# Presentation: 519174

## ICT accessibility standardization and its use in policy measures

- Hajime Yamada
- Toyo University, Japan

- Presented at TEITAC
- May 23, 2007

## This paper was first presented at Design for all and Assistive Technology Standardization Coordination Group (DATSCG) in Brussels on March 15, 2007
This paper is prepared to contribute to the work in Europe to implement accessibility requirements into public procurement through a study on accessibility standardization and conformity assessment
During development of this paper I received a lot of suggestions and comments from colleagues
This paper represents my personal view

- This paper was first presented at Design for all and Assistive Technology Standardization Coordination Group (DATSCG) in Brussels on March 15, 2007
- This paper is prepared to contribute to the work in Europe to implement accessibility requirements into public procurement through a study on accessibility standardization and conformity assessment
- During development of this paper I received a lot of suggestions and comments from colleagues
- This paper represents my personal view

## Use of standardization to promote ICT accessibility
Alternative approaches of conformity assessment

- Use of standardization to promote ICT accessibility
- Alternative approaches of conformity assessment

## Development of standards is a political process
Resulting standards are a result of compromises of various stakeholders
Users tend to insist on higher technology hurdles
Providers try to lower technology hurdles
It can be useful to include a neutral party in the drafting committee

- Development of standards is a political process
- Resulting standards are a result of compromises of various stakeholders
- Users tend to insist on higher technology hurdles
- Providers try to lower technology hurdles
- It can be useful to include a neutral party in the drafting committee

## A technology hurdle that is too high will reduce providers’ incentive to design products that conforms to the standards
But it is recommended not to lower the hurdle too much
Every provider can easily ship products conforming to that ICT accessibility standard
Users may still face difficulty in using the resulting products that are deemed “accessible”

- A technology hurdle that is too high will reduce providers’ incentive to design products that conforms to the standards
- But it is recommended not to lower the hurdle too much
- Every provider can easily ship products conforming to that ICT accessibility standard
- Users may still face difficulty in using the resulting products that are deemed “accessible”

## Providers use standards
to prioritize user needs by referring to standards
to “educate” young designers
Users can
acquire in the marketplace mainstream products that implement some accessibility functions
make their own decision whether to “buy mainstream products,” “rely on assistive technologies” or “some combination of both”
Information must be disclosed effectively to users in the form of documentation or via the Internet

- Providers use standards
- to prioritize user needs by referring to standards
- to “educate” young designers
- Users can
- acquire in the marketplace mainstream products that implement some accessibility functions
- make their own decision whether to “buy mainstream products,” “rely on assistive technologies” or “some combination of both”
- Information must be disclosed effectively to users in the form of documentation or via the Internet

## Government procurement can be an incentive for providers to develop and market accessible products
Development and production of accessible products will likely incur additional cost
If the cost is compensated by public procurement, companies can be more aggressively implement accessibility functions in their mainstream products
In the long run, accessible ICT mainstream products will enjoy a dramatic cost reduction that is a common phenomenon in ICT industry

- Government procurement can be an incentive for providers to develop and market accessible products
- Development and production of accessible products will likely incur additional cost
- If the cost is compensated by public procurement, companies can be more aggressively implement accessibility functions in their mainstream products
- In the long run, accessible ICT mainstream products will enjoy a dramatic cost reduction that is a common phenomenon in ICT industry

## e.g.
If an e-Government system is developed which is accessible only by limited range of people, the government needs to continue the service of conventional (not e-Government) system in parallel
We must pay tax for the operation of two parallel systems
It is reasonable to spend additional expenses to further develop accessibility functions in e-Government system

- e.g.
- If an e-Government system is developed which is accessible only by limited range of people, the government needs to continue the service of conventional (not e-Government) system in parallel
- We must pay tax for the operation of two parallel systems
- It is reasonable to spend additional expenses to further develop accessibility functions in e-Government system

## Most requirements in accessibility standards are qualitative not quantitative, measurable and testable
Qualitative nature makes determining product conformance very difficult
It is easy to judge if a requirement is “the character size printed on operable controls shall be 5 mm or larger and the contrast ratio shall be 4:1or higher”
It is difficult if a requirement is “a screen display device shall support advanced functions such as character enlargement and contrast adjustment”

- Most requirements in accessibility standards are qualitative not quantitative, measurable and testable
- Qualitative nature makes determining product conformance very difficult
- It is easy to judge if a requirement is “the character size printed on operable controls shall be 5 mm or larger and the contrast ratio shall be 4:1or higher”
- It is difficult if a requirement is “a screen display device shall support advanced functions such as character enlargement and contrast adjustment”

