We want to:
Main project activities include:
WAI-AGE Web site published
WAI-AGE Task Force established under the Education and Outreach Working Group
Mailing list established Standards harmonisation work underway
Literature collection and analysis underway
WAI-AGE is looking at the issues for the elderly from the perspective of the existing WAI guidelines:
Essential Components of Web Accessibility explains the relationships between the Guidelines and Web developers and users:
W3C has been promoting Web accessibility since 1997:
Works well for people with disabilities
… but what about the elderly?
USA:
UN:
Many countries accept:
Studies of the elderly also need to account for:
WAI-AGE is primarily considering the needs of the elderly who have limitations
The European population is aging:
For decade by decade detail, the following chart comes from EuroStat:
Age | 1960 |
1970 |
1980 |
1990 |
2000 |
2010 |
2020 |
2030 |
2040 |
2050 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0-14 years | 25.3% |
24.8% |
22.1% |
19.2% |
17.2% |
15.5% |
14.8% |
14.0% |
13.5% |
13.4% |
15-64 years | 64.7% |
63.5% |
64.4% |
66.9% |
67.1% |
66.9% |
64.5% |
61.3% |
58.3% |
56.7% |
65-79 years | 8.5% |
9.9% |
11.2% |
10.7% |
12.3% |
12.9% |
14.9% |
17.5% |
19.0% |
18.5% |
80+ years | 1.5% |
1.8% |
2.3% |
3.2% |
3.4% |
4.7% |
5.8% |
7.2% |
9.2% |
11.4% |
Source: European Commission (2007), The social situation in the European Union 2005-2006, 60p (PDF, 1.5Mb)
More older persons than younger soon:
‘Silver surfers’ are an increasingly important market segment
Web is ubiquitous:
Web provides support for participation - at work and at home
Common ageing processes often result in:
Many older people experience multiple sensory losses and functional impairments
These changes are often incremental and many older people's self image does not necessarily reflect that they may have a disability
Level of Hearing Loss |
50+ yrs |
70+ yrs |
---|---|---|
Some kind of hearing loss: |
41.7% |
71.1% |
• mild hearing loss |
21.6% |
26.7% |
• moderate hearing loss |
16.8% |
36.8% |
• severe hearing loss |
2.7% |
6.3% |
• profound hearing loss |
0.6% |
1.3% |
Source: RNID statistics
Searching Web and Bibliographic databases
Still analysing this literature, but some themes emerging …
Many studies with findings and recommendations, however:
WAI has internationally accepted standards for Web accessibility with lots of support developed outside WAI
Many studies found cognitive issues the overwhelming barrier:
Usability and technical vs usable accessibility discussed by some authors
Andrew’s aunt (in her 80s) recently wrote:
"I wish you were around here to show this geriatric how to really use the computer. Last night I was trying to get something I need via googla and it nearly drove me crazy and I didn't get it in the end. So many things happen on it when i am doing ordinary things and I never know why it does them and I can't always sort it out."
Use of assistive technology often rejected or not considered:
Ageing guidelines recommendations include:
Do many of these sound familiar?
They also contain recommendations on:
Some of these factors may be relevant to WCAG’s advisory techniques or other educational materials
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