Web Adaptability for Inclusion Conference 2007: Web 2.0 accessibility – is it getting easier? Are we more inclusive than before?
December 5 – 7 2007 at La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria (near Melbourne), Australia.
Keynote Speakers
and *
- Roger Hudson: Web Usability
- Russ Weakley: Australian Museum
- Jon Mason, Intercog Pty Ltd
- Tom Worthington: TomW Communications Pty Ltd
*This caricature by Sydney artist Ulf Kaiser appeared on page 52 of The Australian newspaper, Tuesday 14 September 1999, in James Riley’s “Ambition” column: “Webmeister throws off his camouflage”
Special Topics for 2007:
Worldwide, there have been significant steps towards a more inclusive online environment. New applications for improving the accessibility of content and services are adopting revised guidelines from W3C; new quality certification standards have been developed, and interactive accessibility services are emerging. The ISO committee has produced an inventory of needs, responses, and requires input from users and developers. Learn more about Web 2.0 and these developments at OZeWAI 2007.
The following topics are very relevant:
- Web 2.0 accessibility and Accessibility 2.0
- 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.
Education Standards Workshop (Wednesday 5 December)
ISO/IEC JTC1 SC36 has developed new standards for accessibility. W3C is in the process of renewing its specifications and guidelines. DCMI and IMS GLC have been working on new standards and AGLS is reviewing their standards. Standards Australia are actively engaged in work that leads to these internatioonal standards, especially ISO standards that become Australian standards. This forum will inform participants about imminent new obligations and provide time for questions and particularly for contributions to these standards.
eLearning Forum (Thursday 6 December)
A follow-on from the Toronto forum on Inclusion in eLearning will be held on Thursday Dec. 6. Participants will have access to video recordings of the Toronto forum and outcomes from that work (prior to OZeWAI) and be able to discuss and contribute an Australasian perspective to this important work. See http://www.openforum.elsacc.ca/.
Professional Development Forum (Friday 7 December)
Following Tom Worthington’s presentation on “Making Information Professionals Accessible”, there will be a workshop on ideas and experiences in professional and academic training with the aim of developing a shared, concerted effort to raise the standard of practitioners in Australia. Librarians, records managers, educators, Web masters, managers and others are invited to participate and contribute to a report to be published after this Forum.
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 2006.
- 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!
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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 offers specially priced, on-campus accommodation for OZeWAI participants. The Pathfinder Motel in Kew is being recommended as the conference motel. Please contact us directly if you want to avail yourslef of their special conference offer: info@ozewai.org.
Important dates for 2007
- October 1 – proposals due
- October 23 – early bird registration opens (special rates)
- November 16 – early bird registration rates end
- December 5 – 7 – attend OZeWAI 2007