Web Browsing Through Adaptive Technology: A Consumer Information Resource

Adaptive Technology Resource Centre UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO, CANADA

Kevin Nguyen Tel: (416) 946-3001  E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PPT Slide

• Interconnected HyperText documents formed

the early World Wide Web.

• Graphical User Interface operating system

• Point and click “simplicity” of the WWW

• Earlier text-based Web Browsers easier to access.

Web Browsing Through Adaptive Technology

PPT Slide

• Graphical User Interface applications

within a Graphical User Interface OS

• Rapid evolution of the web led to lack

of access standards

Web Browsing Through Adaptive Technology

PPT Slide

Universal Internet Access Project

The Adaptive Technology Resource

Centre (ATRC) and the Diversity

Management Directorate (DMD)

reviewed several combinations

of adaptive technologies and

WWW browsers under different

operating systems.

PPT Slide

• Document strengths and weaknesses of controlling

browsers with various adaptive tech and OS.

• Note customizations needed for optimal performance.

• Note keystroke equivalents of all web browsers.

• Work with manufacturers of adaptive tech and

incorporate their feed back.

• Summarize findings into a set of on-line “How-to”

guidelines.

Objectives:

Universal Internet Access Project

PPT Slide

Browsers:

Operating Systems:

• Netscape Navigator 1.1 & 2.0

• MS Internet Explorer 2.0

• NCSA Mosaic

• IBM Web Explorer

• Lynx / Dos Lynx

• Macintosh OS System 7

• MS Windows 95

• MS Windows 3.1

• IBM OS/2 Warp

• MS-DOS and UNIX

Universal Internet Access Project

PPT Slide

Information Dissemination:

Universal Internet Access Project

http://www.utoronto.ca/atrc/uiap/main.htm

• Available in both French and English

• On-line document equivalent to 121 pages of text

PPT Slide

Helps persons with low vision

by enlarging the screen. Runs

atop the computer's operating

system and applications. Some

enlarge the entire screen while

others only enlarge active parts

of a screen.

Screen Magnifiers

• inLARGE with Netscape Navigator for the Macintosh

• ZoomText 5.1 with Netscape Navigator 1.1 in Windows 3.1

• ZoomText 5.1 with Netscape Navigator 2.0 in Windows 95

Universal Internet Access Project

PPT Slide

Scanning Access Methods

Configurable on-screen keyboards/menus that

automatically highlights through choices or groups

of choices. When the highlight falls on the grouping

or choice desired, the user makes the selection,

usually through a switch input.

• Ke:nx Scan with Netscape Navigator for the Macintosh

• WiViK 2.2 with Netscape Navigator 2.0 in Windows 3.1

Universal Internet Access Project

PPT Slide

• Glidepoint ALPS keyboard

• Intellikeys expanded keyboard

• TASH Mini keyboard

(Tested with Netscape and Internet Explorer in the

Macintosh OS,Windows 3.1 or Windows 95)

Alternative Keyboards

Universal Internet Access Project

PPT Slide

Screen Readers

Used by people with visual impairments. Hardware and

software produces synthesized voice output for text displayed

on the computer screen. Allows the user to navigate a

graphical windows environment through audible cueing.

• ASAP with LYNX for DOS under UNIX

• IBM Screen Reader/2 2.0 with IBM Web Explorer 1.03 in OS/2 WARP 3

• Jaws 1.21 with Netscape Navigator 2.0 in Windows 3.1

• Outspoken 1.1 with Netscape Navigator 2.0 in Windows 3.1

• Screen Power 1.1 with Microsoft Internet Explorer 1.6 in Windows 3.1

Universal Internet Access Project

PPT Slide

Voice is the input device. Used to dictate

text or give commands to the computer

(such as opening programs and menus,

or saving work).

Some voice dictation components can

use grammatical context and frequency-

of-use to predict your next word/command.

