Building Blocks for an Accessible Cloud. Microsoft s Accessible Technology Vision and Strategy. September

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1 Building Blocks for an Accessible Cloud Microsoft s Accessible Technology Vision and Strategy September

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3 Contents Microsoft s Vision for an Accessible Cloud... 1 The Building Blocks for an Accessible Cloud Ecosystem... 3 Advances in Microsoft Technologies... 4 Sustaining the Accessibility Ecosystem... 5 Considerations for Policymakers... 6 Looking Ahead... 9

4 Microsoft s Vision for an Accessible Cloud As computers and the Internet play an increasingly important part in people s lives at work, at school, and at home making technology accessible to people with a wide range of abilities is an imperative. Accessible technology makes it easier for people with visual, dexterity, cognitive and speech needs to use computers and other devices to communicate and share information, access government services, and secure and retain employment. According to the United Nations Convention on Persons with Disabilities, disability affects between 15 percent and 20 percent of the population in every country worldwide, and the incidence of disability in industrialized nations is increasing as their populations get older. A Forrester Research Inc. study commissioned by Microsoft found that 57 percent of working-age computer users (18 64 years old) would likely benefit from accessible technology because of difficulties and impairments that affect their computer use. As the population continues to age, the number of computer users in the age range will increase significantly, as will the number of people who would benefit from accessible technology. For more than 25 years, Microsoft has been at the forefront of efforts to make computers and the Internet more accessible. These efforts include: Building accessibility options into Windows and other Microsoft products that let users personalize the computer display, mouse, keyboard, sound, and speech options. Working with AT companies to facilitate the creation of software and hardware products such as screen readers, magnifiers, and specialty keyboards that enable individuals with significant vision, hearing, dexterity, language or learning needs to use computers. Creating developer technologies and tools that make it easier to build AT products and accessible applications that interoperate and work well together. Today, a vibrant worldwide ecosystem of accessible technology tools, technologies, and solutions is helping enable and empower millions of people of all ages and abilities. However, as the technology landscape continues to evolve, so too must the building blocks that support this accessible technology ecosystem. Of particular significance is the rise of cloud computing, which encompasses a major shift in how technology will be used in the years ahead and what people and organizations can do with it. In the simplest terms, cloud computing represents the convergence of smart Internetconnected devices, innovative software applications, and data storage and services hosted on the Internet. This convergence of hosted data storage and services, applications, and devices is 1

5 sometimes referred to as three screens and a cloud. (The three screens being laptop or desktop computers, smartphones, and TVs.) Advances in client-based operating systems like Windows 7 and applications like Microsoft Office 2010 are powering many of these devices with more intuitive user interfaces and the ability to perform increasingly complex computing functions, such as data visualization and real-time simulation of 3D environments. At the same time, development of large data centers capable of storing huge volumes of data and hosting a rapidly expanding universe of online applications and services is opening new realms of communication, collaboration, commerce, learning, and entertainment. Microsoft Office 365, the cloud-based version of Microsoft Office, utilizes the power of these online capabilities to simplify sharing, collaboration and storage of Office documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Microsoft also offers many other online services, solutions, and platforms that are enabling individuals, businesses, and governments to take advantage of the convenience and flexibility of the cloud. For individuals, the cloud has the potential to offer seamless, on-demand access to content, social networks, and online services across a range of devices. For organizations, the cloud offers the ability to dynamically scale IT capacity depending on evolving needs, better manage spending on IT infrastructure, and concentrate more resources on core business functions. As these shifts pick up steam, Microsoft believes it is important to expand the vision of an accessible computing ecosystem to encompass technologies, tools, products, and services that enable all people to benefit from the cloud and to more easily control the devices around them to live a more independent life. As a starting point, people will always need a smart client device with built-in accessibility capabilities to serve as a gateway to the cloud and to perform tasks offline or when no Internet access is available. When browsing the Internet, accessing social networking sites, or tapping into cloud services, users will use applications or a web browser such as Internet Explorer to access and retrieve information. These devices also enable individuals who may require AT applications or specialty computing hardware that enables text to be read, video to be captioned, or that facilitates hands-free entry of information. Over time, we envision a world of accessible, cloud-connected devices powered by Microsoft technologies that an individual can rely on to understand and interpret their needs, preferences, and immediate surroundings to create an adaptive experience. In combination 2

