Category: conference

Accessibility at Google IO 2011

Post author By Dennis
Post date May 16, 2011
4 Comments on Accessibility at Google IO 2011

So I attended the first day of Google I/O 2011, my first time at a Google event. I was glad to hear a fair amount of talk about accessibility. There were at least 3 sessions focusing on the topic (see below) and a breakout area where you can talk with developers.

There was even an accessibility “Developer Sandbox” area which was great. I tried out the ChromeVox screen reader on a Chromebook with help from Google’s Rachel Shearer. I got a quick demo of the built-in TalkBack screen reader on an Android mobile device. Mika Pyyhkala and I were shown the LevelStar braille device running Android. The University of Washington showed off their mobile ASL Android project which used video chat technology.

Some tips for Android development from the sessions are:

In Android code, ensure images, especially ImageButtons, are labeled with contentDescription.
Use standard controls.
Stick with standard or modified views; custom very complex to make accessible.
Ensure all controls reachable with D-pad and Trackball.
Test with screen reader using D-Pad. To turn on, enable accessibility under Settings/Accessibility, then enable Talkback.
Take advantage of device’s “many eyes and ears” for alternative input/output (microphone, speaker, touch screen, camera, GPS)

The sessions specific to accessibility were:

Accessibility: Building Products that Everyone Can Use by Brad Green, Erin Rosenthal (on YouTube)
Leveraging Android Accessibility APIs To Create An Accessible Experience by Charles Chen, T.V. Raman, Tim Credo (on YouTube)
Creating Accessible Interactive Web Apps using HTML5 by Dominic Mazzoni, Rachel Shearer (on YouTube)
Added via comment below: The YouTube Caption API, Speech Recognition, and WebVTT captions for HTML5 by Naomi Black, Cynthia Boedihardjo, Jeffrey Posnick (on YouTube)

More resources:

My Flickr album from Google I/O 2011
Google Accessibility Resources for developers and publishers: APIs, captioning, and standards
Android Developers – Designing for Accessibility
The official Google I/O 2011 announcements

Tim Credo, Charles Chen, and T.V. Raman on stage at Google I/O.

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Podcast #90: Articles, Events, Jobs, Twitter

Post author By Dennis
Post date April 15, 2011
No Comments on Podcast #90: Articles, Events, Jobs, Twitter

Dennis and Ross discuss a variety of topics including recent articles, conferences and events, some accessibility-related job openings and resources, and updates on Accessible Twitter.

Download Web Axe Episode 90 (Articles, Events, Twitter)

Transcript of podcast 90

What’s New

About Ross’ book deal!
TweetList now free with ad support (accessible Twitter iPhone app).
Fixing Alt
- 6 Reasons Bacon Is Better Than True Love
- How one decides to build a web browser

Articles

How blind people see the Internet (MSNBC)
Font Resizing Widgets: A Help or A Hindrance to Accessibility? (Glenda Watson Hyatt)
Accessible Tabs – Part 2: The Solution (Nomensa)
Keyboard Accessibility For Web Applications (Jonathon Snook) Todd Kloots, Yahoo Mail
21 PDF Techniques for WCAG 2.0 (W3C)
Web Accessibility: 10 Common Developer Mistakes by Joe Dolson

Conferences & Events

CSUN Wrapup: Tweetup, student contest, Web Axe Post-CSUN Resources.
John Slatin AccessU Accessibility Conference from Knowbility, May 17-19, Austin, Texas.
Free presentation on Evolving Standards in Accessibility, Wed, May 25, London, UK. A half-day event covering the new British Standard for web accessibility, BSI8878, and the international accessibility standards from W3C, together with practical examples.
jQuery ARIA Hackathon, July 11-12, Toronto.
Future Midwest – April 28th – 29th (UX focus).
Next year no overlap between CSUN and SXSW.

Jobs

Deque Systems seeks 508 Tester on-site in Washington, DC (on WebAIM)
WCAG2 Content & Compliance Officers (Australia)
Dartmouth college seeks an Experience Designer – Accessibility in Boston (on LinkedIn)
AbilityNet seeks Head of Accessibility and Accessibility/Usability Consultants (London, UK)
More:
- New! AT Work job board for accessibility and assistive tech specialties.
- On Twitter, follow @Accessible_jobs and @a11yjobs.

Accessible Twitter Updates

Accessible Twitter over 2 years old!
Accessible Twitter receives AFB 2011 Access Award.. Other recipients are CBS, Lexmark and Walt Disney Parks & Resorts.
Speech from AFB Awards

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Post-CSUN Resources

My last podcast previewed CSUN (The 26th Annual International Technology & Persons with Disabilities Conference), which happened last week. It was a great success. Fortunately a few folks have written great summaries of the event, listed below. Also, I’ve posted some CSUN11 photos on Flickr.

Here are two excellent resources for session presentations and more:

The Great Big List from the 2011 CSUN Conference by Curb Cut.
CSUN 2011 Web highlights by Leonie Watson.

