Afra Pascual

Building a Usable and Accessible Semantic Web Interaction Platform

Semantic Web applications take off is being slower than expected, at least with respect to “real-world” applications and users. One of the main reasons for this lack of adoption is that most Semantic Web user interfaces are still immature from the usability and accessibility points of view. This is due to the novelty of these technologies, but this also motivates the exploration of alternative interaction paradigms, different from the “traditional” Web or Desktop applications ones. Our proposal is realized in the Rhizomer platform, which explores the possibilities of the object–action interaction paradigm at the Web scale. This paradigm is well suited for heterogeneous resource spaces such as those common in the Semantic Web. Resources, described by metadata, correspond to the objects in the paradigm. Semantic web services, which are dynamically associated to these objects, correspond to the actions. The platform is being put into practice in the context of a research project in order to build an open application for media distribution based on Semantic Web technologies. Moreover, its usability and accessibility have been evaluated in this real setting and compared to similar systems.

Impact of Accessibility Barriers on the Mood of Blind, Low-vision and Sighted Users

Two versions of a website, a non-accessible site (NA-website) and an accessible site (A-website), were tested by 13 participants who were: a) blind users, b) low-vision users and c) users without identified disabilities. The mood of the users and their interaction efficiency, effectiveness and satisfaction were recorded as they encountered several web content accessibility barriers. Results show which elements were the major causes of frustration to each user group, and how blind users displayed less criticism than expected to the barriers.

Methodology for identifying and solving accessibility related issues in web content management system environments

This work presents a methodology that allows identifying and solving accessibility related issues in web pages using Web Content Management System (CMS) environments. In this sense, the methodology establishes a series of steps to be performed in order to ensure that the content managed by CMSs is accessible. A study has been performed on two different CMSs to check the validity of the steps defined in the methodology. The paper includes the methodology used, the evaluation performed on both CMS (OpenCMS and Typo3) and the key findings of the analysis. The results of the study have been positive as the objective of providing CMS environments that allow developing accessible web pages has been fulfilled.

Influence of web content management systems in web content accessibility

Web Content Management Systems (CMS) are traditionally used in institutions to allow web content management by people without technical skills. This study intends to check the influence of the CMS in the accessibility of the contents they handle. First, an accessibility analysis of six widely used CMS is performed base don the Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG). Second, an accessibility analysis of a series of city council web pages managed by abovementioned CMS by using Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Results of the study show that although web pages managed by the CMS with a better degree of ATAG fulfilment provide better accessibility, there is no direct correlation between results obtained in both evaluations. Information about what aspects cause accessibility errors in the CMS and the impact of such aspects in accessible web content management is also provided.

Reflections and proposals to improve the efficiency of accessibility efforts

This paper presents a critical analysis of the current socio-economic situation associated with the technology used by disabled people. It explains how companies, funding agencies, and users can promote good practices for overcoming existing barriers. In addition, the article discusses different considerations with the intention of forcing the reader to rethink of accessibility more as a philosophical change rather than a technological contribution.

Engineering Accessibility in Web Content Management System Environments

Law in most countries around the world enforces accessibility requirements in websites, mainly the ones related with public administration. Evaluating accessibility is a long and laborious process that requires manual evaluation. In Web 2.0 environments, the great amount of data generated by users makes necessary further effort in order to validate web content accessibility. This paper introduces an accessibility evaluation methodology based on web content accessibility analysis and the study of web content management by users in Web Content Management System (CMS) environments. The main aim of proposed approach is to optimize the accessibility evaluation process by minimizing the effort it takes to achieve a certain accessibility level. Proposed methodological approach is used as the basis for a generic framework, which is intended to engineer accessibility in all kind of CMS environments. Proposed framework also suggests corrective accessibility maintenance activities for webmasters who are interested in the improvement of the accessibility. The paper how a prototype developed following the framework works in a concrete CMS environment.