6 with reliable broadband connectivity and the virtually unlimited computing power of the cloud, it will be possible for these preferences to follow users wherever they go and to supplement the capabilities of any particular device in ways that increase communication and collaboration and help reduce social isolation at work and at home. The Building Blocks for an Accessible Cloud Ecosystem Microsoft s commitment to creating an ecosystem of accessible technologies runs deep, and includes development of a number of core accessible technology building blocks. In 2005, Microsoft User Interface Automation (UI Automation) introduced a new approach to exchanging information between Windows applications, web content and ATs. UI Automation s unique approach allows application developers to make their software compatible with AT products such as screen readers for users with limited sight and on-screen keyboards for users with limited physical access. It also allows AT developers to design their products to be forward compatible with future versions of those applications. 1 UI Automation is supported across Microsoft s popular development frameworks, including Microsoft Silverlight, the.net Framework, Windows Presentation Foundation, and other frameworks that have been in use for decades. Developers use these frameworks to create interactive user experiences, content, and video for the PC, web, mobile devices, and the cloud. Support for UI Automation was first added to Microsoft Internet Explorer 8, and then significantly expanded in Internet Explorer 9, released in early As developers increasingly embrace Internet Explorer as a platform for deploying the latest HTML5 cloudbased applications, support for UI Automation Accessibility Tools & Training Microsoft recently released a suite of free online accessibility training courses, tools and other resources to help developers create accessible technology products, services and websites. The courses include a general overview for both technical and nontechnical audiences, a development overview, and sections covering Windows platform technology, Microsoft Silverlight, ARIA, and HTML 5. All of the training courses stress the importance of building accessibility into products and internal systems from the start of the development cycle. in the browser will enable AT developers to make richer, immersive web content and applications accessible to people with disabilities. By extending support for UI Automation 1 Accessibility protocols have been supported in Windows 95, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server

7 across all its platforms such as the Windows client and Windows server operating systems, Internet Explorer, and Silverlight Microsoft is ensuring that as the cloud evolves more of its potential and power is accessible to people with disabilities. 2 Advances in Microsoft Technologies Two of the most promising areas of innovation to help users tap the power of the cloud are speech recognition and text-to-speech technology. Speech recognition (and commanding) technologies allow computers to hear and understand human speech. This is an important feature for people with hand or arm injuries, paraplegia, or absence of fine motor control. Microsoft has two primary investments in this area. Windows Speech Recognition listens and reacts to spoken commands, enabling a user to run applications and interact with their Windows computer. For example, it allows a user to dictate an , surf the web, or fill out online forms by voice instead of with a keyboard and mouse. Microsoft Tellme is a cloud-based speech platform that enables speech recognition in a range of Microsoft products, including Windows Phone 7, Bing, Office, Exchange Server, and Office Communications Server. It also allows developers of third-party products to add speech recognition to their solutions. In Windows Phone 7, for example, speech recognition technology supports phone dialing, navigation and web search. The Policies and Standards Microsoft embraces a holistic approach to integrating accessibility into product planning, development, and testing. Our Corporate Accessibility Policy defines core principles that guide employees and business operations companywide as they work to build accessibility solutions into our products, collaborate with companies that specialize in development of accessible and assistive technologies, and document and share accessibility information with customers, partners, and governments. Our recently-updated Microsoft Accessibility Standard will help ensure that Microsoft meets its internal commitment to delivering accessible products, services, tools, and content, and that we comply with commonly-accepted industry practices, internationallyrecognized standards, and relevant laws and regulations. Windows Phone 7.5 update extended this to also include dictating and sending a text message and advanced phone functions, such as call forwarding, redial and contact list. The Bing for 2 Microsoft extended UI Automation support to the Linux platform as part of an agreement in 2007 with Novell and pledged to make the UI Automation available to other companies under our Community Promise, which ensures that anyone building software is free to implement the specifications. More recently, Microsoft contributed the UIA to the Accessibility Interoperability Alliance an industry engineering working group to increase the accessibility and interoperability of more technologies. 4

