IBMhas contributed its Accessibility
Tools Framework (ACTF) to the open sourceEclipse Foundation, to make it easier
for developers to produce systems that can be made available to
disabled web users.
By using the framework, developers can create accessibility
tools and applications easily and cost effectively, as they no
longer need to spend time creating a tool or an application from
scratch, said IBM.
IBM said the ACTF will swiftly integrate new technologies and
accessibility guidelines, to help developers quickly respond to the
latest technology trends and high-level technical requirements in
the Web 2.0 era.
ACTF will allow developers to build and use various types of
accessibility tools, such as those for accessibility compliance
validation, usability visualisation, and alternative
accessible interfaces for persons with disabilities.
These tools will be integrated into a single, comprehensive
accessibility tooling environment as part of the Eclipse
platform.
The Eclipse Foundation is an open source community focused on
developing a universal platform of frameworks and tools that make
it easy and cost-effective to build and deploy software.