Let's put standardisation in practice: accessibility services and interaction

Main Article Content

Estella Oncins
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0291-3036
Pilar Orero

Abstract

There are many international standardisation agencies working actively on producing technical requirements towards accessibility, both for physical environments and for media. Technology is developing at a fast pace to produce new interactions, which turn into new communication barriers: some avoidable. Taking into consideration accessibility standards from the design and requirement definition --the concept of “born accessible”-- would help towards native accessible technology.  This article looks at existing standards related to accessibility and media communication. The first part of the article will revise the importance of drafting harmonised standards for accessibility in four main agencies producing accessibility standards: IEC, ITU, ISO and W3C. It will then outline how standards are produced and implemented at a European level by the European Standardisation Organisations (CEN, CENELEC and ETSI). The second part of the article will be organised by media accessibility services: subtitling, audio description, audio subtitling and sign language. Mention to easy to read as a new emerging accessibility modality, will also be made. The final part of the article will provide conclusions and directions for further research.


Keywords: Media Accessibility, Standards, Accessibility services, Subtitling, Audio description, Audio subtitling, Easy to Read.

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How to Cite
Oncins, E., & Orero, P. (2021). Let’s put standardisation in practice: accessibility services and interaction. Hikma, 20(1), 71–90. https://doi.org/10.21071/hikma.v20i1.12886
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Articles
Author Biographies

Estella Oncins, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona

Estella Oncins holds a Phd in Accessibility and Ambiental Intelligence from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain. She has a large experience in providing accessibility for live events as a freelance translator, subtitler, surtitler, respeaker for different Spanish televisions and conferences, and as an audiodescriber for Liceu Opera House. Her research areas are audiovisual translation, media accessibility and creative industry. She is currently involved in the Education and Outreach Working Group (EOWG) from W3C. She is a partner in KA2 LTA and IMPACT. She is also a partner in H2020: HELIOS and TRACTION.

Pilar Orero, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona

Pilar Orero PhD (UMIST) teaches in the Faculty of Political Science at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain. She is a member of the research group TransMedia Catalonia. She is the leader of numerous research projects funded by the Spanish and Catalan Governments related to media accessibility. She participates in UN agency ITU Intersector Rapporteur Group Audiovisual Media Accessibility IRG AVA and ITU-D creating an online course on Media Accessibility. She participates in ISO on standards related to media accessibility. She holds the INDRA Accessible Technologies Chair since 2012 and leads the EU projects HBB4ALL (2013-2016), KA2 ACT (2015-2018) and is a partner in KA2 ADLAB PRO, EASIT, LTA and IMPACT. She is also a partner in H2020: Easy TV, ImAc, HELIOS, REBUILD, TRACTION and SOCLOSE. Website: http://gent.uab.cat/pilarorero/