New topic: Accessibility of QR codes and Accessible Wayfinding solutions

Hi all

 

I received an interesting email today and thought it might be a good
discussion point:

 

Here's the body of the email:

 

Specifically, we are developing a digital wayfinding solution, and are
looking at using google maps to supplement it, and potentially Q codes. And
we would like to use these on our website as well as on the wayfinding
screens at the hospital. 

 

Hoping you can help answer some questions:

 

1.         You mentioned that you would look into whether or not Q codes
passed the accessibility standards - have you found anything out yet?

2.         We are trying to see how we can make our digital wayfinding
solution in the hospital as accessible as possible but realise we don't know
some basics like, for example, how a blind or visually impaired person would
normally find a wayfinding kiosk.  We can't find any answers on google at
the moment.

a.         Is there a standard we can follow to alert a person to the
location of a wayfinding kiosk i.e. a universal beeping signal that anyone
with a visual impairment recognises as an information kiosk?  

b.         Do most people with visual impairments carry mobile phone with
apps that can act as screen readers (we noticed these exist) working via
blue tooth, and is it sufficient to cater to this by building in something
that interacts with such an app? Or do we need to approach it from the stand
point that users may not have a mobile phone. I guess what is the acceptable
standard in this case.

c.         From reading through the WCAG requirements, it seems
accessibility only applies to websites (including intranets and extranets)
but not to apps nor digital signage - is this accurate? This is the
impression that the developers are getting so if unable to come up with a
viable solution with google maps on the website, they may simply not have
that on the website, but offer it as an app on the digital wayfinding kiosk
or solution offered.

 

 

While I think it would be an interesting future webinar, I'm trying to get
some interim information for this new hospital being built here in WA. From
what I've seen, they are using some really advanced technological solutions
in their designs, equipment etc. and obviously want their communications to
echo the same.  

 

If any of you can point me to some resources to assist, it would be much
appreciated as I haven't seen much in the accessibility sphere on this
topic. 

 

Regards,

 

Vivienne Conway, B.IT (Hons), MACS CT, AALIA(CS)

Director

 

Web Key IT Pty Ltd

PO BOX 681 Wanneroo, WA 6946

M    0415 383 673   F   (08) 9325 6422

 

E       <mailto:vivienne.conway@webkeyit.com> v.conway@webkeyit.com

W     <http://www.webkeyit.com/> www.webkeyit.com 

 

 



 

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