dolls Beep Media Player, a media player for Linux (primarily Ubuntu) This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same... Closed captioning allows deaf, hard of hearing / hearing_impaired, and other people to read, through captions, a transcript of the audio portion of a video that they cannot hear. ...


Web accessibility

Main article: Web accessibility

Enabling access to Web content for all users is the concern of the Web accessibility movement. Websites can be designed to be more accessible by their conformance to certain design principles. Web accessibility refers to the practice of making Web pages accessible to people using a wide range of user agent devices, not just standard web browsers. ... Web accessibility refers to the practice of making Web pages accessible to people using a wide range of user agent devices, not just standard web browsers. ...


Screen readers are of only limited use when reading text from websites; this can be due to the differences between spoken and written language and the complexity of text, but it is mainly due to poor page design practices. The tendency to indicate semantic meaning using methods that are purely presentational (e.g. larger or smaller font sizes, using different font colors, or images or multimedia to provide information) restricts meaningful access to some users. Therefore designing sites in accordance with Web accessibility principles helps enable meaningful access for all users.


For example, web designers can ensure that navigation and content is as plain and simple as appropriate and long texts should provide summaries. Texts can be supplemented by symbols, illustrations, comics and photographs [citation needed].


See also

Modding is a slang expression for the act of modifying a piece of hardware or software to perform a function not intended by someone with legal rights concerning that modification. ... Assistive Technology (AT) is a generic term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices and the process used in selecting, locating, and using them. ... Web accessibility refers to the practice of making Web pages accessible to people using a wide range of user agent devices, not just standard web browsers. ... Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, was enacted by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Pub. ...

Live Forums

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External links

Accessibility features of Operating Systems

Web browser accessibility features


  Results from FactBites:
 
A11Y and I18N testing of Java based GUIs. - The Code Project - Java Programming (1703 words)
The only problem with A11Y and I18N testing is that it is hardly compatible with the Unit testing and the main tool for running tests so called XTest supported only the JUnit based tests.
Now it may become obvious that A11Y and I18N GUI testing are not compatible with the Unit testing.
For example in the A11Y testing usually you have to check for focus on this or that component or for opening of a window after pressing some combination of keys.
a11y: netbeans.org : Accessibility Developer's Corner (258 words)
This is the home page for anybody who is interested in accessibility (a11y) development and issues.
The first document outlines how to be a11y compliance and tools for testing your UI and the second refers to specific examples in NetBeans and how to design for a11y.
Read the NetBeans Accessibility FAQ for NetBeans specific issues, problems with a11y testing tools, and general Section 508 questions.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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