In general, the accessibility of your company website is significantly enhanced if Flash contents are made accessible and comply with the various accessibility guidelines, including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) X 8341-3.
For screen reader users, it is often difficult to understand the Flash contents that include interactive elements such as navigation buttons and animations. Similarly, clicking on links and manipulating user interfaces is difficult for keyboard users. Website administrators must prepare alternative HTML or text versions of such Flash contents, which incur additional cost.
The Accessible Flash Contents Development Service was born out of the need to improve the current state of Flash contents.
Since WCAG 2.0 has been officially published as a Recommendation, the importance of Web accessibility as a criterion for evaluating the quality of websites is becoming increasingly important in the overall enhancement of company websites.
Service Objectives
With this service, we create Flash contents using a development flow that is different from the ones used in the creation of traditional Flash contents, which do not consider accessibility. By improving the accessibility of the entire website including its rich contents, not only does it become accessible to handicapped users who face difficulties in manipulating traditional Flash contents, but the overall evaluation of the website is also enhanced.
Service Overview
Accessibility consulting will be provided during the requirements definition stage. In parallel with the consulting, our specialists will inspect and perform validation checks at each of the design, authoring, and implementation phases of the development project. Through these processes, we can help you create accessible Flash contents from a holistic viewpoint, which addresses, for example, issues of contrast—an issue that is often neglected when developing traditional Flash content. You will have peace of mind knowing that you can rely on the oversight provided by our professionals.
Implementation Example
Oki Electronics Co., Ltd.
Mechatronics Products | OKI
We helped develop Flash contents to introduce the company’s products. Names are labeled to each button, a basic measure for improving accessibility. Moreover, the tab-order and enable/disable state of each button is adjusted so that screen reader users and keyboard users can manipulate the function as easily as when using a mouse. Visually, the message ”Details Here“ appears on the screen, which is easier to understand. For screen reader users, this is replaced with “Link to Product Details.”
An Example from Our Website
Tsuji-chan and Ue-chan’s Accessibility Podcast
Flash-based players have been found to have operational issues when accessed through screen reading environment. Even when they can be used, in most instances, the operation is limited to “play” and “stop.” This is because user interfaces such as sliders are difficult to operate with input devices other than the mouse.
Mitsue-Links’ original Flash player overcomes such issues by utilizing alternative controls.
- Functions such as move forward/back or increase/decrease volume can be performed as easily using the keyboard as with the mouse.
- There is an option to display captions if required, for example, when sound is unavailable, or when it is hard to hear.
Service Flow
- Requirements definition for accessibility (at the design, authoring, and implementation phases)
- Design (inspection of accessibility at the design level)
- Flash authoring (authoring of components related to accessibility)
- Implementation (validation of alternative text and alternative contents)
- Creation of audio output files (MP3 files) using a screen reader (or a voice browser)
- Inspection and validation (final testing by a specialist using assistive technologies)
- Delivery
