EUAIN 1 European Accessible Information Network George Ioannidis, TZI Bremen April 2005 JTC 1 SWG-A N 003

EUAIN 2 Introduction Overview of ‘accessible content’ concepts Overview of EUAIN Network: core idea, user needs, key issues, legacy Work in progress Pointers for the future

EUAIN 3 Useful Meaning: Context of information improved, enhanced meaning, greater perception Research: Integrated solutions, greater user interaction, better methodologies, new standards User Interaction: Reduced extra effort, enhanced interaction for user with content accessible content Convergence: More integrated systems, specialised and general approaches brought together

EUAIN 4 EUAIN Network

EUAIN 5 User Needs Addressed: Long term improvement to policy, legislation and practice resulting in improvements to accessible information supply chains Key Issues: Standards, Protection, Production Procedures, Tools, Information Networks, Training and Learning Legacy: Set of guidelines, best Practice and Policies (CEN/ISSS) Core Idea: To provide knowledge and best practice in Accessible Information to the publishing industry.

EUAIN 6 Stimulating Convergence Content providers: common problems (structuring data, workflow support, DRM mechanisms, secure distribution platforms...) accessibility community: common issues (structuring data, accessibility from scratch, DRM lite, trusted intermediaries...) standards community: emerging standards (eg MPEG4/7/21, RDF) umbrella initiatives such as JTC1 SWA Methods and Legislation: Design 4 All, eInclusion, EC Copyright directive, section Convergence at technical, regulatory and political levels

EUAIN 7 Work in Progress Building stakeholder communities WS Accessible Document Processing (at CEN, to be launched in May 2005) Webportal: accessible content management system Forging links with content creators/providers across sectors, public and private Emphasis on Open Source Systems development Emerging issues: interaction, communication, perception, semantic interoperability

EUAIN 8 Summary Need to approach ‘accessibility’ with an open focus and within wider organisational priorities and strategies Need for awareness of mainstream developments Need to encourage convergence and integration Everyone encouraged to join in: All suggestions welcome!

EUAIN 9 Implementations: From small plugins and programs to full operating systems and everything in between Solution: Moving towards more integrated software, preaching accessible information processing and design for all methodologies, working on policy, legislation and best practice. Core Idea: Extra effort required to communicate information to niche user markets accessibility Key Problems: When accessible solutions are implemented as add-ons and specialist software, constant problems will be caused by Operating system updates and changes in software standards

EUAIN 10 Useful Meaning: Based on the context and the knowledge brought to the perception of the information a meaning is associated with the content Information about content: The surrounding information associated with content is essential to accessibility. This can range from information like the title, to information on how to present the minute details in a tactile in a tactile drawing. Accessing Content: Intuitive solutions to access content in formats suitable for every user’s needs Perceiving content: Receiving enough content and information about the content (metadata) to attach a useful meaning to the content Content