Media and entertainment is an area currently undergoing serious changes in its business models due to technology. Web TV channels, Smart TVs, new gaming consoles, new trends in gaming, and mobile computing are affecting the future of entertainment, which is becoming more interactive and engaging. People with disabilities and elderly were already facing a series of problems in using such devices and services. This chapter discusses current problems and future solutions and dangers that lie ahead in the area of media and entertainment looking at the Web as a platform for entertainment, the TV and changes in related technologies, the trends in publishing, and the effects for accessibility.
TopWeb Accessibility Issues
Thanks to work lead by W3C the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C, 2014) guidelines already exist for web content accessibility since May 1999 with the publication of WCAG1.0 (EOWG & WCAG WG, 2006) which was upgraded with an improved version WCAG2.0 (Caldwell, Cooper, Reid, & Vanderheiden, 2008)in December 2008. These guidelines on web accessibility have been supplemented by Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (EOWG & ATAG WG, 2013) to assist in the development of accessible ICT tools, User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (EOWG & UAWG, 2005)to assist in the development of media players and other devices not just web pages, as well as an Evaluation and Reporting Language called EARL (EOWG & ERT WG, 2011)to support the development of tools for the automated or semi-automated auditing of websites.
The guidelines are technical guidelines and do not deal with fuzzier concepts of good design. It is possible to create good and bad web-sites all the while conforming to these guidelines. There is scope for design research that goes beyond strict technical conformity with a view to providing excellent service to the specific user groups.
The W3C guidelines are strictly technical and address a basic set of needs of people with disabilities, the focus tends to be on areas such as users who have difficulties with sight, hearing or mobility and coordination. A design oriented research program could look at the specific needs of people in these categories especially with respect to daily tasks such as travel, banking, shopping, public administration, news and entertainment as well as the many database, design, planning, collaboration and transaction management systems that are essential for professional life but which are usually available only through company intranets.
A design oriented approach could also explore the needs of people with temporary, progressive or situational disabilities, as well as the specific needs of people living with cognitive or developmental disabilities such as autism, dyslexia or early stage Alzheimer’s.