8 Mobile search engine available as an application for many web-enabled phones or as a web page accessible from a mobile phone browser lets users speak a search term instead of typing it. Similarly, speech recognition technology in Kinect an add-on peripheral for the Xbox 360 game console lets individuals use voice commands to have live video chats, play music and videos, and watch thousands of live and on-demand ESPN sporting events without ever using a game controller. 3 Tellme s cloud-based platform analyzes billions of speech interactions to improve the underlying speech recognition engine and better understand a user s intent. The more you use it, the more it learns and more accurate it becomes. Text-to-speech (TTS) technology also known as speech synthesis enables computers to talk. This capability is used in screen readers for people who are blind, reading aids for people with reading disabilities, and as a synthetic voice for people who are unable to speak. Microsoft has three key investments in TTS: speech engines installed in the Windows operating system, available as a cloud service, and integrated into specific applications. The cloud service and installed speech engines offer value for assistive technology vendors building accessibility solutions. One example of TTS in the cloud is through the Bing Translator, where a consumer can type a phrase, have it translated into one of 18 languages and have the resulting phrase read aloud. 4 For people with visual impairments or reading disabilities, the TTS engine in Windows 7 powers a screen reader called Narrator, which reads on-screen text aloud and can help the user navigate the interface without seeing the screen. It also drives the Speak feature in Office 2010, which enables a computer to play back written text as spoken words. Lync 2010, Microsoft s newest unified communications tool, uses TTS technology so users can more easily connect, communicate, and share information in the cloud. 5 For instance, incoming instant messages and other communications requests can be read out by a screen reader and accompanied by audio cues. Notifications are also read out as they appear. Sustaining the Accessibility Ecosystem Just as the cloud itself is a work in progress, so, too, are Microsoft s efforts to enable the cloud for people of all abilities. As we continue to invest in building a more seamless cloud-based spectrum of solutions, we will also back the contributions of other developers of accessible 3 Eventually, Kinect s speech and gesture-recognition technology may enable more people with disabilities to play games on their computers and in the cloud. 4 Bing Translator supports translation between 36 languages, but only supports TTS for 18 as of September More information about Lync accessibility features: 5

9 products, services, and content. We believe that a healthy, market-driven ecosystem comprised of many products, business models, and development philosophies is the fastest route to achieving a more accessible cloud. Many different approaches are represented in the current ecosystem, and Microsoft supports many of them. For example, Microsoft is working in partnership with an organization called LucyTech and with government organizations worldwide to pilot a commercially-viable model for cloud-based accessibility solutions, which will be made available at little or no cost to consumers. Although LucyTech will build on existing cloud, platform, and application investments, it is pushing the boundaries of existing technologies and cloud infrastructure and will include some new cloud-based service offerings to fill critical gaps. It is a distributed accessibility solution with the promise to provide globally available AT solutions. Another international effort we support is the Global Public Inclusive Infrastructure (GPII). The goal of GPII is to increase awareness of the existing accessibility infrastructure (such as APIs, operating system features, and tools) and accelerate development of new accessibility building blocks that make the benefits of the cloud more easily available to everyone. Participants in the GPII process agree that a client device and associated operating system form the foundation of accessibility solutions and are the first line of functionality that people will use. There also is a shared understanding that cloud-based services offer significant opportunities to complement and extend those built-in capabilities to create new and better customer-ready features. For example, a fully-developed accessible cloud infrastructure would enable people who cannot use standard interfaces and content to use a broadband connection to invoke the interface adaptions they need, automatically, on any device, anywhere and anytime. The GPII vision aligns with Microsoft s long-standing desire for an adaptive computing environment. In some respects, GPII is helping clarify the vision and need for better cloudconnected accessibility products and services, while the LucyTech project is focusing on the development and delivery of a working solution that fully utilizes existing Microsoft cloud technologies, services, and commercial AT products to realize this vision. Microsoft sees value in both projects, so is participating in and supporting both efforts. Considerations for Policymakers Governments around the world are increasingly aware of the enormous potential of cloud computing to benefit citizens and society. Microsoft has developed a set of policy principles to support its commitment to both digital inclusion and to the cloud. Microsoft believes these principles are at the core of effective policy frameworks for accessibility and the cloud, and will 6

