The Challenge of Accessible Rich Media

Presenters:• Chris Newman• Chris Frost

The role of ERU

Print• Learning guides• Readers• Reports

Multimedia• Websites• CD-ROM• Blackboard

Rich Media

• multimedia + interaction• system that supports the interactive use of text, audio, still images, video, [animation] and graphics

TAMU University, Glossary of Distance Education Terms

Application to accessibility

• Universal Design – good design is inclusive

• multiple modes are inherent in multimedia

www.cast.org

Learning with multimedia

Unique advantages for learning

• Learning preferences• Dual Code• Constructivism• Social Agency• Gaming and Motivation

Learning with multimedia

Unique advantages for learning

• Learning preferences• Dual Code• Constructivism• Social Agency• Gaming and Motivation

Learning with multimedia

Unique advantages for learning

• Learning preferences• Dual Code• Constructivism• Social Agency• Gaming and Motivation

Learning with multimedia

Unique advantages for learning

• Learning preferences • Dual Code• Constructivism• Social Agency• Gaming and Motivation

Exploratory learning

Active Learning

Simulations

Authentic Tasks

Experiential Learning

Learning with multimedia

Unique advantages for learning

• Learning preferences• Dual Code• Constructivism• Social Agency• Gaming and Motivation

Communication tools

Group tools

Learning with multimedia

Unique advantages for learning

• Learning preferences• Dual Code• Constructivism• Social Agency• Gaming and Motivation

Learning with multimedia

Unique advantages for learning

• Learning preferences• Dual Code• Constructivism• Social Agency• Gaming and Motivation

TEDI’s accessibility plan

Colour deficiency

The three types of cone cell in the human eye

The effects of colour deficiency

Colour simulations created with the Visicheck Photoshop plugin, available at http://www.vischeck.com/downloads/

Dealing with colour deficiency

Use shape then colour

Demonstration

Project Tracking System

Accessibility of media: HTML

Issue Support

Blindness Enough thought must be given to semantics and reading order. The user must have their own text-to-speech software.

Low Vision Okay if the designer has allowed for a scalable, liquid layout

Auditory Applies to embedded content and will be discussed later

Motor Enough thought must be given to tab order. Access keys can be added for common navigational controls.

Cognitive Quite good as HTML supports a wide range of media

Accessibility of media: Flash

Issue Support

Blindness Text-to-speech access does not exist in the standalone player. In-browser support is limited to Internet Explorer on PC.

Low Vision HTML style liquid layouts are difficult to achieve. Some other options follow: as this is a vector format, the image, animation or interaction can be

presented in a larger format with no extra download time; the developer can script for zoom functionality if space is at a premium; otherwise the user can resize the containing frame or window.

Auditory Captions can quite easily be added, either directly on the timeline or stored in an external XML document.

Motor Tab order can be defined. Arrow keys can be used to select buttons. For example: the left arrow key

selects will select the next input element to the left. Custom events can even be triggered when the user presses a certain

key. There’s no limit to this keyboard access within the standalone player. The bad news is that the user must click the flash movie with a pointer

device to gain keyboard access in any browser other than Internet Explorer.

Cognitive Allows for text content to be supplemented with images, video, animations or interactions.

Accessibility of media: Director

Issue Support

Blindness Director uses the Operating System’s own speech API directly, so there is no need for dedicated text-to-speech software.

Low Vision HTML style liquid layouts are difficult to achieve. The user can resize the containing window to if the developer has set the content to be scalable.

Auditory Captions can easily be added. A button or keystroke can be specified to allow the user to show or hide captions.

Motor Tab order can be defined. Custom events can even be triggered when the user presses a certain

key.

Cognitive Allows for text content to be supplemented with images, video, animations or interactions.

Questions?