1. aegis concept and realisations workshop v3

AEGIS Workshop and International Conference, Brussels

AEGIS Concept & Realisations

M. F. Cabrera, LST-UPMPeter Korn, Oracle


Where AEGIS comes from

● EC call: FP7-ICT-2007-2

● Objective: ICT-2007.7.2: Accessible & Inclusive ICT

ICT-2007.7.2(a) New approaches and solutions for deeply embedding generalised accessibility support within future mainstream ICT-based products and services. Examples are user interfaces and content representations adaptable to people with specific needs. It includes open, plug & play accessibility architectures and standards enabling a seamless integration of personalised assistive solutions for ICT access. The research is expected to develop and demonstrate the proposed solutions in a realistic user context and strong industrial participation is envisaged to promote consensus building and facilitate exploitation).


Where “AEGIS” comes from

● By the words of the acronym:● open: collaborate with existing communities● Accessibility: focus of the project● Everywhere: desktop, web, mobile● Groundwork: start from users, user needs● Infrastructure: build it in to ICT● Standards: define, then build to standards


AEGIS Concept – build it in

● “deeply embed generalised accessibility support within future mainstream ICT ” = build accessibility into all facets of the “value delivery chain”

● Learn from the built environment:● Need to address “creation” steps:

– What does it mean to be “accessible”, etc.● Need to address “use” steps

– Wheelchair ramps don't help unless people have wheelchairs● Apply to ICT environment: Open Accessibility Framework




AEGIS Concept – generations...

● Accessibility evolving: 3 distinct generations● 1st generation accessibility:

● Character-based systems● 2nd generation accessibility:

● GUI with off-screen models● 3rd generation accessibility:

● “Access by contract” - accessibility APIs


AEGIS Concept – key ICT areas

● ICT on the desktop● Evolving toward 3rd generation● Can 3rd generation meet & exceed best of 2nd?

● ICT on the web – Rich Internet Applications● Need strategies to make RIAs accessible

● ICT on mobile devices● Access to all apps running on mobile● Need to have AT for mobile built-in as well


AEGIS Concept – start from user

● User questionnaires, focus groups● Key emphasis in first two AEGIS workshops● Needs analysis & modeling

● Iterative pilot testing● Comments from users: feedback to development

● Positive feedback loop...


Example of feedback loop - SP3


AEGIS Concept – realisations

● Open Accessibility Framework for desktop● Realized key missing components for the open

desktop of GNU/Linux & UNIX in GNOME● Realized powerful authoring environment for

creating accessible documents: Braille & DAISY● Open Accessibility Framework for RIAs

● Realized fully, but utilizing existing desktop AT● Open Accessibility Framework for mobile

● Realized fully, including mobile AT


AEGIS Shipping Results

● Desktop results● Magnification in GNOME 3; shift to better IPC● Braille & DAISY creation for OpenOffice & LibreOffice● Accessibility validation for OpenOffice & LibreOffice● eSpeak TTS improvements for several languages

● Web RIA results● ARIA 1.0 in CR, for in Firefox Windows & GNU/Linux● Multiple UI component sets supporting ARIA

● Mobile results● Multiple AT available on iOS & Android


AEGIS – plans for year 4

● Desktop plans● CCF for OpenOffice & LibreOffice● Automated accessibility testing framework● OpenGazer: face & eye tracking, gaze switch● Further improvements to shipping results

● Web RIA plans● ARIA development tool plug-in to NetBeans● JavaFX accessibility & tooling

● Mobile plans● Multiple UI component sets, Java mobile platform● Developer tools using NetBeans & LWUIT Resource Editor● AAC assistive technology for mobile

1. aegis concept and realisations workshop v3

Technology