Web Accessibility
Challenges in Multilingual web access
Somanth Chandra
Dy. Country Manager
W3C India Office
6,CGO Complex, Electronics Niketan,
New Delhi
E-mail : slata@mit.gov.in
1
Web Invention 1989-1993:
One Man, One Web, One Vision…
This NeXTcube used by
Tim Berners-Lee at CERN
became the first Web
server on April 30, 1993
“The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone
regardless of disability is an essential aspect.”
-Tim Berners-Lee
2
One Vision:
Leading the Web to its Full Potential
Since 1994 W3C’s mission has been to carry forward
Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee’s vision of One Web by:
•
•
•
Creating the technical languages and protocols
That ensure the Web is interoperable and
universally accessible
Regardless of device, language or ability.
3
Problems related to accessibility
Low Vision
Blindness
Color Blindness
Mobility Impairments
Range of Usable Vision
No use of monitor or
mouse
Different types of colorblindness & color
deficiencies
Range of impairments
Don’t override the
users control over fonts
& colors
Use of screen reader or
refreshable Braille
Display
Colors with most
potential for confusion:
reds, greens, oranges,
yellows
Some can use keyboard
and mouse with
difficulty
High Contrast
Label graphics
(alt tags)
Don’t override the
users control over fonts
& colors
Some use mouth
stick/head wand to use
keyboard
Don’t rely on user being Alternatives for
able to read “text”
JavaScript's, Java, Plugconveyed as an image
ins
Do not rely on color
alone to convey
important information
Don’t rely on ability to
use a mouse
Screen
Enlarger/Magnifier
High Contrast
Need keyboard or
single-switch support
for menu commands
Describe Video,
Properly mark-up
Tables and Frames
4
Aging Population
Our population is aging. Age-related impairments may include
• Visual impairments from
•Macular degeneration (Low vision due to damaged of retina)
•Glaucoma (Low vision due to damaged of optic nerve)
•Cataracts (Clouding that develops in the crystalline lens)
• Hearing impairments
• Mobility impairments
• Cognitive impairments
5
W3C is providing guidelines for
web accessibility
which are based on four principal
• Perceivable:
Available to the senses (vision and hearing primarily) either through the browser
or through assistive technologies (e.g. screen readers, screen enlargers, etc.)
• Operable:
Users can interact with all controls and interactive elements using either the
mouse, keyboard, or an assistive device.
• Understandable:
Content is clear and limits confusion and ambiguity.
• Robust:
A wide range of technologies (including old and new user agents and assistive
technologies) can access the content.
6
Major checkpoints for Conformance
• Use W3C technologies and guidelines.
• Provide equivalent alternatives to auditory and visual content.
• Don't rely on color alone.
• Use markup and style sheets and do so properly.
• Clarify natural language usage
• Create tables that transform gracefully.
• Ensure that pages featuring new technologies transform gracefully.
• Ensure user control of time-sensitive content changes.
• Design for device-independence.
• Ensure direct accessibility of embedded user interfaces.
• Provide context and orientation information.
• Ensure that documents are clear and simple.
7
Some of the WCAG 2.0 Compliant Web Sites
Name of the Portal
Snap Shot
Level of
Compliance
www. socialjustice.nic.in
(Ministry of Social
Justice & Empowerment)
AA
www. mit.gov.in
(Depart of Information
Technology)
AA
8
Web Accessibility &
Implementation
For multilingual Web in India
9
Languages of India
• According to Census 2001 India has 122 major languages and 2371 dialects.
• Out of 122 languages 22 are constitutionally recognized languages.
• Linguistic Diversity is very rich and wide in India
• One Language –many scripts & Many Language –one script
• Culturally different depending on region though using same script for
different languages.
• Even wide difference for same language across different parts of the country
10
Technology Development Initiative:
Text To Speech (TTS) in Six Indian Languages for visually
challenged
• The development of Text-to-speech (TTS) system is one of the major
technology development in India taken by TDIL Programme.
• Release of Text to Speech System with Braille Interface in six Indian Languages :
Hindi , Tamil , Telugu , Bengali , Marathi and Malayalam Languages
• Text to Speech system when integrated with screen reader would enable
visually challenged users to interpret and perform computer operations with
audio interface.
• TTS system integrated with screen reader would be a potential assistive
technology which will help visually challenged section and learning disabled
section of the society to use the benefits of ICT and knowledge sharing.
11
Text To Speech (TTS) : Features
•
Works with both for Windows & Linux
•
Vocabulary Independent
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Random Text in UTF-8/ITRANS/IT3
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Declarative Sentences: Prosody modeling
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Mean Opinion Score (MoS) to be achieved ≥ 3.0
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Integration with Open Source Screen Reader
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Can be used as Web based service in future
Text To Speech (TTS) : Benefits
• Making TTS integrated with screen reader available free of cost would be
beneficial in the following aspects:
• the visually challenged person can perform normal computer applications
such as text processing, internet browsing and sending e-mail
• the TTS technology and can be replicated for other Indian languages and
developed for mobile and wireless devices.
• The TTS and screen reader technology may also be deployed in CSCs and EGovernance applications so that visually challenged section of society can
use the citizen services
Examples
Hindi:
Malayalam:
Marathi:
Other Initiatives in India
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“Guidelines for Indian Government websites” by NIC , Govt. of India.
STQC (standardization testing quality certification) Implementing WCAG 2.0
Accessibility through Website Quality Certification
STQC has certified some websites (Level AA):
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•
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India Portal
Ministry of women & child welfare
Ali Yavar Jung National Institute, Mumbai
• Recommendation by W3C India for incorporation of Web Accessibility The
major challenges involve in inclusive societal growth involves
in
implementation of WCAG 2.0 guidelines & techniques with respect to Indian
languages,
• Understanding WebAccessibility - A Guide to create Accessible Work
Environments by NASSCOM Foundation provides insights and tips on what a
company needs to do for ICT accessibility and the potential benefits
15
Formation of WAI working group
Charter in India
Name of the Charter : “Accessibility Education & Implementation Group”
The Charter would be :
• Build awareness about Accessibility Guidelines and Testing Tools
• Interaction with W3C WAI working group for the inclusion of
Indian languages requirements in the recommendations
• Creating an ecosystem of Accessibility Professionals through
engaging with Educational Institutes across India
• Conducting Awareness and Technical Workshops, Seminars and
Conferences
• Engaging with the Corporate, Government & Academic Sector to
build the case for inclusion
• Developing and Integrating tools that can aid accessibility
Challenges :
• Inclusive societal growth involves
in implementation of WCAG 2.0
guidelines & techniques with respect to Indian languages
•Development of 6 additional TTS engines integrated with screen reader
in other six languages having MOS score 3.0
• development of accessible technologies across devices and platforms
•Stress, intonation, duration modelling for improving quality of synthesis.
•Emotional speech synthesis
•development of localized validation tool for designing of accessible Web
pages
Thanks