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New to Accessibility
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alphaWorks talked with Vicki Hanson, manager of IBM's Accessibility Research, about interesting and unique projects and the future of accessibility research at IBM.
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In our high-tech world, it is important that all members of society have access to vital information. Research on accessibility helps ensure access for everyone. This work addresses the need for individuals with vision, hearing, motor, and cognitive limitations to fully participate in society. In recent years, attention has also turned to the needs of older adults who are becoming a larger and larger segment of the worldwide population. Issues related to remaining in the workforce and independent living are addressed by accessibility technologies. Learn more. | | |
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Increasingly, accessibility research seeks to find ways to make all technology accessible to users with disabilities. Using principles of universal access and inclusive design, rather than addressing accessibility needs by specialized hardware and software solutions, researchers seek ways to make existing solutions accessible. In this spirit, the Web Adaptation Technology software provides extensions to an standard browser that allows people with low vision, motor difficulties, and learning disabilities to more easily browse the Web. Learn more. | | |
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Developers and the technical community will interact with these technologies in different ways. aDesigner, for example, is a tool for Web site designers. Web Adaptation Technology and Keyboard Optimizer are software applications for end users who need these features to access the Web or other computer applications. The Head Tracking Pointer is an application designed for end users that could be most powerfully used by having developers incorporate its features into their applications. | |
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