Name that tool: forthcoming '´óÏó´«Ã½ Accessibility Settings Tool' needs you
The ´óÏó´«Ã½ are about to launch a whizzy new accessibility tool across the whole of its website. It'll make bbc.co.uk easier to read and navigate. You'll be able to 'have it your way' as a big burger chain used to say.
But the big question is ... what would you call it? The word 'accessibility' doesn't work well for everyone and it even puts some people off. We need something snappy and immediately understandable so that as many people as possible get it straight away. We also have to be careful not to use a name which might put people off ever using it.
We'd love to hear your ideas: us, email us or leave comments below. We'll be reading them all.
Let me tell you a bit more about the new accessibility tool ...
Much of the Ouch website already has a control panel at the top of the page that enables you to change colours and font size to make it as easy to read as possible. But this new control panel will be rolled out across the entire ´óÏó´«Ã½ website - from messageboards to news and iPlayer so you can personalise everything. The guys in the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Usability & Accessibility Team have been working hard on this for a while now, testing it vigorously with all 'flavours' of disabled people.
The Ouch! team had a quick demo of the prototype tool today and it looks great. It lets you set preferences for text size, spacing, font, foreground, background and link colours. It can convert multiple-column pages into one single column. And it uses preset themes to allow you to do personalisations like this with the minimum of mouse clicks.
Version one of the accessibility tool will be rolled out soon. It concentrates on the look and feel of the site. In the future they are hoping to extend it to speak ´óÏó´«Ã½ pages, give an optimised experience for those who don't use a mouse and it will allow you to take your preferences and use them on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ mobile site too.
It looks like its going to help a lot of users - especially those with Lo-vision, Asperger's, Dyslexia, ADHD, or those who find text hard to read - when it launches in the next few months.
So. What should we call it? Its current working title is Accessibility Toolkit or ATK for short ... and it's just too boring.
So spread the word and get back to us via Twitter, email, Facebook or which ever is most convenient. Remember, short and snappy - it'll appear at the top of every ´óÏó´«Ã½ web page in the future.
You'll be hearing much more about this in the weeks and months to come. Web access for everyone is something the ´óÏó´«Ã½ and the UK government are striving towards and something I know a lot of you will want to support us with. Branding can be crucial to the popularity and take-up.
We'll blog about this again in the near future.
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Comment number 1.
At 5th Feb 2010, liambrazier wrote:BBme(?) ´óÏó´«Ã½Me? BBSee, something along those lines?
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Comment number 2.
At 5th Feb 2010, JohnSkint wrote:ZOOT....because it should ZOOT every need
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Comment number 3.
At 5th Feb 2010, Chris_Page wrote:Trevor....or Colin.
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Comment number 4.
At 6th Feb 2010, hossylass wrote:Ooooh, I quite like Trevor.
And the play on C / see. Maybe ´óÏó´«Ã½-it. BBsee-it. ´óÏó´«Ã½-I.T.
Or is that to clever for Trevor?
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Comment number 5.
At 6th Feb 2010, KizzyKazaer wrote:How about a selection of Ouch! users being given the chance to test the prototype? Is that possible?
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Comment number 6.
At 6th Feb 2010, windwalker89 wrote:Beta testing, impossible to iron out all problems without it. Make the source code available so we can tweak it to suit our needs then maybe send it back in to roll out across the board.
Call it P.A.N.E.L. People And Net Enabling Line
Trevor's not bad either.
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Comment number 7.
At 6th Feb 2010, auntieCtheM wrote:Tweak Your Screen
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Comment number 8.
At 7th Feb 2010, SuperhumanDiva wrote:I like auntie's. Or maybe Tweaker?
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Comment number 9.
At 7th Feb 2010, hossylass wrote:"Make the source code available" then it can be called;
Fiddle with your Bits
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Comment number 10.
At 7th Feb 2010, flea wrote:Pimp my page.
Textersize.
Screen tweaker.
OI, CLICK ON THIS!
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Comment number 11.
At 8th Feb 2010, KizzyKazaer wrote:Well, there's been some real smileworthy name suggestions so far. :-D
But I can't help feeling it's a little like being asked to find a suitable brand name for a new biscuit without being able to taste the thing first....
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Comment number 12.
At 8th Feb 2010, Emma wrote:Sounds interesting (like the sound of the names that use the "C" as "see"; is it going to be similar to the toolbar that techdis are using? - I've been impressed with that & it seems to work with all the browsers I've tested it with.
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Comment number 13.
