committed to connecting the world asean-itu seminar on ict accessibility and assistive technologies...

Committed to Connecting the World

ASEAN-ITU Seminar on ICT Accessibility and Assistive Technologies for Equity in Society

25-26 August 2014, Bangkok, Thailand

ITU-T work on

Accessibility to ICTs

Xiaoya Yang Head of WTSA Programmes Division

Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, ITU


About ITU

The United Nations Specialized Agency for Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)

Founded in Paris in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union

2015 will mark 150 years of experience and innovation

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ITU’s Global Presence


Leading Private Sector Members


ITU’s Structure

The General Secretariat provides intersectoral coordination for the whole organization

Standardization ITU-T

Produces interoperable technical ICT

standards

Development ITU-D

Provides assistance to the un-connected

Radiocommunication ITU-R

Coordinates global wireless communication


ITU-R: Radiocommunication Sector

Manages the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits


ITU-D: Development Sector


ITU-T: Standardization Sector

Produces international standards covering all fields of telecommunications. Defines tariff and accounting principles for international telecommunication services


Importance of standardization


Why is standardization important?

1. Technical compatibility (Interoperability)

2. Standards promote innovation, competition and international trade

3. Allows end users to enjoy wider choice range of services and products, richer functionality and lower costs with mainstreamed accessibility features

4. Facilitates transfer of technology between developed to developing countries and reduces digital divide


Open standards promote a “network externality effect”


Accessibility Standardization in ITU


ITU-T groups promoting Accessible ICT’s

Expert Groups • Study Group 16 - Multimedia - lead ITU study

group on telecommunication/ICT accessibility for persons with disabilities - Question 26/16 and work items

• Study Group 2 on Operational Aspects - Question 4/2 focused on human factors and related work items

• Study Group 9 on Broadband Cable and TV

http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/studygroups/2013-2016/16/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/about/groups/Pages/sg02.aspx




Study Group 16 Multimedia coding, systems and

applications

The lead study group on telecommunication/ICT accessibility for persons with disabilities.


Question 26/16

Q26/16 is the group specifically designated to deal with Accessibility to Multimedia Systems and Services for persons with disabilities.

Q26/16 is responsible for developing (or assisting in the development of) multimedia technical standards addressing accessibility needs of persons with disabilities

It also reviews accessibility features included in telecom standards developed in other Study Groups


Examples of active work items Terminology of accessibility to audiovisual media

Relay services: Architecture, user requirements and functionality

Technical Paper: Telecommunication relay service's user requirements for persons with disabilities

Accessibility Features for mobile media devices

Technical Paper on methods for improving the intelligibility of audio (or speech)

Guidelines for provision of captioning and of sign language in A/V content


ITU-T Study Group 2

SG2 organizes its accessibility work under Question 4/2

“Human Factors related issues for the improvement of the quality of life through international telecommunications”.

http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/studygroups/2013-2016/02/Pages/q4.aspx


Question 4/2

Question 4/2 covers more than just the needs of persons with disabilities

usability for all covers the needs of children and persons who may or may not have disability.


Study Group 9

Broadband Cable and TV Requirements, methods, and

interfaces of the advanced service platforms to enhance the delivery

of sound, television, and other multimedia interactive services over cable television network

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ITU’s most famous accessibility standard

ITU-T E.161 (2001): “Bump” on key “5”“To assist blind

and visually impaired people… and others to facilitate dialing under low light conditions”


Other Experts Groups

Intersector Rapporteur Group on Audiovisual Media Accessibility (IRG-AVA)

(launched 25 February 2014)NEW!

Joint Coordination Activity on Accessibility and Human Factors (JCA-AHF)

ITU-T Focus Group on Audiovisual Media Accessibility (FG AVA) (concluded Oct. 2013)

Dynamic Coalition on Accessibility and Disability (DCAD) on Internet Governance

http://www.itu.int/en/irg/ava/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.itu.int/en/irg/ava/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/jca/ahf/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/jca/ahf/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/focusgroups/ava/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/focusgroups/ava/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/accessibility/dcad/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/accessibility/dcad/Pages/default.aspx


FG AVA - Focus Group on Audiovisual Media Accessibility

Focus Group on Audiovisual Media Accessibility (FG AVA), open to all, including non members

May 2011 created and ended October 2013

Mandate was to stimulate the development of studies and deliverables that

would improve the awareness for standard writers of possible accessibility features for persons with disabilities to include in future standards of audiovisual (AV) media

Results: delivery of specific studies and deliverables applicable to giving better access for Persons with Disabilities for further study

to SG16, the parent study group of FG AVA and to IRG-AVA


FG AVA deliverables

Focus Groups are open to non members, therefore cannot write standards

they can give the benefit of specialist knowledge from worldwide experts

Examples of some of the deliverables from the FG AVA:

Final Report of Activities: Working Group A “Captioning" Draft recommended production guidelines for sign language service

Draft recommended characteristics for audio descriptions and/or spoken subtitles

Vocabulary for ITU-T Focus Group on Audiovisual Media Accessibility

Methods for improving the intelligibility of audio (clean audio) Requirements and good practice for supporting remote participation in meetings for all


Overview of Inter Sector Rapporteur Group on Audiovisual Media Accessibility (IRG-AVA)

Coordination of the work of audiovisual media accessibility

ITU-R and ITU-T working together on making audiovisual media accessible

ITU-R Study Groups 6 (Broadcasting Service) working to make better video and sound and better ways to include sign language, captioning audio description

ITU-R Study Group 5 (Terrestrial Service) Working Party 5A studying how digital hearing aids could work globally

ITU-T SG16, SG2 and SG9


HOW TO CONTRIBUTE

Work progresses on the basis of contributions received

Provide experts to attend meetings and to submit contributions

Members submit written technical proposals to create recommendations and standards

No contributions, no international standards, no proposals = no progress

Participate in the JCA-AHF, the group responsible for coordinating the accessibility work throughout ITU as it is open to all


Sharing knowledge at ITU workshops

Workshops review existing and next-generation accessibility technology, services and assistive technologies (AT) for persons with disabilities

Workshops provide open forums to discuss business case uses for accessibility implementation in all areas of communication

Workshops explore the benefits of Universal Design to prevent expensive refits later in the deployment of accessibility features in standards by designing from the beginning for the inclusion of persons with disabilities

Workshops provide experts to share knowledge and good practices to further work on including persons with disabilities into the standardization of multimedia, as mandated by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (article 9 of the UNCRPD)

Workshops provide a showcase for accessibility services and devices currently on the market and under development by the private sector and research institutes

ITU Workshop on Making Media Accessible to all: the options and the economics (October 2013)

http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/Workshops-and-Seminars/mmaa/201310/Pages/default.aspx


HOW TO CONTRIBUTE

Propose topics and provide panelists for workshops and related events to further assist in educating the public on the need for Universal Design and the mainstreaming of accessibility into standardization


… and some demos on audiovisual work 1/3


By working with us on making technology accessible to all and

including persons with disabilities, we are connecting

the world.

Help us in this valuable work by joining us at the ITU.

Thank you

committed to connecting the world asean-itu seminar on ict accessibility and assistive technologies...

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