A web accessibility service: Update and findings

Abstract

We report here on our progress on a project first described at the ASSETS 2002 conference. At that time, we had developed a prototype system in which a proxy server intermediary was used to adapt Web pages to meet the needs of older adults. Since that report, we field tested the prototype and learned of problems with the proxy approach. We report on the lessons learned from that work and on our new approach towards meeting the Web needs of older adults and users with disabilities. This new software makes adaptations on the client machine, with greater accuracy and speed than was possible with the proxy server approach. It transforms Web pages "on the fly", without requiring that all Web content be re-written. The new software has been in use for a year and we report here on our findings from the usage. We discuss this approach in the context of Web accessibility standards and Web usability. Copyright 2004 ACM.