The "Web Accessibility Challenge", sponsored since 2008 by Microsoft, is organised to give an opportunity to researchers and developers of advanced Web accessibility technologies for showcasing their technologies to technical leaders in this area not only from academia and industry but also from end-users. We would like to encourage and accelerate development of innovative and practically usable Web accessibility technologies.
Population demographics indicate that our populations are ageing across the board. As the population ages the financial requirement to work longer is increased, but the ability to work longer is reduced because disability becomes a bar to employment. With the growth of the knowledge economy, and a move from manual work to more thought and communication based activities, there is the very real possibility of older Web users being able to finding productive, fulfilling, and social empowering employment; if only technology, and specifically the Web, where available to them. An ageing but Web literate population indicates a large market for online shopping and services especially when mobility is a problem for the shopper. In this case we wonder how this new population will interact with Web based resources, and what new problems in accessibility will there be to overcome?
Submissions can be related to the theme, "Accessibility Technologies for Older Users", but it is certainly not a requirement as all accessibility technologies are welcomed for the challenge
Submission materials
- Two-page abstract (see the W4A submission page - http://www.w4a.info/2009/submissions.shtml)
- Demonstration movie (or audio recording) with audio description.
- Software is not required, but encouraged.
Conference attendance
A presentation and demonstration session will be part of the W4A event, so at least one of the authors is required to attend the conference.
Deadlines
Submission deadline is 30-Jan-2009 (Midnight Hawaii Standard Time).
Awards
- 2009 Web Accessibility Challenge: Judges Award Decided by the invited judges, who are experts from academia, industry and end-users.
- 2009 Web Accessibility Challenge: Delegates Award Decided by the participants of the conference.
- In addition, you can get feedback from judges and participants.
System requirements
- Any kind of system is acceptable, such as standalone assistive technologies, voice browsers, browser plug-ins, server-based services, and telephony systems. Other accessibility technologies can be accepted (e.g., tactile browser).
- Open source systems are welcomed.
- Please contact us, if you have any questions about the coverage (challenge-2009@w4a.info).
Submission details
- Submissions should be sent to this email address: challenge-2009@w4a.info
- You can also consider alternative methods for submission of large movie files such as uploading the file to YouTube. In this case, please add a tag "w4a2009" to the movie, and send the URL of the movie to the submission address (challenge-2009@w4a.info).
- Abstracts and movies should emphasise the innovative ideas in the system. Do not demonstrate whole functions including usual or average functions.
- The demonstration movies should also be non-visually accessible, since some of referees are blind. Please consider to add audio descriptions to the submission movie, and do not add unnecessary audio (e.g., background music).
- 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.