Voice Recognition

• Dragon Dictate 2.0 with Netscape 2.0 in Windows 95

• Dragon Dictate 1.0 with Netscape 2.0 in Windows 3.1

• Dragon Dictate 1.0 with Internet Explorer in Windows 3.1

• Kurzweil Voice and Kolvox Lawtalk with Netscape 2.0 in Win 3.1

• Power Secretary with Netscape 2.0 for the Mac

Universal Internet Access Project

PPT Slide

• Mini-Morse with Netscape Navigator 2.0 in Windows 3.1

• Mini-Morse with Netscape Navigator for the Macintosh

Morse-Code Input

A binary code that consist of dashes and dots (or long

tones and short tones) used to represent alpha-numeric

characters. Used by some to input keyboard commands

into a computer usually by a switch or sip-and-puff

devices.

Universal Internet Access Project

PPT Slide

• Columns and Frames

• Hypertext Navigation

• Browser Commands

Access Issues Encountered:

PPT Slide

Universal Internet Access Project

Universal Internet Access Project

Columns and Frames

• column text

• invisible tables

• multiple frames

PPT Slide

Universal Internet Access Project

Hypertext Navigation

• Tab navigation of hyperlinks

• create macros and on-screen keyboards

• increased efficiency

PPT Slide

Universal Internet Access Project

Universal Internet Access Project

Broswer Commands

• Direct versus indirect keyboard

equivalents

• Key-combination memorization or...

...navigation of hierarchy

PPT Slide

What needs to be done to increase web

accessibility? Who do we target?
1. Browsers

2. Adaptive Technologies
3. Web Authors
4. Standards

Applied Findings:

PPT Slide

Universal Internet Access Project

Browsers:

• Tab navigation of hyperlinks…

...what other navigation?

…next image, next table, next form field

• Sonification of Browser Events

PPT Slide

Universal Internet Access Project

Adaptive Technologies:

• HTML Aware Access Tools

PPT Slide

Universal Internet Access Project

Web Authors:

• Captioning and in-lining information

(i.e. Alt text and D-tags)

• Web site overviews, Indices / TOCs

• Accessibility prompting authoring tools

• Proper “HTML-grammar”

PPT Slide

Universal Internet Access Project

Standards and Data Types:

• Java applets

• Multimedia files

• Plug-ins

• VRML

• XML

PPT Slide

The Future of Web Access

 

Intelligent Agents:

• Software entities that assist a user, act on their behalf, or automate rote tasks.

• Behavior learned from user’s previous actions,

• Application context sensitive

• Sharing information with other agents.

Intelligent Agents for Web Access:

• Intelligent Agents can act as a moderator between access tool and web application

• Different levels of Agent Automation.

• Blurred boundaries.

Real-time 3D Web Interfaces : Scenario #1

Scenario: User with motor deficit using switch input

Problem: User input is too slow for real time events

Possible Solution: Intelligent Agent presents user’s most likely choices.

Real-time 3D Web Interfaces:Scenario #1

 

Real-time 3D Web Interfaces : Scenario #2

Scenario: Blind person using a screen reader to access a 3D Web environment

Problems:

1. flat audio output

2. visually based controls
3. slow input and response speed

Real-time 3D Web Interfaces : Scenario #2

Possible Solutions:



1. intonation, pitch, voice changes, tones and spatial sonification of objects
2. user-centric perspective, quick key navigation of 3D user interface
3. world alerts, multiple sound channels, hierarchy of descriptors, intelligent agents

Real-time 3D Web Interfaces : Scenario #2

A representation of a possible hierarchy for a screen reader in a 3D environment. The blue boxes indicate areas within the 3D browser itself. The green boxes represent active objects in a world. The red boxes represent static objects within a world. A user could specify more or less detail of any objects and quickly move to and deal with active events.

Real-time 3D Web Interfaces : Scenario #3

Scenario: Hearing impaired person accesses a 3D Web interface

Problem: Missing audio cues and alerts, sound effects and digital speech

Possible Solution: Caption sound effects and digital speech. Visual analog for audio alerts.

PPT Slide

• Forward thinking

• Avoid playing catch-up

• Pro-active access advocacy