Evaluation framework towards all inclusive mainstream ICT

Abstract

The current paper presents the evaluation framework and plans developed for the evaluation of the applications to be developed in the context of the ÆGIS Integrating Project (Grant Agreement: 224348) of the 7th Framework Programme, which aims to embed support for accessibility through the development of an Open Accessibility Framework, upon which open source accessibility interfaces and applications for the users as well as accessibility toolkits for the developers will be built. Within ÆGIS, three mainstream markets are targeted, namely the desktop, rich Internet applications and mobile devices/applications market segments. Upon the basis of an overall user-centred approach, the developed evaluation framework will involve all types of targeted end-users, namely persons with disabilities as well as experts in Assistive Technology, trainers/tutors and developers as well as a series of other related stakeholders. Evaluation will be held in three iterative phases and across 4 Pilot sites (Belgium, Spain, Sweden and in the UK), providing in-between each phase, feedback to the development teams for debugging and optimization. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.