Emma Pratt Richens
Digital Accessibility Specialist
Evolving Accessibility Guidelines
Accessibility
We will cover:
- brief background to the guidelines
- why things needed to change
- a summary of the process
- what's new & what's different
- where to find the guidelines
Background
- Published in 2013.
- Based on requirements of BBC digital content for audiences and technology in the UK.
- Intended for use by BBC or contracted production teams.
- Covers all content that can be viewed on mobile devices:
phones, tablets and laptops.
We will cover:
- brief background to the guidelines
- why things needed to change
- a summary of the process
- what's new & what's different
- where to find the guidelines
- Unconscious bias
- Increase awareness
- Expected standard
- UK industry leader
- ...
Why change?
Changing tech landscape
Hardware advancements
- increased mobile adoption
- wearables & i-things
- virtual or augmented reality
Software advancements
- OS accessibility features
- greater standards support
- intelligent or conversational interfaces
Assistive technology
- apps & affordability
Advances in coding languages & design patterns
- HTML5 / CSS3
- Javascript "all the things"
- Services workers (browser based but behave like apps)
- Swift for iOS apps
- Responsive web
- iOS: Human Interface Guidelines
- Android: Material Design
- bbc.co.uk/gel (Global Experience Language)
Better understanding and use of Interactive content
Educational power of games
- Cause & effect
- Independence
- Motivational
HTML5 & Javascript canvas
- - More options for accessibility
Wider audience
Understand?
- Growing non-tech readership
- Plain English
- Short sentences
- Active verbs (not abstracted)
- Instructive when appropriate
- Audience appropriate words
- Use sub-headings & lists
We will cover:
- brief background to the guidelines
- why things needed to change
- a summary of the process
- what's new & what's different
- where to find the guidelines
What did we do?
- Analysis of game accessibility research & recommendations
- Team review of existing guidelines & changes needed
- (stalled)
- Long first pass at reviewing each and editing/adding
- Team review of changes
- Lots of discussion
- Champs review & feedback
- Consistency & example checks
We will cover:
- brief background to the guidelines
- why things needed to change
- a summary of the process
- what's new & what's different
- where to find the guidelines
What's different?
- Alternatives for AV & Autoplay
- Volume control NEW!
- Audio conflict NEW!
- Content resizing
- Consistency & Choice
- Adjustability NEW!
- Flicker NEW!
- Instructions
- User interactions
- Inclusive notifications
- Feedback and assistance NEW!
- Progressive functionality
- Input control NEW!
Audio and visual
Separate volume controls should be provided for background music, ambient sounds, narrative and editorially significant sound effects.
Narrative audio in games or interactive media should not talk over or conflict with native assistive technology.
New guidelines:
Design
Interactive media, including games, should be adjustable for user ability and preference.
Content must not visibly or intentionally flicker or flash more than three times in any one-second period.
New guidelines:
Notifications
Non-critical feedback or assistance should be provided when appropriate.
Scripts and dynamic content
Interaction input control should be adaptable.
New guidelines:
Audio and visual
- Alternatives for audio and visual content (combines
Subtitles, signing and audio description & Transcripts)
- Autoplay (now covers a broader meaning)
Design
- Content resizing (replaces Zoom)
- Consistency
- Choice (separated from Consistency and choice)
- Actionable elements (now covers interactive content)
Revised guidelines:
Editorial
- Indicating language (now incorporates Changes in
language)
- Instructions (moved from Notifications section)
Focus
- User interactions (replaces Touch events and now
covers interactive content)
- Alternative input methods (now covers interactive
content)
Revised guidelines:
Forms
- Labelling form controls (replaces Input labels)
- Form inputs (replaces Keyboard input types)
- Managing focus (moved from Focus section)
Notifications
- Inclusive notifications (combines Changes of state and
Visual cues and audio alerts and now covers interactive
content)
Revised guidelines:
Scripts and Dynamic Content
- Progressive functionality (replaces Javascript
alternatives, and now covers interactive content)
- Controlling media (now covers interactive content)
Structure
- Grouped elements (now covers interactive content)
Text Equivalents
- Roles, traits and properties (renamed)
Revised guidelines:
We will cover:
- brief background to the guidelines
- why things needed to change
- a summary of the process
- what's new & what's different
- where to find the guidelines
Launch & new home
- BBC Mobile Accessibility Guidelines
- More feedback to come
- New site in development
Thank you!
Accessibility
Evolving Accessibility Guidelines
By Emma Pratt Richens
Evolving Accessibility Guidelines
Presentation first given at CSUN ATC 2017, during which the updated guidelines were published.
