Web technologies are advancing to realize more dynamic and interactive user experiences for a wide range of users, in forms such as wikis, blogs, podcasting, movies, AJAX applications, and so on. However, basic verbalization and non-visual interaction techniques have not changed over this period. Now is the time for innovative new voice browsers. We would like to call for new, innovative voice access interfaces for Web contents. We want to gather various types of next generation voice browsers, and demonstrate the future of more usable voice access systems. Referees will score each system by novelty and achieved usability, and decide on a best access interface award for the submissions. Additional special awards will be considered, too.

The Selected Challenge Submissions for 2007 are:

• Making Multimedia Content Accessible for Screen Reader Users - Abstract / Media
• The HearSay Non-Visual Web Browser - Abstract / Media
• Using a CMS to create fully accessible websites - Abstract / Media
• (Natural Language) Interaction with Graphical Representations of Statistical Data - Abstract / Media
• The Status of using "Big Eye" Chinese Screen Reader on "Wretch" Blog in Taiwan - Abstract / Media
• Ajax Live Regions: ReefChat Using the Fire Vox Screen Reader as a Case Example - Abstract / Media
  

Submission are now CLOSED

• The deadline for submissions is March 31st. Submissions should be sent via email. Address for submissions: challenge-submission@w4a.info
• Mandatory components for a submission are a two-page abstract and a demonstration movie (or audio recording). Software is not required, but encouraged. Abstracts should emphasize the innovative ideas in the system.
• Abstracts should be in ACM/W4A paper format, since abstracts will be published in the proceedings. Abstracts and movies will be stored in the ACM Digital Library.
• If you have any trouble sending large movie files via e-mail, please contact the coordinators (contact address: challenge@w4a.info).
• A presentation and demonstration session will be part of the W4A event, and so at least one of the authors is expected to attend the conference.
• The demonstration movies should also be non-visually accessible, since some of referees are blind.

System requirements

• Any kind of system is acceptable, such as standalone voice browsers, browser plug-ins, or telephony systems. Other non-visual access browsers can be accepted (e.g. tactile browser). Please contact us, if you have any questions about the coverage.
• All submissions must handle standard HTML. Functional limitations are acceptable (e.g. lack of form input functions). Optimizations for some specific content are welcomed. Additional content types are highly welcomed, such as DHTML, Flash, SVG, or OpenDocument Format.
• Open source systems are welcomed.
• Editing functions are not required, but a simple input editing function for forms is encouraged. Rich editing functions will not be considered in the scoring.

Contact:

• Chieko Asakawa (IBM Research)
• Hironobu Takagi (IBM Research)
• challenge@w4a.info