Accessibility 2.0: a million flowers bloom
25th of April 2008
AbilityNet are delighted to welcome you to our accessibility event of the year!
Introducing Accessibility 2.0 podcast
Listen to your conference host Robin Christopherson discussing Web 2.0 with Kath Moonan, conference organiser. Download the Introducing Accessibility 2.0 Podcast or the Introducing Accessibility 2.0 Transcript. As a screen reader user Robin is all too aware of the barriers disabled users can face in a Web 2.0 environment:
"Being blind I'm honestly a bit worried what Web 2.0 will mean for me and my access to websites and web apps in the coming months and years. If accessibility isn't foremost in everyone's minds I'm afraid I'll actually have less choice in what I can access, and that I'll find surfing more difficult in general. Faced with inaccessible sites, those sites that do it well will have my custom for sure."
Support for Accessibility 2.0
One of our speakers, and round table participants Jonathan Hassell Acting Head of Audience Experience & Usability, BBC Future Media & Technology has expressed his support for Accessibility 2.0
"I am delighted to be speaking at AbilityNet's Accessibility 2.0 conference on April 25th. Web 2.0 opens up many new opportunities for many disabled people, but it also challenges many of the rules website producers currently rely on to make their sites accessible. The diverse line-up of speakers should enable us all to think of these challenges and opportunities from the widest perspective. I'm looking forward to it immensely."
About Accessibility 2.0
Accessibility 2.0 is the first ever conference focussing on web accessibility in a Web 2.0 world. By Web 2.0 we mean rich web applications which allow users to create content by writing blogs, uploading videos or commenting on other user' content and creating networks.
Our invited experts will look at practical solutions to the Web 2.0 accessibility problems, showing cutting edge techniques and offering realistic solutions. The day will be a very practical day. You will come away knowing what you need to do, and where you need to focus to make sure you give access to all users. There'll also be an opportunity to take part in a debate during our round table session for wider discussion.
Support from TV Raman
The title of the conference was inspired by T.V. Raman, a Google Research Scientist, to describe the current wave of creativity and innovation brought about by the development of web applications. We had these words of support from TV Raman:
"I would like to congratulate AbilityNet on putting together this event... it's something that is much needed by our field.
Web applications are here to stay... the advantages they bring in terms of ubiquity are numerous. Accessing Web applications using adaptive technologies from the era of desktop software has been a challenge. But the advantages present in a world where user interface augmentation is delivered using the 'same' Web technologies used to deploy end-user access to application services opens up a wealth of opportunities for users with special needs. The advent of GUIs in the 90's was often labeled a serious problem for visually impaired users... yet, a better understanding of the underlying issues, along with improvements in the adaptive technology stack has led to a wider level of access to software and information than ever before. As we develop this field, I strongly believe that we will look back at this time 10 years from now and come to a similar conclusion about Web 2.0 applications.
So here is the challenge for all of us as software engineers, Web users and accessibility evangelists: Originally conceived as a system for the global distribution of hypertext documents, The Web has evolved to become a universal application platform that delivers ubiquitous end-user information services. In achieving this, we have collectively innovated with respect to main-stream users... now, it's time to apply the same level of innovation to achieve every-person access. And I'm sorry I'll miss the event in London... sadly, the dates this year conflict with the WWW 2008 conference. When we are done solving the accessibility challenge, maybe we'll work out how we can be in multiple places at the same time!"
© AbilityNet 2008