AEGIS Open Accessibility FrameworkAEGIS released the Open Accessibility Framework (D1.2.1 AEGIS OAF and high-level architecture). It consists of two things:
This Deliverable (D1.2.1) contains the initial AEGIS Open Accessibility Framework (OAF) description. It is based upon:
In addition, this Deliverable is informed by the early feedback from AEGIS consortium developments – highlighting anticipated areas that the OAF will necessarily need to cover. This includes:
Finally, this Deliverable is informed by developments in the field of accessibility external to AEGIS development work. This includes:
This initial OAF description will be updated throughout the remainder of the AEGIS project with the practical information we gain from implementing it in the desktop, web, and mobile space. For more information, visit the OAEG OAF section. It outlines the Six Steps to Making an Accessible World: The Open Accessibility Framework. AEGIS Workshop and Conference - full coverage availableThe AEGIS Workshop and Conference on 28-29-30 November was a major success. Full coverage of the event (including all presentations) is available via the event website and the Facebook page. The papers have been published on 7 December in the proceedings (accessible PDF), and is also available via the conference website. All slides are also available as embeddable slideshows (Flash). AEGIS Workshop and Conference brochure availableThe AEGIS Programme booklet is now available in PDF format, and provides an overview and practical information of the Workshop and Conference days on 28-29-30 November 2011. Download the AEGIS Programme booklet (pdf) AEGIS Newsletter 6 availableWe just released our newsletter (n°6), which focuses on the current achievements in the project, and provides an in-depth analysis of the European AT industry, and how the needs of the end-users are not always met by the AT industry. You can download it here (accessible PDF format). AEGIS Conference online coverageThe full coverage of the AEGIS Conference can be traced via:
Odt2braile SourceForge Project of the MonthOdt2braille has been made SourceForge Project of the Month, April 2011. A complete blog was dedicated to this on http://sourceforge.net/blog/potm-201104/. Odt2braille is being developed in the context of the AEGIS project. Dasher v2.2 for the Google Android platform releasedCambridge University and the AEGIS project are pleased to announce the release of Dasher v2.2 for the Google Android platform. Dasher is a text entry method based on advanced language modelling techniques, suitable for users including those with motor impairments and/or limited dexterity. This release allows efficient text entry with pointing or finger gestures, requiring less accuracy than onscreen or reduced-size keyboards; via tilt or accelerometer control, requiring no screen contact; or using any number from 1 to 9 buttons (physical, onscreen, or external bluetooth), including information conveyed by the timing of button pushes for users capable of such. Odt2Braille and odt2daisy now also available on OpenOffice.org extensions siteOdt2braille is a Braille extension to OpenOffice.org Writer and will enable authors to print documents to a Braille embosser and to export documents as Braille files. The Braille output is well-formatted and highly customizable. The odt2daisy extension is a direct outcome of the AEGIS project. More information on the Odt2braille website. Odt2braille is now also available on the OpenOffice.org extensions site. Odt2daisy is an OpenOffice.org Writer extension, enabling to export in DAISY 3 format, including support of Mathematical content conforming to the MathML standard. DAISY is an NISO Z39.86 standard for blind, visual impaired, print-disabled, and learning-disabled people. The odt2daisy extension is a direct outcome of the AEGIS project. More information on the Odt2Daisy website. Odt2daisy is now also available on the OpenOffice.org extensions site. AEGIS featured in Ability MagazineAbility, the magazine about technology for disabled people, will publish a feature on European developments in assistive technology in its winter edition. The article includes a report on the October Aegis conference in Seville, available in advance to conference delegates. Ability is a quarterly English language publication supported by the British Computer Society and UBS. For a subscription go to www.abilitymagazine.org.uk. About AEGIS
All developments will be iteratively tested with a significant number of end users, developers and experts in 3 phases and 4 Pilot sites Europe wide (in Belgium, Spain, Sweden and the UK). |
The AEGIS project seeks to determine whether 3rd generation access techniques will provide a more accessible, more exploitable and deeply embeddable approach in mainstream ICT (desktop, rich Internet and mobile applications). This approach is developed and explored with the Open Accessibility Framework (OAF) through which aspects of the design, development and deployment of accessible mainstream ICT are addressed. The OAF provides embedded and built-in accessibility solutions, as well as toolkits for developers, for “engraving” accessibility in existing and emerging mass-market ICT-based products, thus making accessibility open, plug and play, personalised and configurable, realistic and applicable in various contexts; AEGIS is placing users and their needs at the centre of all ICT developments. Based on a holistic UCD, AEGIS identifies user needs and interaction models for several user groups, (users with visual, hearing, motion, speech and cognitive impairments as well as application developers) and develops open source-based generalised accessibility support into mainstream ICT devices/applications:
