An inclusive approach to develop web TV applications

Abstract

PurposeThis paper aims to present a brief overview of the European “Gentle User Interfaces for Elderly People” (GUIDE) project, which is creating a software framework and design tools that allow developers to efficiently integrate accessibility and personalisation features into their applications, minimizing intervention with existing development process and tools. The GUIDE project aims to fill the accessibility, expertise, time, budget and framework gap between mainstream applications and accessibility systems through its user modelling and multimodal adaptation systems.Design/methodology/approachThe paper looks at the GUIDE project which involves users in early design process, understands their requirements, formulates them into user models and implements the model into a software framework to personalize interfaces with change of range of abilities and context of use. It proposes a research solution to industry and works closely with it so that the research can make a market impact.FindingsEarly evaluation of the system shows it can accommodate a wide range of users and enhance their quality of participation with digital media. The project also contributes to develop standards for hybrid TV and the interoperable user model.Originality/valueThe GUIDE project is a first of its kind to take an end‐to‐end approach to accessible computing through presentations on user‐centred design, accessibility solutions, a software framework for industrial developers and standardization issues for legislators and regulators.