Position paper for the workshop MOBILE WEB
INITIATIVE
By
Enrique Varela
Member of the SC of WAI and AC of W3C
In
the name of FUNDACION ONCE
- The web is getting more and more ouside of the PCs environment
- Technologies created by W3C have been
always more than a helping hand for disabled people
- The guidelines from WAI had helped and
are helping designers, programmers and website managers to make more and
develop services available for all, including disabled
people.
- Principals of W3C had been a crucial
pilar to support and maintain a system in
wich everybody can access with no matter what
computer, country, tech level etc.
- Disabled people had almost reach a world
full of services and opportunities to get more and more integrated with
these technologies in the society giving it by their side, their
knowledge and ideas, being members of this society with the same rights
and duties.
- Disabled people had done a long way
getting access to the new world that the INTERNET
is.
- Now, new technologies are cropping up
getting disabled people more than one step back
- W3C has to be once again two steps
forward to get all people involved in the new INTERNET dimension caused
by the needs portable devices will demand in the near
future.
- Portable devices such as PDAs or Mobile Phones are the new barrier for some
of disabled people, especially for blind people and those who have big
problems moving hands.
- Even when some of the new OSsfor these devices have
accessibility capabilities, almosnt none of
them are able to get the websites properly.
- Now, blind people can exchange SMSs, navigate their agendas, getting calls nowing who is calling… But it is not possible for
them browsing the web with their Mobile Phones.
- Ergonomy is being a big problem for disabled
people as well. It is getting difficult to type with the new
keyboards.
- Design for all is many times forgotten
when new devices are lounched.
- W3C and the manufactures should get
more deep on these
problems.
- W3C needs to create standars on accessible websites on portable
devices.
- Evenm W3C should hav a close contac with
technologies such as semantic conversational
interfaces.