London event to focus on Web 2.0 accessibility
Published: 03 Apr 2008 11:28 BST
An upcoming event in London will focus on the accessibility challenges posed by Web 2.0.
"Accessibility 2.0: a million flowers bloom" will take place at City University on 25 April. The name contains a reference to the words of TV Raman, a blind research scientist at Google, who has apparently described the development of Web 2.0 applications as "the blooming of a million flowers".
Read this
Web 2.0: A step backwards for accessibility?
Social networking is seen as the next logical step for the web, but online communities run the risk of echoing real-life discrimination...
The London event will pay particular attention to the use of online applications, both by those with disabilities and also by those using "non-standard" equipment, such as handheld devices. The event is being run by AbilityNet, a charity dealing with the use of technology by those with disabilities.
"As a blind person, I choose accessible sites over those which present me and the access technology I use with problems," said AbilityNet's web services manager, Robin Christopherson. "If today's website designers, developers and managers do not put accessibility at the top of the agenda now, Web 2.0 will herald a new generation of obstacles for disabled people, rather than the more democratic future it has the potential to deliver."
Did you find this article useful?
2 out of 2 people found this useful
Digg
Slashdot
Del.ici.ous
Stumble
Reddit
