Tools and Resources

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Developer Tools (Assistive Technology and User Agent)

This program area is focused on the identification and development of tools, software libraries, and other components that can be used by developers in creating new free and open source accessibility solutions.

RtF Toolbox - of FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) Tools and Components

This project is focused on the collection and cataloging of all known tools and components that can be used to create free and open source solutions. This includes UI component toolkits that work with other component toolkits and address accessibility.

The resulting "toolbox" as currently envisioned would include:

  • Download-and-Install Solution Development Tools
  • USB Drive (on-a-stick) Solution Development Tools
  • Network Based Services/Solution Development Tools
  • Cell Phone based Solution Development Tools
  • Ebook and Offline Solution Development Tools

Distributed Team Collaboration Tools

This project will develop an “accessibility central” that provides a dynamically updated view of the work of all projects in the RtF domain, and helps in deploying resources, supporting resource sharing, identifying gaps, etc.

Designer's Toolkit for Mainstream Application Developers

The focus of this effort is on providing mainstream designers with the information they need to make their products more accessible from the start - including personas, design patterns, use cases, and other design resources that take into account the needs of people with disabilities.

Current Efforts, Projects, and Working Groups in this Area Include:

Mainstream Developer's Hotline and Café 

To address accessibility issues for developers of any application by providing the developers a rich resource to answer questions or explore issues around accessibility of their products.

Specific FOSS Developer Tool Projects

  • ATRC: Fluid Skinning System (previously "TransformAble/Stylable") - This service uses content and user metadata to match and transform content according to user preferences
  • ATRC: Toolkits (Fluid, DOJO) - Toolkits that are useful in designing accessible online rich-Internet applications.ATRC: FluidEngage - Tools for curating accessible exhibits.
  • Epilepsy/Seizure prevention - Tool for web developers to screen their videos and other content for flashing that could trigger epileptic seizures.
  • Contrast - Tool for web developers to easily measure contrast on pages or parts of pages.
  • Audio - Tool for web developers to determine the difference in volume between foreground speech and background noises. CapScribe - An application for captioning and describing videos. A web-based version is now in development as the Capscribe Project.
  • Fluid Components - reusable user interfaces that take the hard work out of supporting rich interaction in a Web application. These components and similar toolkits are being developed as the ATRC Toolkit Project.
  • Eclipse Accessibility Tools Framework (ACTF) - a framework that serves as an extensible infrastructure upon which developers can build a variety of utilities that help to evaluate and enhance the accessibility of applications and content for people with disabilities.
  • Fruit Basket Demos - provides resources for developers who want to learn more about accessibility in a variety of programming languages.

Content Author (and post author) Tools

This program area is focused on the identification, cataloging, and development of tools to help authors create more accessible content, or to help third parties create supplemental materials and resources that can be used to make existing sites more accessible. This includes crowdsourcing tools.

Resource List of Existing Content Authoring Tools and Services

This ongoing project is focused on the collection and cataloging of all known authoring tools and components that can be used to create more accessible content or to repair content that is already online. This project is being done in cooperation with the W3C/WAI working groups.

Current Efforts, Projects, and Working Groups in this Area Include:

Specific FOSS Authoring Tool Projects

RtF Authoring tool projects:

Researcher Tools

This program area is focused on the development of tools and resources that can be used by researchers interested in working in the area of information and communication technology (ICT) accessibility. Of particular interest are tools and resources that would be helpful to new researchers who want to enter this field, and to researchers from smaller universities or programs.

Needs Analysis – Researcher Tools

What do researchers, particularly new ones, need in order to be effective in this area? This area is focused on working with researchers and others who are interested in developing accessibility tools and solutions in order to find out what types of tools or resources would actually be most useful to them. Again, a particular focus will be placed on new researchers and smaller research programs.

New Researcher Orientation Materials Development

This project will focus on the development of good orientation materials that can give new researchers some of the background and context needed to do effective research and development in the disability access area.

Consumer Input and Testing Network Development

Key to any effective research program is good linkage to the consumer communities. This program area is focused on identifying consumer networks that can work with researchers and developers both to give them input upfront and throughout the development process as well is to help them in testing their solutions.

Remote User Data Collection / Participation Tools Development

Another key identified problem is the difficulty in finding enough Assistive Technology (AT) users locally to participate in R&D (Research and Development) activities (particularly testing) where larger numbers are needed. This is especially true for individuals with more severe or less common types and combinations of disabilities. This project is focused on creating data collection and participation tools that can allow individuals from a wide area to be able to effectively contribute to and test solutions.

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