With more companies incorporating video conferencing into their daily operations, ensuring everyone can connect online through video is a significant aspect. With the wrong tools, a person with disability may actually experience new barriers.
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is the industry benchmark that provides support for web users living with various levels of conditions.
Making a platform more accessible can assist not only users with physical, visual, photo-sensitive, auditory, or auditory impairments. But also people with temporary disabilities such as a broken arm or lost glasses or “situational limitations” such as language barriers, geographical position or poor network conditions.
By conforming to the WCAG, programmers can design video platforms that are easy to use and accessible. There are three levels of conformance:
Live captions and text transcripts are one of the main implementations developers can add in order to make their video tool more accessible. According to the WCAG, however, auto-generated captions are still considered quite unreliable, difficult to perform effectively in real-time. Already a limit below 90% accuracy can be a serious annoyance.
The ability to resize and reposition different elements, from speakers’s windows, captions and other documents and notes can be a game changer in terms of accessibility.
In case of the presence of a real time sign language interpreter, video conferencing tools should give the chance to participants to resize and reposition their window. Allowing also the possibility to overlap the interpreter’s window. The screen-sharing function should also allow the opportunity to enhance the contrast and use of color.
All while keeping in mind that users should be able to access all the video conferencing features without a mouse, only by using keyboard shortcuts.
Considering the diversity of operating systems for which the remote meeting platform is supported. Not all access needs or assistive technologies are equally supported by each operating systems. Digital Samba provides a browser-based video engine solution, which makes us easy to use on every device.
While conferencing tools are continually pushing towards new features, luckily there are some small steps that organizations can take in order to improve accessibility. Let’s have a look!
“The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect.” Tim Berners-Lee, W3C Director
In the future, it is undeniable that video conferencing tools and video engines will develop further into providing easier and more accessible platforms. Here is a list of the three key barriers to accessibility that video conferencing tools are focusing on.
Digital accessibility has underlined how important it is to approach online video conferencing in an inclusive way, ensuring everyone can connect through video and audio. With our video engine, we aim to improve accessibility support by engaging and empowering all types of collaboration.