2007 PhD Thesis Final Revised.pdf - Curtin University
2007 PhD Thesis Final Revised.pdf - Curtin University
2007 PhD Thesis Final Revised.pdf - Curtin University
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again become sufficiently accessible for vision impaired people. The full list of the<br />
WCAG guidelines version 1.0 can be found in Appendix C.<br />
2.7 Conclusion<br />
This chapter demonstrated that computing and Internet-related technologies have<br />
played a significant role in the welfare of people who are blind or vision impaired.<br />
The creation of the white cane and other mobility aids led to the development of<br />
assistive technology which was successful in proving a vital framework of improved<br />
equality and independence in the achievement of everyday tasks. Although there<br />
were difficulties accessing initial computing developments and the popular graphical<br />
user interface, the personal computer heralded unprecedented access to disability-<br />
specific information resources.<br />
The Internet continued to provide benefits to people with visual disabilities<br />
through access to independent information retrieval and disability-related<br />
communication. The development and use of such technologies also demonstrated<br />
that corporate policy played a vital role in the provision of such tools to ensure that<br />
the technology, which promised so much, was both available and accessible. Such<br />
technologies also improved the welfare of people with disabilities through enhanced<br />
educational opportunities which in turn led to improvements in addressing issues of<br />
poverty and unemployment. The contributions of this chapter to the research study<br />
are that computing and Internet-related products and services not only promote<br />
equality and independence but can also potentially address other disability-specific<br />
issues present in our society.<br />
Yet despite the dominance of the rights-based and economic category in<br />
society and the significant role of computing and the Internet in the welfare of people<br />
with disabilities, it is clear that many barriers remain that are preventing people with<br />
vision disabilities from embracing these benefits. The next chapter explores the<br />
nature of these difficulties and how they relate to the way in which society has<br />
focused on providing access to mainstream technologies for people with visual<br />
disabilities.<br />
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