[Draft] Evaluation and Repair Tools Working Group (ERT WG) Charter
The mission of the Evaluation and Repair Tools Working Group (ERT WG), part of the WAI Technical Activity, is to develop techniques and resources to facilitate tool-supported evaluation and repair of websites (including web content, applications, and mobile websites) with regard to their conformance to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). This includes all web technologies and technical domains addressed by WCAG. This mission is complementary to the work of other Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) groups within the WAI Technical Activity and the WAI International Program Office Activity.
| End date | 31 December 2017 |
|---|---|
| Confidentiality | Proceedings are Public. |
| Initial Chair | Shadi Abou-Zahra (W3C) |
| Initial Team Contact (FTE %: 10) |
Shadi Abou-Zahra |
| Usual Meeting Schedule | Teleconferences: Weekly Face-to-face: None to twice annually |
Scope
ERT WG's scope of work includes:
- Updating and maintaining data in the list of web accessibility evaluation and repair tools, in particular with information on tools that support WCAG 2.0 (Note: web page, including filtering functionality and presentation of the data will be maintained by the Education and Outreach Working Group (EOWG));
- Continue to co-develop Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology (WCAG-EM) 1.0 (WG Note) with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Working Group (WCAG WG);
- Developing Guide to Features of Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools (WG Note);
- Developing WCAG 2.0 test samples, primarily intended to benchmark the support of tools for WCAG 2.0 evaluation and repair, possibly as follow-on work to the accessibility support database;
- Developing the Evaluation and Report Language (EARL) 1.0 (WG Rec.) including its supporting documents (WG Notes), a machine-readable language for reporting test results;
- Exploring mechanisms and protocols to facilitate the exchange of EARL data between evaluation, authoring, and quality assurance tools to support the production of accessible web content;
- Exploring mechanisms and protocols for a machine readable and vendor-independent test description language for web content accessibility;
- Providing input into possible extensions to the W3C Markup Validation Service related to accessibility evaluation and repair;
- Contribute input where appropriate on future development of WAI guidelines and specifications
Consistent with W3C Process requirements on Task Forces, the ERT WG may form task forces composed of ERT WG participants or join other W3C task forces to carry out assignments when under the chartered scope of ERT WG. Any such task force must have a work statement (including objectives, communication, participation, and leadership) that has been announced on the ERT WG mailing list, approved by the ERT WG, and is available from the ERT WG home page. ERT WG task forces should produce requirements documents that outline the scope and expectations for work. Task forces may set up separate teleconferences and hold face-to-face meetings per the W3C process and with the approval of the ERT WG.
Success Criteria
- Up-to-date data in the list of web accessibility evaluation and repair tools with information on tools that support WCAG 2.0;
- Completion of Guide to Features of Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools as a W3C Working Group Note;
- Availability of a WCAG 2.0 Test Samples Repository to help benchmark web accessibility evaluation and repair tools for WCAG 2.0;
- Completion and maintenance of the Evaluation and Report Language (EARL) 1.0 (WG Rec.), including its supporting documents (WG Notes);
- Availability of test suites for Evaluation and Report Language (EARL) 1.0, including test suites for its supporting documents;
- Availability of software tools that implement Evaluation and Report Language (EARL) 1.0, including its supporting documents;
- Availability of evaluation tools that support the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0;
Deliverables
W3C Technical Reports
- Guide to Features of Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools as a W3C Working Group Note
- Requirements for the Evaluation and Report Language (EARL) 1.0 as a W3C Working Group Note
- Evaluation and Report Language (EARL) 1.0 Schema as W3C Recommendation
- Evaluation and Report Language (EARL) 1.0 Guide as a W3C Working Group Note
- HTTP Vocabulary in RDF 1.0 as a W3C Working Group Note
- Representing Content in RDF 1.0 as a W3C Working Group Note
- Pointer Methods in RDF 1.0 as a W3C Working Group Note
Other Deliverables
- Issues List for EARL 1.0
- Test Suites for EARL 1.0
- Information about implementations for EARL 1.0
- Accessibility support database, co-developed with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Working Group (WCAG WG)
- WCAG 2.0 Test Samples Repository
- Data input for the list of web accessibility evaluation and repair tools
- Note: web page, including filtering functionality and presentation of the data will be maintained by the Education and Outreach Working Group (EOWG);
Milestones
W3C Recommendations
The following W3C Recommendations will be produced by ERT WG:
| Specification | FPWD | WD | LC | CR | PR | Rec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluation and Report Language (EARL) 1.0 Schema | 9 September 2005 | 27 September 2006, 23 March 2007, 28 April 2009, 29 October 2009, 10 May 2011 |
Q4 2015 | Q2 2016 | Q4 2016 | Q1 2017 |
Note: The group will document significant changes from this initial schedule on the group home page.
W3C Working Group Notes
The supporting EARL 1.0 W3C Working Group Notes (Evaluation and Report Language (EARL) 1.0 Guide, HTTP Vocabulary in RDF 1.0, Representing Content in RDF 1.0, and Pointer Methods in RDF 1.0) will be published together with the next publications of EARL 1.0 Schema as a full package.
The Working Group plans to publish Guide to Features of Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools as a W3C Working Group Note in January 2015 and update it annually as needed.
Dependencies
W3C Groups
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Working Group (WCAG WG) -- coordinating on the development of guidance on conformance evaluation of WCAG 2.0;
- Education and Outreach Working Group (EOWG) -- coordinating on development and maintenance of the WAI list of Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools;
ERT WG also intends to liaise with relevant W3C Groups, in particular for the development of EARL 1.0 and its supporting documents.
Participation
To be successful, the Evaluation and Repair Tools Working Group is expected to have 5 or more active participants for its duration. Effective participation to Evaluation and Repair Tools Working Group is expected to consume 4 hours per week for each participant. Participants of the Evaluation and Repair Tools Working Group will also allocate the necessary resources for building Test Suites for each specification.
Participants are reminded of the Good Standing requirements of the W3C Process.
Communication
This group participates in the WAI Coordination Group (WAI CG). In the event that Coordination Groups are discontinued under W3C Process, it will continue to coordinate directly with other WAI groups.
This group primarily conducts its work on the public mailing list public-wai-ert@w3.org (archive).
Information about the group (deliverables, participants, face-to-face meetings, teleconferences, etc.) is available from the Evaluation and Repair Tools Working Group home page.
Decision Policy
As explained in the Process Document (section 3.3), this group will seek to make decisions when there is consensus. When the Chair puts a question and observes dissent, after due consideration of different opinions, the Chair should record a decision (possibly after a formal vote) and any objections, and move on.
Patent Policy
This Working Group operates under the W3C Patent Policy (5 February 2004 Version). To promote the widest adoption of Web standards, W3C seeks to issue Recommendations that can be implemented, according to this policy, on a Royalty-Free basis.
For more information about disclosure obligations for this group, please see the W3C Patent Policy Implementation.
About this Charter
ERT WG was originally chartered in 1998 and has been rechartered three times since then. This charter represents a continuation of the work done under the previous charters: charter of June 1998, charter of June 2001, charter of January 2005, and previous charter of July 2010.
This charter for the Evaluation and Repair Tools Working Group has been created according to section 6.2 of the Process Document. In the event of a conflict between this document or the provisions of any charter and the W3C Process, the W3C Process shall take precedence.
Primary changes in this charter include:
- More focus on web accessibility evaluation tool development
- Added Accessibility Support Database (provisional title)
- Exploration of potential protocols and APIs around EARL 1.0