Web Access Centre

Using access technology

Summary: A variety of "access technologies" are available to help people with various disabilities access the web.

• Access technology
• How access technologies work
• Understanding accessibility links

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Everybody accesses the internet in different ways. An individual’s needs determine whether they have to change browser settings to view your page or use assistive technologies. People may also use different platforms, ranging from Personal Computers (PCs) to Personal Digital Assistant’s (PDAs) or mobile devices such as a phone.

Four of the main types of technologies used are covered in this section:

• Speech and braille output
• Screen magnification
• Text-based browsers
• Graphical browsers

Access technology

Access technologies are a key tool to any web developer when checking their site for accessibility. Understanding of these technologies goes hand in hand with understanding the requirements of accessible web design when ensuring that websites meet the Website Accessibility Initiative (WAI) requirements.

There are a great number of assistive technologies that people use. These include alternative user input devices for those who cannot operate a standard keyboard or mouse, screen readers and refreshable braille displays, screen magnification and text-based browsers. Most work together with graphics browsers and, as with graphics browsers, are built to work with standardised World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) technologies such as HTML 4.

How access technologies work

This section gives an outline of assistive technologies and how they output the content and functionality of web pages. Details of specific problems each technology may encounter are identified as well as the groups of people likely to use the technology. Understanding how people view pages with various assistive technologies underpins understanding the relevance of each WAI guideline and how to test your site.

Further details about the assistive technologies covered in this section can also be found in the implementing accessibility section, which outlines how designers can use these as tools to test their websites.

For more information on assistive technologies please refer to the technology section of the RNIB site.

Understanding accessibility links

• Types of disability
• Accessibility myths
• How people with disabilities access the web
• Web access centre home

For Web Access Centre updates email webaccess@rnib.org.uk

Content author: webaccess@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 19/12/2008 15:17