Some notable blog posts:

My March Madness – John Foliot.
CSUN 2011, jour 1 : compte-rendu des conférences (English translation) – Denis Boudreau.
Notes on #csun11 – Joshue O Connor
Lightening Talk on Accessible Twitter updates at CSUN Tweetup – Dennis Lembree.

Suggested presentations relating to web accessibility are:

Accessibility of HTML5 and Rich Internet Applications (WebAIM and The Paciello Group): ARIA Morning Session | ARIA Afternoon Session
Accessible HTML5 media players, captions, audio description and search (PDF) – Terrill Thompson.
Making rich internet applications accessible through jQuery (PDF) – Chris Blouch (AOL) and Hans Hillen (TPG)
Using the barcamp/unconference format – Jennison Asuncion, James Timony and John F Croston.
Improving Web Accessibility for the Elderly – Roger Hudson.
DISTCHA: an attempt to kill CAPTCHA – Vincent François & Samuel Sirois.

Any more to add? Please comment!

Additions

Successfully Integrating Accessibility in your Organization’s Web Development Lifecycle – Denis Boudreau.
Role of engineering best practices to create an inclusive web – Srinivasu Chakravarthula.
CSUN: A recap from the week in San Diego – Technology for the Blind.
CSUN 26th Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference, San Diego – Virtual Imaginings.
IBM CSUN 2011 presentations

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Podcast #89: CSUN 2011 Preview

Post author By Dennis
Post date February 8, 2011
No Comments on Podcast #89: CSUN 2011 Preview

Dennis and special guests Jennison Asuncion (@Jennison) and Jared Smith (@jared_w_smith) discuss the upcoming CSUN conference in San Diego, California, at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel, March 14-19, 2011. The official title and website is: 26th Annual International Technology & Persons with Disabilities Conference.

NOTE: Apologies for the poor quality. (But the content is outstanding!)

Download Web Axe Episode 89 (CSUN 2011 Preview)

Transcript of podcast 89

Sponsor:
Project:Possibility is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating open source software that benefits the disabilities community, and educating students on accessibility and universal design concepts. This is accomplished with the SS12 Code for a Cause: an opportunity for students to make a profound difference by developing innovative, empowering projects for persons with disabilities, as well as the chance to work with industry professionals.

Jennison presenting:

Building IT Accessibility Awareness and Community Using the Barcamp/Unconference Format. Wednesday, 9:20.
Do We Need to Change the Web Accessibility Game Plan? Panel with John Foliot, Sandi Wassmer, and Jennison. Thursday, 3:10.

Jared presenting:

HTML5/ARIA pre-conference workshop w/ Steven Faulkner and Hans Hillen of TPG. All day Tuesday.
Screen Reader Web Accessibility Face-off. Wednesday, 3:10.
Do We Need to Change the Web Accessibility Game Plan? Panel with John Foliot, Sandi Wassmer, and Jennison. Thursday, 3:10.
WebAIM’s Screen Reader User Surveys: Data and Trends. Friday, 8am.
Preview of WAVE 5 on Friday, 10:40.

More info:

There is a (now annual) CSUN Tweet-up Thursday at 6pm. Lightning talks, food, and fun! (Contact Jared if you want to sponsor.)
The Twitter hash tag for the event is “#CSUN11”.
Exhibit Hall-Only entry will be free once again.
CSUN On Lanyrd
CSUN11 on LinkedIn
CSUN11 on Facebook
Saturday morning: Dennis on a panel of judges (Sat morn) for the SS12 Code-A-Thon finals!
Register for CSUN11

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Podcast #88: Quick Start to 2011

Post author By Dennis
Post date January 24, 2011
1 Comment on Podcast #88: Quick Start to 2011

Dennis and Ross discuss the goings on in the Web Axe world, a few good articles, and a few upcoming conferences.

Download Web Axe Episode 88 (Quick Start to 2011)

Transcript of podcast 88

What’s New

Happy New Year! Intro to Web Accessibility Resources
Monthly link archives on hold; try AccessiWatch Weekly RoundUp from Denis Boudreau (@dboudreau)
Hardboiled Web Design (brief review)
Comments on A quick Web Accessibility Checklist
25 Ways To Make Your Website Accessible – and challenges of publishing.

Articles

Play and Say on New HTML5 Logo by host Dennis Lembree.
Testing Accessibility of Pre-populated Input Fields by Terrill Thompson.
Is it Now Acceptable to Require Javascript? and We Haven’t Forgotten About Accessibility Have We? (Monday By Noon)
Bonus! 20 Essential Tools & Tips to an Accessible Website

Conferences

ATIA 2011 Orlando – January 26-29, 2011, Orlando, Florida.
Josephine L. Taylor Leadership Institute (JLTLI) 2011 – March 11-12, 2011, Marriott Renaissance Hotel, Downtown Seattle, Washington.
South by Southwest – Interactive (SXSWi) – March 11-15, Austin, Texas.
CSUN 2011– March 14-19, 2011 at Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel San Diego, California. Dennis on judges panel on that Saturday morning for Code-A-Thon Challenge organized by Project:Possibility.