Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Subscribe
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Subscribe
    Home IT Management
    • IT Management

    Program Aims to Make Technology More Accessible

    Written by

    Deb Perelman
    Published March 27, 2007
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      According to the World Health Organization, between 750 million and 1 billion of the worlds 6 billion people have a speech, vision, mobility, hearing or cognitive disability which can preclude them from using one or many aspects of a traditional computer setup.

      Yet its not only the disabled who have difficulty navigating software and technology; the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that one-quarter of the U.S. population will reach 55 by 2008, and about half will experience a disability after age 65, all of which is expected to create a surge in the modified, accessible-technology market.

      Despite these statistics, accessibility concepts are not often taught in the majority of computer science programs, which in turn fail to graduate developers who are ready to accommodate specific needs. A recent survey commissioned by IBM of more than 200, two- and four-year U.S. universities found that the majority of faculty respondents do not teach accessibility in the classroom due to a lack of familiarity with the topic and a shortage of learning materials to incorporate into existing classes.

      /zimages/3/28571.gifRead more here about the impact of an aging work force.

      In an effort to address this, six universities—University of Illinois, California State University at Long Beach, Georgia Tech, University of Toronto and the Rochester Institute of Technology—announced March 23 that they are partnering with IBM to influence college students to learn accessibility concepts early.

      “To create a truly inclusive society, all forms of information technology need to be more accessible,” said Bonnie Jones of the U.S. Department of Education.

      “If we cant do this, people with disabilities land on the wrong side of the digital divide. We have to capture the intelligence and imagination of our next generation of IT developers now.”

      Professors at these universities plan to develop and share coursework intended to give students the skills to design software to accommodate special needs. The goal is to create a repository of repeatable learning materials that can be incorporated in everyday, computer-programming classes.

      “This repository will be an invaluable aid to professors in any institution of higher education teaching technology accessibility. And success of this worldwide repository is dependent on collaboration and participation of professors around the world,” said Jon Gunderson, director of Information Technology Accessibility at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign.

      As a precursor to this initiative, IBM posted material for computer science classes this past fall and launched a contest where students competed to provide software code that would make documents more accessible. Nearly 400 students from 111 universities in Canada, China, Japan and the United States participated.

      /zimages/3/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms for the latest news, analysis and commentary on careers for IT professionals.

      Deb Perelman
      Deb Perelman

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.