IBM donates web accessibility platform to open source Eclipse Foundation

IBM has contributed its Accessibility Tools Framework (ACTF) to the open source Eclipse 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.