Overview
The challenge: Provide unprecedented access to the 2005 World Expo Web site.
The solution: Incorporate IBM's accessibility solution for the visually impaired — Easy Web Browsing.
The benefit: Older persons and persons with visual impairments can access the pages of the Web site more easily.
EXPO 2005's official Web site offers help to older persons and persons with visual impairments
The Japan Association for the 2005 World Exposition is using the Internet support solution Easy Web Browsing for the official Web site of the 2005 World Exposition, being held in Aichi, Japan (EXPO 2005 AICHI, JAPAN). In addition to Easy Web Browsing, the Expo Web site can be read in seven languages — Japanese, English, French, Chinese (in original and simplified forms of characters), Korean, and Spanish. The promoters of the 2005 World Exposition, a six month long environmental and socially focused event staged to unite the cultures of the globe, are dedicated to ensuring the event is "barrier-free." With the addition of Easy Web Browsing, senior citizens and people with visual impairments may now be able to use the pages of the Web site more easily. This is the world's first instance in which this sort of function is provided using the solution.
Reducing the digital divide
When EXPO 2005 wanted to offer its Web site in seven languages in order to provide information to visitors worldwide, IBM Japan agreed to produce and operate six of the language versions because of its expertise and know-how in the operation of global Web sites. And, when the EXPO 2005's hospitality committee wanted to help enable visitors to access its official Web site, they turned again to IBM. Because the Internet is gaining importance as a source of information and is being used by a wider range of people, IBM Japan's Easy Web Browsing was adopted. The solution was implemented jointly with the Tokai office of the Social Service Association, an organization dedicated to providing barrier-free Web sites, with the aim of reducing the digital divide.
Visitors to the EXPO 2005's official Web site can use Easy Web Browsing to have text read aloud, display enlarged text, and change screen colors. When users first access the official Web site, they can download the necessary software. Then, they simply move the mouse pointer to the part of the screen they want to read — characters are automatically enlarged and the text is read aloud. They can adjust the reading speed and change the background and character color. All of these functions can help people with visual impairments such as color blindness or cataracts to more easily view the screen. By implementing this accessibility solution, the Japan Association for the 2005 World Exposition hopes that people in Japan and abroad who were unable to visit the physical EXPO 2005 site, can feel that the international event is being brought closer to them. The organization also hopes that many visitors will utilize information offered by the official Web site.