Alternative Formats

Accessible Format 1 = Assistive technologies

Positive Features = Assistive technologies can make text accessible. Assistive technologies typically magnify print, verbalize text aloud in synthetic speech or from a recording, or give the user access to braille.

Negative Features = Assistive technologies cannot render graphics or graphical images in meaningful ways without textual information or representations that web page designers or document producers must provide

Technical Resources required = Web page designers

Human Resources required = training and support

 

Accessible Format 2 = Braille

Positive Features = Electronic files may be read using a refreshable braille display attached to a computer, using a portable note-taker, or using synthetic speech. Synthetic speech may be built into a portable note-taker, or it may be produced using software and a voice synthesizer installed on a computer. Basically, a blind person who uses synthetic speech is able to hear all of the textual information that is displayed on a sighted person’s screen. Electronic files can be distributed to blind people on World Wide Web pages, by e-mail, on diskettes, or on compact discs. Sometimes, producing an accessible electronic document can give the user the most flexibility since an electronic file can be searched, reviewed, and manipulated.

Negative Features = The weight of Braille documents to carry around; time and cost to produce.

Technical Resources required = Braille embosser, appropriate paper, software to translate electronic files into Braille

Human Resources required = Proof reader

 

Accessible Format 3 = Audio recordings

Positive Features = helpful for many and widely used; text transcript can be produced. Highly structured SML files are very accessible. Standards are becoming embedded in law.

Negative Features = can be quickly converted, but can have an impact on quality.

Technical Resources required = audio player and recorder; headset . A clear well structured recording with good navigation is required.

Human Resources required = A transcribe and publisher

 

Accessible Format 4 = Large print format / giant print format

Positive Features = can be read with prescription lenses or a magnifier or using CCTV, also software to enlarge print on a computer screen.

Negative Features = must be produced on the right paper, too shiny and it is difficult to read. Can be several more pages and could be heavy to carry around like in Braille.

Technical Resources required = knowledge of producing in large print – ensuring the pixels are correct. It is not just a matter of enlarging text!

Human Resources required = Somebody to produce the large print

 

Accessible Format 5 = Text format

Positive Features = unlike images, video or audio – text can be seen and heard. Users who can’t hear can read text and users who can’t see can have text read aloud software. It is commonly used and familiar. Using styles allows documents with structural integrity to be created. Converts well when styles are used.

Negative Features = pages with a lot of text can create challenges. Few people produce word documents using styles because it is easy to create the same visual effect using formatting (eg bold, italic). Most screen readers don’t support alternative text for images within the native application. When word files are viewed using a web browser, the viewer will render the file poorly and loses the structural integrity of the document.

Technical Resources required = Technically straight forward. Web technology offers a variety of methods for presenting media content with equivalent text, but technical expertise and software and hardware is required

Human Resources required = training

 

Accessible Format 6 = HTML

Positive Features = Highly structured language. Structure facilitates navigation for screen reader users. The native application is the browser, so files render correctly.

Negative Features = poorly created documents with little or no structure

Technical Resources required = Requires creators to know about HTML and structure. A graphical web development tool is required.

Human Resources required = training

 

Accessible Format 7 = PDF

Positive Features = Commonly used; tagged PDF is accessible to many screen readers. Supports alternative text for images. Apple users can select a range of voices for the read-aloud function.  

Negative Features = poorly created documents with little or no structure. It is difficult to modify once created.

Technical Resources required = Requires creators to know how to create correct, accessible PDF documents and requires adobe software.

Human Resources required = training

 

Accessible Format 8 = Powerpoint

Positive Features = Commonly used; files accessible; a wizard is available for converting files accessibly to the web.

Negative Features = poorly created documents with little or no structure.

Technical Resources required = knowledge of powerpoint

Human Resources required = training