The AEGIS project seeks to determine whether 3rd generation access techniques will provide a more accessible, more exploitable and deeply embeddable approach in mainstream ICT (desktop, rich Internet and mobile applications). This approach is developed and explored with the Open Accessibility Framework (OAF) through which aspects of the design, development and deployment of accessible mainstream ICT are addressed. The OAF provides embedded and built-in accessibility solutions, as well as toolkits for developers, for “engraving” accessibility in existing and emerging mass-market ICT-based products, thus making accessibility open, plug and play, personalised and configurable, realistic and applicable in various contexts; AEGIS is placing users and their needs at the centre of all ICT developments. Based on a holistic UCD, AEGIS identifies user needs and interaction models for several user groups, (users with visual, hearing, motion, speech and cognitive impairments as well as application developers) and develops open source-based generalised accessibility support into mainstream ICT devices/applications:
- desktop,
- rich web applications, and
- Java-based mobile devices.
All developments will be iteratively tested with a significant number of end users, developers and experts in 3 phases and 4 Pilot sites Europe wide (in Belgium, Spain, Sweden and the UK).
The project includes strong industrial and end user participation (the participating industries are among the market leaders in the corresponding mainstream ICT markets). The project results’ uptake is promoted by strong standardization activities, as well as the fact that much of the technology results will be either new open source applications or will be built into existing and already widely adopted open source ICT.
AEGIS video presents project outcomes
This video outlines the work carried out by the AEGIS project during its 4 years, and summarizes the different outcomes in the domains of web, desktop and mobile. This is explored in the video using the Open Accessibility Framework (OAF) as basis through which aspects of the design, development and deployment of accessible mainstream ICT have been addressed. These are presented by Peter Korn, Technical Manager of the AEGIS project, and Accessible Principle at Oracle.
AEGIS Open Accessibility Framework - Open Accessibility Everywhere
This video outlines AEGIS' Open Accessibility Framework (OAF) through which aspects of the design, development and deployment of accessible mainstream ICT have been realised in the domains of web, desktop and mobile. These are presented by Peter Korn, Technical Manager of the AEGIS project, and Accessible Principle at Oracle during his speech at the 2nd and final AEGIS pan-European Conference on 29 November 2011 in Brussels, Belgium.