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Steve Lee writes:
You may not realise it but Mozilla's open source Firefox web browser features numerous options and technologies that make the web usable by everyone - including those who find they get the best experience when they tweak the way it works, or whom interact with computers using devices other than the usual mouse and keyboard combination. You may also not realize, but as you experience ageing effects like reduced vision, you are likely to appreciate many of these so called 'accessibility' features or even use specialist Assistive Technology devices, even though they were originally designed for people with disabilities.
As an experiment why not try turning off your monitor for a moment and continue to use your computer to browse the web or sign in to your online bank account. People who are blind can actually do this using technology called screen readers, which speak text on the screen and often work Braille displays that can be 'read' by touch. The screen reader presents the information displayed in a web page or the browser menus, toolbars and other controls but they can't do this on their own. It requires facilities in the web browser to allow users to interact with just the keyboard, as the pointer is useless to someone without vision. Also the browser needs to allow the screen reader to observe what is happening in the user interface and tell it when interesting things happen. In addition it requires web authors follow good practice, are careful to observe web standards, and perform user testing so that blind users have a good experience of their site.
There are also other types of disability that require considerable adjustment for successful web access, For example people with physical impairments need to work with being able to make only very limited gestures such as a single switch press. People with hearing impairments need non-audible cues and subtitles for visual media. People with learning difficulties or dyslexia appreciate simple text, pictures or spelling tools. While some of these are features of the web content, the browser can help, especially when it has a rich plug-in culture providing all sorts of extras, as Firefox does.
Firefox provides a range of accessibility features for improved user experience and that developers and authors can take advantage of. From simple colour scheme options, page zoom and spell checkers, to full keyboard access, to supporting screen readers and other Assistive Technology. These are available on Windows, Linux and the Mac platforms. For the latest Web 2.0 dynamic applications Firefox supports a new standard way (ARIA) that means screen reader users and others can use the widgets and live page updates that are such an exciting feature. You can find out more on accessfirefox.org for users and www.mozilla.org/access for developers.
But that's not all - Mozilla is committed to accessibility as part of their mission as defenders of the 'open web' for everyone. Several members of the Mozilla accessibility community are based in Europe (e.g. UK, Germany and Netherlands), including Aaron Leventhal who has led the accessibility development to its present level, and Marco Zehe who is Mozilla's Accessibility QA engineer. They work very closely with vendors, projects and organisations to ensure technical compatibility and to develop standards that support interoperability and good user experiences; and this includes several European companies. Mozilla have attended several accessibility shows in Europe including: RAatE, Accessibility 2.0 and SightCity. Mozilla in Europe is able to provide a localised identity for us European users with President of Mozilla Europe Tristan Nitot in Paris and European Marketing Director Jane Finette based London.
This may sound a little like a sales pitch, but Firefox as Open Source is free to download and use, the Mozilla Foundation is a non profit, and Mozilla exists via community participation to create a quality 'product'. A product ensuring the web is equally accessible to all, including those with disabilities.
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