Techniques

Error message

Deprecated function: Array and string offset access syntax with curly braces is deprecated in include_once() (line 14 of /home/mediacc/public_html/themes/engines/phptemplate/phptemplate.engine).

Five tips to make the web work better in your language

no
Show on home page

In late May, Dr Scott Hollier travelled to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to teach a web accessibility course to 22 students. As part of the assignment work, the students learnt how to use the basic functionality of screen readers and other Assistive Technology (AT). While the work went well, it quickly became apparent that there were a number of issues relating to the way in which Arabic was supported by the tools, and how those tools interacted with the web.

Translate button on a keyboard amidst keys labelled with multiple languages

There are several reasons why the web becomes more complicated for non-English speaking users, and it’s a combination of a number of factors:

Taxonomy: 
General
Web
International policy and legislation
News
Practical web accessibility
Policy
Disability
Blind or vision impaired
Deaf or hearing impaired
Solutions
Captions
Inclusion
Audio description
Digital media and technology: 
Standards
ATAG
Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines
Section 508
WCAG
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Techniques
Technologies
W3C
Web browsers
Assistive technology
Screen readers
Mobile operating systems
Devices
Smartphones

Top of page

Chinese tech giant Baidu announces Blind Search device

no
Show on home page

China’s leading search engine provider Baidu has announced the Blind Search device, a tool to assist blind and vision impaired people access “massive amounts of information online through touch” using a combination of tactile and voice-activated commands.

Blind Search facing upward with light emitting from the tactile display. Caption reads 'The device is called Blind Search'

Taxonomy: 
Digital technology
Web
News
Practical web accessibility
Disability
Blind or vision impaired
Digital media and technology: 
Techniques
Technologies
Web browsers
Assistive technology

Top of page

Web and PDF Accessibility: New Tools for Changing Times

no
Show on home page

Tim Connell, Managing Director at adaptive technology company Quantum talks about web and document accessibility. Tim spoke to media Access Australia following his presentation at the 2015 Print Disabilities Conference held May 2-5 in Adelaide, South Australia.

Quantum: Reading, Learning, Vision logo

Taxonomy: 
Web
News
Disability
Blind or vision impaired
Solutions
Inclusion
Digital media and technology: 
WCAG
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Techniques
Technologies
Assistive technology
Screen readers

Top of page

New video player designed for the blind released

no
Show on home page

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) has released a revolutionary video player which makes it easy for blind and vision impaired people to play online videos, and is making it available to website owners and developers for free.

Woman sitting on a bed, using a laptop

Taxonomy: 
Web
News
Disability
Blind or vision impaired
Solutions
Inclusion
Audio description
Digital media and technology: 
Section 508
WCAG
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Techniques
Assistive technology

Top of page

Lessons from Skandia Bank’s accessibility journey

no
Show on home page

Norwegian bank Skandiabanken’s Snorre Kim discusses why a major national bank decided to put digital accessibility at the front and centre of its recent website redesign and move to a new banking platform.

Skandiabanken logo

Snorre spoke to Media Access Australia following his presentation at Funka’s Accessibility Days conference, which was held April 14-15 in Stockholm, Sweden.

Taxonomy: 
Web
News
Q&A
Legislation
Disability
Inclusion
Digital media and technology: 
WCAG
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Techniques
Web browsers
Mobile operating systems
Devices
Smartphones

Top of page

Consumers encouraged to nominate accessible apps

no
Show on home page

Users of mobile device apps have been encouraged to nominate their favourite accessible apps for the 2015 Apps For All Challenge.

App icons hovering above the screen of a tablet device. Image credit: ACCAN

The challenge, now in its second year, seeks to find Australia’s most accessible apps and encourage software developers to include digital accessibility when they create apps.

Taxonomy: 
Digital technology
News
Disability
Blind or vision impaired
Deaf or hearing impaired
Inclusion
Digital media and technology: 
App reviews
Techniques
Mobile operating systems
iOS
Android
Devices
Tablets
Smartphones

Top of page

Q&A with Robert Osztolykan, creator of the petition to make Steam accessible

no
Show on home page

Media Access Australia spoke with Robert Osztolykan, blind gamer and creator of the petition to make Valve’s gaming platform Steam accessible to people who are blind or vision impaired. Robert shares his motivation to start the petition, his experiences playing mainstream titles, his thoughts on the current generation of gaming and why developers need to consider accessibility.

Steam controller. Image credit: Pierre Lecourt via Flickr

Steam is highly popular, featuring more than five million users. Part of this popularity is that it features more than 3,500 free and paid-for games that users of Windows, Mac and Linux computers can browse and download to play.

Taxonomy: 
Digital technology
News
Disability
Blind or vision impaired
Inclusion
Audio description
Digital media and technology: 
Accessible gaming
ATAG
Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines
Techniques
Technologies

Top of page

Digital Transformation Office updates guidance on Digital Service Standard

no
Show on home page

The Digital Transformation Office—a new body created to manage the improved design of online government services—has provided updated guidance for agencies.

Right hand holding an iPhone and left hand resting on laptop keyboard, cup of coffee on the right

Taxonomy: 
Web
Research & policy
News
Policy
Disability
How to
Inclusion
Digital media and technology: 
WCAG
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Techniques
Web browsers

Top of page

Hong Kong honours accessible websites and apps

no
Show on home page

The Government of Hong Kong has once again recognised the efforts of web developers and designers in creating websites and mobile apps that are accessible to everyone.

Web Accessibility Campaign: Making Web Content Available for All banner. Image credit: ogcio.gov.hk

Taxonomy: 
Web
News
Practical web accessibility
Policy Terms
Policy
Disability
Blind or vision impaired
Deaf or hearing impaired
Solutions
Inclusion
Digital media and technology: 
WCAG
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Techniques
Web browsers
Mobile operating systems
Devices
Smartphones

Top of page

edX settles inaccessible online courses case

no
Show on home page

Massive open online course (MOOC) provider edX has settled a case brought by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) alleging that its online courses breach accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Judge's gavel resting on a sounding block

Taxonomy: 
Web
Practical web accessibility
Disability
Inclusion
Digital media and technology: 
WCAG
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Techniques

Top of page

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - Techniques