Theme and scope
Networked consumer devices and services can represent a technological and digital barrier for consumers with disabilities. At the same time, they can be exploited so as to become enabling tools for those users. This workshop addresses a range of research issues involving the accessibility of devices and services/content.
This workshop invites scientists, engineers and decision-makers from government, industry and academia to present technical papers on their research and development results in areas of accessibility, including but not limited to the following topics:
- Accessible applications, devices/assistive technologies
- Accessible services: e-learning, e-commerce, e-banking, e-gov, e-travel, etc.
- Accessible content: e-books, e-braille, accessible broadcasting, metaverse, etc.
All the topics of the main conference can be addressed in this workshop from a different point of view, with the aim of meeting the specific needs of people with disabilities. This represents a specific challenge, facing with alternative, inclusive technologies, alternative ways of interaction, and alternative digital content.
Accessible applications, devices/assistive technologies
Assistive technologies refer to all the assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and promote greater independence by enabling people to perform tasks that they were formerly unable to accomplish, or had great difficulty accomplishing, by providing enhancements to, or changing methods of interacting with, the technology needed to accomplish such tasks. They can be exploited with alternative and non-common way of interaction. They can be intended as hardware or software that can be used to equip a PC or other kinds of devices (smartphones, tablets, interactive TVs, kiosks, gaming consoles, interactive boards, etc.).
On the one hand, the widespread diffusion of new devices and technologies stimulates industries and researchers in finding and applying new solutions so as to make them accessible to anyone. On the other hand, experiences in the accessibility related fields have been exploited and have provided benefits to users equipped with non-conventional devices when they emerged in the market (e.g. responsive designed interfaces provided benefits to mobile users equipped with devices with limited display size).
Accessible services (e-learning, e-commerce, e-banking, etc. and accessible content: e-books, accessible TV, e-braille, metaverse, accessible broadcasting, etc)
E-services and content often require specific technologies and can be bounded by specific constraints when they are accessed by people with disabilities equipped with assistive technologies. Particular interaction modalities may affect interactive services access. Richness and quantity of content may affect the users’ ability to process information. Moreover, due to contingent factors, everybody can become situationally impaired. Solutions may be designed and adopted to make e-services and content accessible, taking into account the use of new emerging devices.
The workshop is of interest to the conference participants because it would give the chance of facing the same main conference topics, but from a different point of view, taking into account specific technological constraints and barriers. It is well-known that the so-called “curb cut effect” can be applied to any technological and digital context (in terms of devices and of content and services): curb cuts are intended for wheelchair users to be able to get on sidewalks, but they also help bicyclists, parents with strollers, delivery people, senior citizens and several other groups of people. Similarly, technologies which were originally meant to benefit people with disabilities can help any other users. Moreover, the history and the evolution of several technologies have been influenced and/or motivated by the special needs of people with disabilities.
This workshop gives participants the opportunity of facing stimulating challenges, letting emerging new and innovative solutions and ideas that could provide benefits to anyone, as well as curt cubs do.
