AEGIS

ÆGIS (Open Source-based Generalised Accessibility Support for Mainstream ICT) aims to make devices like desktop computers, mobile phones and internet applications more accessible to people with disabilities. The project will produce assistive software that can be built into mainstream devices. It will also create tool kits for software developers. ÆGIS will place users and their needs at the centre of all ICT developments through a User Centred Design (UCD) process.

Visit the ÆGIS project web site.Report on the ist Pan-European Workshop by Steve Lee

ÆGIS aims to develop and explore this approach with the Open Accessibility Framework (OAF) addressing aspects of the design, development and deployment of accessible mainstream ICT. The OAF provides embedded and built-in accessibility solutions, as well as toolkits for developers, for embedding accessibility into existing and emerging mass-market ICT-based products. This should make accessibility: open, plug & play personalised & configurable realistic & applicable in a range of contexts.

ÆGIS will identify user needs and interaction models for several user groups, (users with visual, hearing, motion, speech and cognitive impairments as well as application developers) and will develop open source-based generalised accessibility support into mainstream ICT devices/applications: Desktop, W3C/WAI standards-abiding accessible rich web applications Embedded generalised accessibility in terms of user interfaces and applications running in standard as well as rich featured cell phones and PDAs. All developments will be iteratively tested with end users, developers and experts in three phases and 4 Pilot sites Europe-wide (in Belgium, Spain, Sweden and UK).

The UK partners are The ACE Centre and RNIB. The project includes strong industrial and end users participation, the participating Industries are among the market leaders in the corresponding mainstream ICT markets.

The project results’ uptake will be promoted by strong standardization activities, as well as an Open Accessibility Everywhere Group (OAEG) that will live beyond the project lifetime, bringing together end users and developers in some form of rating system assessing accessibility and usability of mainstream ICT.

For more information please contact David Colven at the ACE Centre.

Last updated: 30/06/09