Progress of the project
Phase 1: Focus on user needs
In the first phase of the project, we analysed the results from the pilot project and reached out to stakeholders to gather indepth user requirements, focusing on the web author perspective. The information gathering was made using three main methods:
- Online survey
- Market input and analyse from pilot project WE4Authors workshop
- Deep discussions with project partners and senior advisor.
The major findings and conclusions of the results of the analysis and online survey show that user requirements can be divided into four categories with varying level of automation:
- Full automation
- Accessibility prompts
- Instructions and support
- Testing of accessibility
Phase 2: Mapping of user requirements with accessibility features
In this step we have analysed how different stakeholder perspectives can be used as a basis for selecting relevant features. The perspectives we aim to cover are:
- user requirements
- business logic
- technical feasibility
- existing solutions
- potential impact of built-in accessibility support by default.
The mapping of user requirements with accessibility features was based on the vast experience represented in the consortium.
The selection criteria cover a wide range of perspectives, from standards and end user needs to severity of accessibility fails and frequency of use. In the selection process, all stakeholder views were taken into account and balanced against the possible implementation across platforms.
Some of the features are solving one specific problem (ALT-texts, change language), whereas others approach a broader perspective and try to support accessibility in a more general sense (different types of accessibility testing).
The selected features are a mix of automation, support and testing, thus covering all categories of built-in accessibility by default services detected in the pilot project as well as the user requirements of the current project.
The ten selected features to be tested are:
- ALT -text
- Change language
- Documentation
- Tables creator
- Forms creator
- Video
- Live testing while authoring
- Testing of documents
- Testing of content of pages
- Testing of the whole website
Phase 3: More organizations join the consortium
To make sure the results of the project are technically feasible and useful for the broadest possible part of the industry, subcontractors have been invited to join the consortium. The combination of project partners, external collaborators acting as senior advisors, third parties and subcontractors makes sure that the project team can receive exactly the input needed for each task, at the same time as decision making is smooth. This is especially important in a project where the aim is to share knowledge among market players, thereby fostering healthy competition.
The outreach was very successful, and we are happy to welcome Joomla and Umbraco to the project.
Phase 4: Creation of prototypes for user testing
The WE4Authors Clusters consortium are creating prototypes that will be tested with start in October. The prototypes are based on the outcomes from the previous phases of the project and are created in an iterative way with great feedback from all involved in the project. Testers are being recruited via the consortium’s own networks and in other channels for example:
- Twitter
- Newsletter
- Facebook/LinkedIn
- Targeted e-mails
- In webinars
Phase 5: User testing
In the project we will conduct user testing with both web authors to check that they understand how to use it and that it helps them in their daily life. On the other hand, we will also do testing with end users to check that the features are really increasing the level of accessibility. The tests will be conducted online and on the spot. Due to Covid-19 most of the tests will be conducted online. The tests will be done in an environment that is created by the consortium and will be at a prototype level in an open environment. The testers will have the opportunity to come with inputs on the features presented to them and be able to give their thoughts and inputs on how the features can be better.