At 8th Feb 2010, Nick Jackson wrote:I'm quite taken with Trevor.
The problem with the names using "C" is that accessibility is only partly about seeing, and future developments may include improvements for screen-readers or Braille output devices. The name has to reflect the fact it's about access for all, not just visual changes.
How about The Enabler? Accessoriser? A-Bar?
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Comment number 14.
At 8th Feb 2010, BabyBen wrote:"Special Help Internet Transformer"
...or perhaps not.
The Designation Toolbox?
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Comment number 15.
At 8th Feb 2010, SheffTim wrote:It has to be obvious or many people won’t realise its function. Why not have it as it is now (or similar) on the top right of the Ouch Blog page?
/ouch/blogs.shtml
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Comment number 16.
At 8th Feb 2010, Technogran wrote:How about just simply 'enable' as a name? After all, it will 'enable' many to be able to access the sites.
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Comment number 17.
At 8th Feb 2010, Darren wrote:your view/yourview
custom view
adjust layout
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Comment number 18.
At 8th Feb 2010, zhang wrote:2BC=to be see
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Comment number 19.
At 8th Feb 2010, TARDIS Newsroom wrote:´óÏó´«Ã½iPass
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Comment number 20.
At 8th Feb 2010, Chris_Page wrote:If they do pick Trevor, I'll expect Auntie Beeb to cough up some dosh. A cheque's acceptable...
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Comment number 21.
At 8th Feb 2010, JohnSkint wrote:They can have ZOOT for free, then I don't have to declare any additional income.
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Comment number 22.
At 8th Feb 2010, Tom Bryan wrote:Your ´óÏó´«Ã½
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Comment number 23.
At 8th Feb 2010, Tom Bryan wrote:´óÏó´«Ã½ Slate
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Comment number 24.
At 8th Feb 2010, TV Licence fee payer against ´óÏó´«Ã½ censorship wrote:How about, wait for it, "The ´óÏó´«Ã½ accessibility tool"
If you want something jazzy, "Bitzy" - ´óÏó´«Ã½ (makes) it (ea)zy - OK so the last word is spelt wrong...
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Comment number 25.
At 9th Feb 2010, hossylass wrote:Trevor appears to be the "People's Choice" so far...
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Comment number 26.
At 9th Feb 2010, TV Licence fee payer against ´óÏó´«Ã½ censorship wrote:25. At 01:44am on 09 Feb 2010, hossylass wrote:
"Trevor appears to be the "People's Choice" so far..."
Great, an accessibility control that isn't accessible because no one will know/understand what "TREVOR" means - as I said, why not just call it what it is?...
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Comment number 27.
At 9th Feb 2010, just_my_opinion wrote:´óÏó´«Ã½4U
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Comment number 28.
At 9th Feb 2010, TV Licence fee payer against ´óÏó´«Ã½ censorship wrote:#27. At 4:45pm on 09 Feb 2010, just_my_opinion wrote:
"´óÏó´«Ã½4U"
Hmm, is that the new OU TV channel that's going to share air time with ´óÏó´«Ã½4?...
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Comment number 29.
At 10th Feb 2010, Ron Graham wrote:TweaKit . It is simple and defines what it is doing as a kit, much like a personal tool kit.
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Comment number 30.
At 10th Feb 2010, JohnSkint wrote:As long as you don't spell it TweeKit
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Comment number 31.
At 10th Feb 2010, Suehuggs wrote:Call it the "Ouch!" button
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Comment number 32.
At 11th Feb 2010, Jake wrote:Any combination of Page, Options, Custom, Settings...
Page Settings
Custom Page
Page options
Viewing Help
Customize
Additional Options
I'll expect the royalties by cheque.
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Comment number 33.
At 12th Feb 2010, GrahamArmfield wrote:I'm intrigued to see the tool and how it works. And Trevor is a catchy name and as meaningful as JAWS (the screenreader).
But if I were struggling to read a page on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ site I'd probably just head for the text-only version where you have a lot of control over how it can be viewed. Has the tool an advantage over this?
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Comment number 34.
At 12th Feb 2010, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Ouch team wrote:So many suggestions here. Thank you so much. A meeting was held yesterday about a name and I will blog about it a little later -- Damon
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Comment number 35.
At 12th Feb 2010, fearoffours wrote:ReadEasy?
ReadEasier?
EasyRead?
