GATE to accessibility of computer graphics

Abstract

This paper presents a framework for integrating current information technologies into a platform enabling the blind and visually impaired people to access computer graphics based on the annotated SVG format. We also present a technique enabling the conversion of any graphical object to the annotated SVG format and easy annotation supported by OWL based ontology. This approach is not limited to vector graphics only, but enables also the flexible annotation and application of raster graphics (e.g. photographs). We briefly describe the architecture of the GATE (Graphics Accessible To Everyone) project, which contains the corresponding implemented modules. As an illustration, we provide an example showing how the blind can access the annotated graphics. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.