## Two alternatives of conformity assessment that are usually considered
Self declaration
Third part testing
We can develop other ways that 
Encourage providers to manufacture accessible mainstream products
Benefit users

- Two alternatives of conformity assessment that are usually considered
- Self declaration
- Third part testing
- We can develop other ways that
- Encourage providers to manufacture accessible mainstream products
- Benefit users

## Self declaration remains as an important approach to conformity assessment
Self declaration is used widely around the world and in various scenarios
Japan and US, telecommunication terminals
Europe, product safety and electromagnetic compatibility

- Self declaration remains as an important approach to conformity assessment
- Self declaration is used widely around the world and in various scenarios
- Japan and US, telecommunication terminals
- Europe, product safety and electromagnetic compatibility

## The first company tests accessibility of its product by itself and discloses the test results
The second company monitors the first company’s self declaration and challenges to them when it feels they are not correct
If challenged, the first company is asked by the government agency to provide its test results
And if it fails to prove conformance, the first company is required to correct the situation or may be prevented from bidding the product to the government

- The first company tests accessibility of its product by itself and discloses the test results
- The second company monitors the first company’s self declaration and challenges to them when it feels they are not correct
- If challenged, the first company is asked by the government agency to provide its test results
- And if it fails to prove conformance, the first company is required to correct the situation or may be prevented from bidding the product to the government

## Self police mechanism implies a penaltyBest practitioner method rewards the best company
Government, user community or industry association organizes a committee
The committee researches products in the market and determines the best product (or the product that meets accessibility requirements most)
Survey results are disclosed to the public
The best product receives an award e.g. “The best accessible ICT product award”

- Self police mechanism implies a penaltyBest practitioner method rewards the best company
- Government, user community or industry association organizes a committee
- The committee researches products in the market and determines the best product (or the product that meets accessibility requirements most)
- Survey results are disclosed to the public
- The best product receives an award e.g. “The best accessible ICT product award”

## Government uses the survey results of best practitioner method as criteria of public procurement
The criteria become severer year by year
In Japan, energy efficiency of air conditioners has improved 67.8% since the introduction of the approach in 1997. Energy efficiency of gasoline passenger vehicles had been improved 22.0% between 1995 and 2004

- Government uses the survey results of best practitioner method as criteria of public procurement
- The criteria become severer year by year
- In Japan, energy efficiency of air conditioners has improved 67.8% since the introduction of the approach in 1997. Energy efficiency of gasoline passenger vehicles had been improved 22.0% between 1995 and 2004

## A third-party testing approach may have an advantage that the test can be more objective than self declaration
Third-party testing needs quantitative metrics, a viable, consistent validation process, and accumulation of expertise in inspection bodies
To ensure credibility of inspection bodies, it is necessary to identify an accreditation organization. The necessity of accreditation scheme significantly increases the social and business costs

- A third-party testing approach may have an advantage that the test can be more objective than self declaration
- Third-party testing needs quantitative metrics, a viable, consistent validation process, and accumulation of expertise in inspection bodies
- To ensure credibility of inspection bodies, it is necessary to identify an accreditation organization. The necessity of accreditation scheme significantly increases the social and business costs

## The company shall have an information accessibility policy
The company shall specify user requirements for accessibility and produce design solutions
The company shall evaluate accessibility design solutions of ICT products with users
The company shall have a transparent way of receiving and handling user complaints
The company shall keep records of their activities
The company shall disclose information how accessibility is improving in their products

- The company shall have an information accessibility policy
- The company shall specify user requirements for accessibility and produce design solutions
- The company shall evaluate accessibility design solutions of ICT products with users
- The company shall have a transparent way of receiving and handling user complaints
- The company shall keep records of their activities
- The company shall disclose information how accessibility is improving in their products

## The declaration must be disclosed to the public so that the top management takes the responsibility upon itself
The declaration improves perception of the key accessibility issues by their employees and the public

- The declaration must be disclosed to the public so that the top management takes the responsibility upon itself
- The declaration improves perception of the key accessibility issues by their employees and the public

## Alternatives are not mutually exclusive
e.g. big enterprises use self declaration while small and medium size enterprises use third party testing system
At the same time awards can be given to facilitate accessible product development
It is a desire to establish a win-win situation among parties concern

- Alternatives are not mutually exclusive
- e.g. big enterprises use self declaration while small and medium size enterprises use third party testing system
- At the same time awards can be given to facilitate accessible product development
- It is a desire to establish a win-win situation among parties concern