News & Regulations
Accessibility is almost mandatory in the modern world but as everything online – it is continuously evolving. In the very near future there will be a lot more guidelines and specific trends to look out for and this is the topic of our latest blog post.
Here, you can learn what are the emerging trends in accessibility to look out for in order to be on the cutting edge of web development, marketing and business.
What is Web Accessibility?
Web accessibility is the way companies and web developers make the digital world inclusive for people with disabilities. There are a number of laws and guidelines all over the world that focus on different aspects of web accessibility, but the main ones are from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
The Web Accessibility Guidelines are what you call a rulebook for everyone, whose business is based in an online environment. Those guidelines make sure that every person with a disability is included and can navigate the internet the same way as everybody else.
There are a number of different disabilities – mental and physical, but the W3C caters to all. The Web Accessibility Guidelines are a very comprehensive list, but they still leave room for continuous improvement.
Source: Unsplash
What Is the Concept of Accessibility?
The concept of accessibility is that every person – with or without a disability – is going to have their fair share in life.
Accessibility is a very broad concept and it outlines everything you need to think about when organizing your business so you can include people with disabilities. Laws and guidelines also look at public and private spaces, different services, selling of goods – both in the real world and online.
The more accessible our world is, the better included are people with disabilities and the more opportunities they have.
What Are the Types of Accessibility?
There are different types of accessibility and the list is continuously being updated.
The most common ones are:
- Visual – people who have vision problems, complete or partial blindness, need a certain kind of accessibility feature in life so they can live normally. In the physical world a good example of a feature for blind people is crossroad lights with sound. In the online world – text-to-speech software.
- Motor – this type of disability impacts the way we move. There are different types of motor disabilities and different ways to combat them with accessibility. In the physical world a good example of accessibility for this type is ramps for wheelchairs. Online, a good example is a website that allows navigation with a keyboard.
- Auditory – this type affects the way we hear sound. It can be based on different problems and can result in partial or full hearing loss. In the real world, sign language is a good example of accessibility. In the online world – subtitles and transcriptions of audio and video content.
- Learning or cognitive – this type affects our way of handling and understanding information. There are various types of disabilities that can lead to cognitive difficulty. In the real world, a great example is provision of special-ed teachers for children with learning disabilities. In the online world – explainers and the lack of very difficult language concerning simple things.
When talking about disability it’s important to remember that not all disabled people are born like that. Disability can be the result of an injury, medical intervention, some sort of accident, etc. But nonetheless, it’s important to include everybody – even online.
And more importantly - accessibility issues can lead to digital accessibility lawsuits. Those can be really expensive and have a huge impact on every business.
How Does Accessibility Matter?
Accessibility matters greatly to people with disabilities. Because of different accessibility standards, they can actively participate in our society and not feel left out. Accessibility can make a huge difference in people's lives, when done properly and in mind with the modern world and its difficulties.
Accessibility also matters for businesses. Making your company as accessible as possible, your product, your social media – everything, can be the thing that sets you apart from everybody in the field. It can lead to growth but most importantly – it leads to greater trust in your business.
Source: Unsplash
Web Accessibility Trends to Look Out For
In the web accessibility world literally, the sky's the limit. Outside of the guidelines, there are numerous ways to make your content more accessible for everyone. It’s a constantly evolving part of web development and online business.
In this part of the blog post we are going to highlight the key trends for the future of web accessibility. All of these can be considered as guidelines for what your future step in accessible digital content might be, so read on.
More Interactive Mobile Experience
From the silver screen to the computer screen… to the small mobile screen! In the past years the shift to mobile has been enormous and all who didn’t succeed in keeping up with the trend, got left out.
Including more interactive mobile experiences for users is the next step also for accessibility online.
Some of the key aspects of a more accessible mobile experience are screen-reader compatibility and navigation.
The compatibility with different kinds of software that reads the screen for you is crucial. Even people with complete loss of vision use mobile devices because they are small, easy to carry and offer access to all kinds of services and goods.
That’s why it’s crucial for web developers to start thinking about how to achieve the right level of screen readers compatibility and also try to implement the use of different assistive technologies.
Navigation is mainly a design feature but it has a huge impact on accessibility. Most companies who provide mobile services are slowly shifting to touch-based navigation, the usage of different motions and face expressions for navigation and control of their mobile apps.
This is going to be a huge part of the future of mobile accessibility because it affects a lot of people – those with motor disabilities.
Utilizing Machine Learning
Machine learning may be scary for some people but it will provide valuable insight into how different people use mobile apps, websites, etc. That information is super valuable when trying to envision how people are going to use web-based products.
That is why more and more companies are compiling large troves of data on how people use their devices. This can be critically important for implementing accessibility features, because the compiled data can provide valuable insight on what are the main difficulties for people with disabilities.
Source: Unsplash
AI-Powered Chatbots
The use of artificial intelligence and AI-powered tools such as chatbots has been a huge plus for people in the disabled community. You can do everything with them – they can shop for you, write emails for you and even navigate websites for you.
This is why it’s crucial to think about implementing such a chatbot if your business is offering a certain type of service, used by people with disabilities.
In the very near future, AI-powered chatbots are going to be a huge part of the mobile accessibility trends, because they provide even more freedom to people who are disabled.
Source: Unsplash
Virtual and Augmented Reality
Virtual and augmented reality is no longer a dream of the future – it’s happening here and now, and it’s very rapidly evolving.
This sector has provided great freedom for people with disabilities, because in the virtual world disability in a sense doesn’t exist.
Regarding accessibility, implementing options for the use of virtual reality glasses, gloves and other gear, can have a huge impact. It will give people with disabilities one more way to access your business.
Conclusion
Accessibility is a goal that is forever changing as are the trends. Guidelines for mobile and web accessibility are being updated constantly to include more and more elements of the modern world.
Those new trends may seem cutting-edge now, but in a time not so long from now, there are going to be new norms. So, better include them earlier than to be left behind, right?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There Such a Thing as Mobile Accessibility?
Yes! Mobile accessibility is the way we make mobile devices and mobile-based apps more usable for people with disabilities.
Is It Important to Implement Mobile Accessibility Early On?
Also, yes. It’s better to follow and implement different features early on, because that will cut costs and time-spend on developing your mobile-based business.
Do People With Disabilities Really Need an Accessible Mobile Environment?
Of course they do! More and more disabled people rely on mobile devices for help with their day-to-day lives. It’s very important to include them, so they can feel as a valued part of society.