Tough Problems Solved

While the baby boom generation may be growing older, its use of IT is not diminishing. The Japan Cabinet Office’s "Annual Report on the Aging Society 2003" shows that the population age 65 or older is about seven percent of the total labor force population and the aging trend of the workforce will probably continue. A recent survey by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) shows that seven in 10 Americans also plan on working past the age of 65. With older people remaining in the workforce longer and an increasing number of services being offered on the Web, businesses and government organizations cannot afford to lose touch with this population. They must offer accessible technologies not only to conform with regulations and standards, but also to help the aging workforce remain productive.

With that in mind, the IBM Research lab in Tokyo has developed a technology to enable people with low vision to access Web sites without having to purchase and install a special product beforehand. The Easy Web Browsing technology provides an interface that enlarges font sizes and reads aloud sentences selected by the individual. It also changes background colors according to his or her preference.

What’s more, the technology is available to users on demand once it has been installed by the Web site owners and is designed so that it can be easily updated as newer versions become available. Users who want to enlarge the font or use other features can choose to activate the Easy Web Browsing technology. Once that link is selected, the necessary software components download automatically, and users can access the information on the page. As they move the mouse to sentences on the screen, the application magnifies and reads them aloud using a built-in text-to-speech engine. Sound effects signal events such as load completion and the speech volume and the user can adjust how fast the sentence is read. For heightened security, this technology uses ActiveX objects with digital signatures.

Easy Web Browsing technology has been deployed in Japan, where IT leaders have introduced it in local governments to improve customer service as part of the e-Japan strategy. Driven by a commitment to corporate social responsibility, a large private enterprise has also introduced the technology on its Web site – and gotten a very favorable response from its customers.

For more information on how to add this useful and productive visual aid to your Web site, contact IBM Research Services.