Web Adaptability Conference:
How can we include everyone?
December 7-9 2005 at La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria (near Melbourne), Australia.
Keynote Speakers:
- Helle Bjarnø
- Videncenter for Synshandicap – Denmark
- Paul Bohman
- WebAIM (Web Accessibility in Mind) – U.S.A.
- Shawn Henry
- World Wide Web Consortium – USA
- Charles McCathieNevile
- Opera – Norway
Special Sub-events
- Wednesday 7th – full day accessibility workshop offered by WebAIM (including hands-on activities).
- Thursday 8th – Accessibility Metadata Workshop (including W3C, ISO, IMS, and other metadata developments)
- Friday 9th – Education Day (with special activities for WANAU)
We also have a special ‘techies’ focus on Friday 9th.
There will be no extra cost for these workshops but numbers will be limited for some so registration for them is necessary (there is a check box on the registration page).
Main themes
Adaptability is about ensuring that everyone who wants to access digital content can do so if they have appropriate devices and telecommunications. Currently this is not the case – large Web pages rarely fit on small hand-held device screens, let alone phone screens, and most interesting sites are not accessible to people with adaptive tchnologies because the resources are not well-formed.
A networked community is not a networked community unless everyone can participate. This conference provides a forum for considering all issues related to adaptability with the aim of making the Web universally accessible and including everyone in the networked world.
The following topics are relevant:
- making resources suitably adaptable
- auditing Websites and resources for adaptability and standards compliance
- repairing inaccessible content
- discovering accessible content
- matching resources to users needs and preferences
- and more.
Who should attend OZeWAI?
We always try to plan for the participants we expect to join us. The following list is not exhaustive but should be indicative:
- techies
- We always like to support the techie folk. Adaptability depends upon the expertise of technical people and we are keen to ensure that OZeWAI is a good forum for exchange between members of this class.
- exhibitors
- Yes – we especially like our trade partners – we cannot solve the adaptability problems without the tools and expertise they offer and we would like to see more participation on the part of those who can offer solutions to those with the problems.
- educators
- A significant number of people working in the field of adaptability are also within the educational domain. This year we will continue the practice of having a stream of events designed especially for this community. We will be encouraging senior administrators, managers, designers and the technical teams to join us.
- internationalisation and multi-lingual content developers and managers
- Providing resources in multiple languages, and resources that are suitable for international use, is not as easy as it might be. experts and novices can work together on this topic.
- symbolic language resource developers
- Using the Web to distribute maths, science, music and other symbolically represented content in a standard way is essential if eveyone is to be able to access it.
- information managers
- A significant new group of professionals who are able to make a difference to the accessibility of resources using metadata are especially welcome at OZeWAI in 2005.
- researchers
- Adaptability is a lively field. There is some exciting research being done and the results are sometimes surprising. Papers that report this research are welcomed. Where papers have already been published elsewhere, presenters might like to submit a short paper to present their work in this forum.
- managers
- Just how critical is good management to adaptability? We appreciate that it is crucial but also that often managing the associated activities means working in a new domain for those responsible. This stream is designed to help managers and those responding to managers’ concerns. Managers often want to know what they should know, what they should do, what they should expect others to do, and how much it will all cost.
- users and ideas people!
- Without both these, nothing would happen!
For up-to-date information about the conference, please join the OZeWAI mailing list. This list is used for announcements only. The names and addresses of those on the list are not available for any purposes other than OZeWAI information and postings.
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Programme Committee
All papers and other proposals are reviewed by the OZeWAI international review panel. They look for new, interesting and useful contributions in a range of forms that will be appealing and satisfying to OZeWAI participants. Full papers are refereed according to Australian DEST standards, with the authors not being told the identity of their referees.
Conference format
OZeWAI conferences offer hands-on workshops, plenary presentations, informal work sessions, research reports, and time for discussion. The venue is ideal for small group discussion and the program, with lunches and dinners included, will provide opportunities for participants to interact with presenters informally. La Trobe University has on-campus accommodation (see below).
Conference costs
We offer one, two or three full days with presentations, workshops, including hands-on workshops, a reception, a formal dinner and a wind-up cocktail – as well as lunches and coffee/tea etc.
Costs: $400 for full registration, $300 for student registration, and $150 for daily registration (incl GST.). These costs include all activities of the day of registration, even the reception, dinner, etc. Early birds will register for $25 less than their later friends.
Accommodation
Menzies College at La Trobe University is offering specially priced, on-campus accommodation for OZeWAI participants. Rydges On Bell Street also offers specially priced accommodation in a fully equipped hotel. See details.
Important dates for 2005
- November 23 – early bird registration rates end
- December 7 – 9 – attend OZeWAI 2005
Sponsors:
