AEGIS

The AEGIS project seeks to determine whether 3rd generation access techniques will provide a more accessible, more expThe AEGIS project seeks to determine whether 3rd generation access techniques will provide a more accessible, more exploitable and deeply embeddable approach in mainstream ICT (desktop, rich Internet and mobile applications). We develop and explore this approach with the Open Accessibility Framework (OAF) through which we address aspects of the design,development and deployment of accessible mainstream ICT. The OAF provides embedded and built-in accessibility solutions, as well as toolkits for developers, for “engraving” accessibility in existing and emerging mass-market ICT-based products, thus making accessibility open, plug & play, personalised & configurable, realistic & applicable in various contexts; AEGIS is placing users and their needs at the centre of all ICT developments. Based on a holistic UCD, AEGIS identifies user needs and interaction models for several user groups, (users with visual, hearing, motion, speech and cognitive impairments as well as application developers) and develops open source-based generalised accessibility support into mainstream ICT devices/applications: A) desktop, B) W3C/WAI standards-abiding accessible rich web applications and C) embedded generalized accessibility in terms of user interfaces and applications running into standard (CDLC and CDC) as well as rich features cell phones

and PDAs. All developments are iteratively tested with hundreds of end users, developers and experts in three phases and 4 Pilot sites Europewide (in Belgium, Spain, Sweden and UK). The project includes strong industrial and end users participation (the participating Industries are among the market leaders in the corresponding mainstream ICT markets). The project results’ uptake is promoted by strong standardization activities, as well as an Open Accessibility Everywhere Group (OAEG) that will live beyond the project lifetime, bringing together end users and developers in a “stars rating” system assessing accessibility and usability of mainstream ICT.

Consortium

Center for Research & Technology Hellas, Greece
Sun Microsystems , Czech Republic
Fundaciσn Vodafone Espaρa , Spain
Research in Motion (UK) Limited , UK
The Chancellor, Master and Scholars of the University of Cambridge, Cambridge UK
AOL LLC , UK
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven , Belgium
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Fφrderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. , Germany
Royal National Institute of Blind People , UK
ACE Centre Advisory Trust , UK
SingularLogic S.A. , Greece
Czeck Technical University , Czech Republic
European Platform for Rehabilitation , Belgium
Universidad Politιcnica de Madrid / Life Supporting Technologies , Spain
ONCE Foundation , Spain
S.C. ATC ROM S.r.l. , Romania
CONNCEPT SWISS , Switzerland
SahlgrenskaUniversity Hospital – DART , Sweden
Femtioprocent Data AB P50, Sweden
Adaptive Technology Resource Centre, University of Toronto , Canadaloitable and deeply embeddable approach in mainstream ICT (desktop, rich Internet