10 encourage the widespread development and implementation of accessible technologies, products, programs, and services. These policies include: Harmonizing International Standards and Procurement Approaches. Market-led, globally harmonized standards and the procurement policies that reference them are the foundation of accessible and interoperable IT products and cloud services. Globally-harmonized standards bring major advantages to both business and individual users of accessible technology. Because the speed of innovation in the IT sector can outpace legislative measures put in place to encourage accessibility and promote cloud services, Microsoft believes it is important that globally harmonized standards constitute the basis of product development. Promoting Effective Conformance. Accessible technology can be advanced most effectively by minimizing undue regulatory burden. When standards for cloud and accessibility are referenced in government procurement policies, Microsoft supports effective and rigorous conformance mechanisms that provide adequate assurance of compliance, encourage innovation, and promote consumer choice. One such example is the voluntary supplier declaration of accessibility, as defined in the ISO/IEC standard and used in a number of countries around the world. Promoting Interoperability. Interoperability is crucial to creating an accessible cloud computing environment for users with a broad range of abilities. It is a key feature of Microsoft accessible technologies and we advocate for public policies that allow a variety of complementary ways to achieve it. We believe that governments should not engineer interoperability by prescribing specific approaches and excluding others, but instead should allow IT vendors and purchasers to use the solutions that best suit their needs. AT/IT interoperability standards such as ISO will help ensure that vendors cloud-ready technologies are also interoperable with assistive technology. Aligning user needs with a dynamic and growing array of devices, technology platforms, development tools, assistive technologies, and services is a complex challenge that will require industry-wide innovation and collaboration, appropriate government policies, and the active involvement of the disability community. 7

11 Ensuring Technology Neutrality. Technology-neutral policies promote innovation, eliminate barriers to trade and market access, enhance competition, and prevent bias in government procurement. Microsoft believes that a flexible cloud policy approach based on a commitment to technology neutrality and choice is particularly appropriate in the rapidly evolving IT environment. Customers and governments today increasingly rely on a combination of proprietary and open source software, as well as on open standards and proprietary standards, to develop accessibility solutions. By encouraging choice, governments will enable the broadest possible array of solutions for people with disabilities and drive down the cost of building accessible mainstream products. 6 Enhancing the Ecosystem. In order for technology companies to invest in and develop accessible cloud solutions, they must understand user needs and be confident that there will be a market for such solutions. Today, the accessible technology PC ecosystem is a vibrant and healthy collection of more than 350 products that offer tremendous customer benefit. Assistive technologies for the cloud will require similar breadth and depth. Microsoft believes that governments should take steps to ensure accessibility is not undermined by cloud policies that put the existing AT ecosystem at risk or that diminish the ability of entrepreneurs to continue serving the disability community. Promoting Accessible Cloud Services. Cloud technology can be central to the policy-making process in many important areas, including digital inclusion, education, e-government, aging, and employment. Microsoft believes the industry can achieve more through cooperation than through isolation. To this end, we encourage governments to support and foster multistakeholder partnerships that leverage accessible technology and the cloud to address key policy challenges and deliver positive benefits for individuals and society at large. By coordinating policy development with industry leaders, assistive technology vendors, nonprofits, and consumers, governments can promote increased investment in both the Cloud and accessible technologies so that all Americans, including the millions with disabilities, benefit. 6 Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act is a good example of how the federal government, in the past, has effectively used the market to drive the adoption of voluntary best practices and the development of innovative, interoperable accessibility solutions. Section 508 does not impose accessibility requirements on technology companies, but instead requires that the federal government purchase products and services that best meet certain accessibility standards. By focusing on the procurement process and not dictating specific accessibility technology solutions, Section 508 spurs competition among suppliers to meet, and at times to exceed, accessibility standards across all markets. 8

12 Looking Ahead The future of accessibility begins with a set of smart, connected client devices with built-in accessibility features and ATs but it extends beyond the device by enabling consumers and developers to take advantage of services made available through the cloud. When combined, these on-device features and cloud-based services will create a highly dynamic experience capable of responding to the user s surroundings (e.g. noise, lighting, etc.) and more intelligently adapting to their needs and/or personal preferences. Microsoft and others in the technology industry have worked hard over the last two decades to develop technology, tools, interoperability standards, and best practices that establish a strong foundation on which to build this future. A diverse ecosystem of products and services already ensure customer choice, encourage competition and specialization in the marketplace, and they help drive innovation. Many applications already adhere to a baseline set of design requirements that can be adapted quickly to new technologies or other changes in the accessibility ecosystem. Likewise, a variety of web-based, open source, and free assistive technologies, including screen readers and speech recognition products, already are available in the market. To ensure that all Americans can benefit from future advances in the cloud, it s critical that these opportunities stay grounded in workable solutions that build on the existing infrastructure and the substantial investments already made by businesses, governments, and consumers in the thousands of existing accessibility applications and products in the marketplace. Expanding the vision of an accessible computing ecosystem to encompass technologies, tools, products, and services will enable all people to benefit from the cloud and live more independent and productive lives. More Information: 9