Is 'Accessible' often used because these improvements/customisations help not just people who are _visually_ impaired? If so, BBSee etc and my suggestions above may not be suitable. Trevor is nice, amusing, people's choice, but not immediately obvious as a tool. However, it could be used as a minor part of the branding.
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Comment number 36.
At 12th Feb 2010, Numpty wrote:Er, isn't the tool described just "a stylesheet", the likes of which have been around for years...?
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Comment number 37.
At 14th Feb 2010, auntieCtheM wrote:"A meeting was held yesterday about a name"
Dear Ouch, could you please have a meeting to debate whether you should institute a policy that "emails will be answered within 4 working days", please.
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Comment number 38.
At 18th Feb 2010, MrTrippy wrote:I have to say that's a superb effort, a ton of hard work! Two points that need raising:
1. Not everyone wants to make the default text size bigger, an option to reduce text size a notch from the default would be appreciated. Luckily I know I can use my browser to resize anyway, but not everyone is aware, or capable, of doing that.
2. Please make link text in a contrasting colour to plain text to help us colourblind folks out. Most linked text is underlined (good) but not all (bad), and contrasting colours help us to identify them. This excludes main navigation as that's out of context to ordinary content.
Rant over!
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Comment number 39.
At 21st Feb 2010, jothenut wrote:what about @1, because the idea is to make everyone at one with the information?
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Comment number 40.
At 21st Feb 2010, jothenut wrote:Another suggestion - 'all 4 1'
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Comment number 41.
At 22nd Feb 2010, Henry wrote:sounds really great. does that mean we can actually put in our optimal screen settings easily? Instead of the usual limited range. The idea of really personalising sounds good
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Comment number 42.
At 22nd Feb 2010, jothenut wrote:I've thought about it and decided that My previous suggestions are too abstract. So, what about 'The Change Me Tool' - 'Change Me' button at top of page? It's not 'disability'- specific, has no negative connotations (as 'accessibility' etc could have) and there is no doubt what it is there for.
P.S. I can be available if you want me as head of marketing!!
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Comment number 43.
At 23rd Feb 2010, bulekingfisher wrote:Click Toolbox ( or use)CT
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Comment number 44.
At 1st Mar 2010, Wheelie_a_Nurse wrote:Someone prob already said this, but how about just calling it "page format"? with a written/ spoken passover that explains?
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Comment number 45.
At 4th Mar 2010, McMoggy wrote:Complain about this comment (Comment number 45)
Comment number 46.
At 4th Mar 2010, McMoggy wrote:Howz about: Spoonibility or Spoonaid or Morespoon or Spoonful or just Spoon?
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Comment number 47.
At 16th Apr 2010, Jersy wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 48.
At 30th Apr 2010, Jones Christine wrote:How about "Cool Tool?"
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Comment number 49.
At 8th Jun 2010, lvyani wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 50.
At 8th Jun 2010, Roger wrote:Steal a bit from the word accessibility,and you would be left with "Sibil" I think that may be fine?.
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Comment number 51.
At 28th Jun 2010, Scat Man wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 52.
At 8th Jul 2010, Dirorg wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 53.
At 30th Sep 2010, U14623168 wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 54.
At 3rd Dec 2010, Katy Tulip wrote:Damon,
Do you have any more information on the development of this ‘whizzy new accessibility tool’, where a ‘new control panel will be rolled out across the entire ´óÏó´«Ã½ website - from messageboards to news and iPlayer so you can personalise everything’?
Could you give the ´óÏó´«Ã½ website users any indication at all of when it will be finalized, given that the prototype was already being tested in February?
I’m sure this would be of great help to the many users struggling, myself included, with the default format of the whole website, and even more so particularly after the recent changes to the new message boards.
However, if the enabling of this tool is still far off in the future, would it not be possible to implement the current Ouch! one all over the ´óÏó´«Ã½ site in the interim?
I’ve seen that it can be used for the whole of the Ouch! site, not just their MBs, and it is also available on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Accessibility Standards & Guidelines pages , offering the users a choice of 3 font sizes and 4 background colours via a very easy-to-use tool in the top right-hand corner of the page.
At the moment, users struggling with all the new MB formats are having to rely on changing their viewing of them by either substantially adapting their general browser settings (which then affects all the web pages they visit), and/or downloading all kinds of other browsers with various add-ons, e.g. NoSquint in Firefox, to name but one, to suit their needs. These options are not available to all, however, for a variety of reasons.
Making sure that at least one of these accessibility tools is available to all users as soon as possible would fit perfectly with the remit I have seen described by Nick Reynolds in his blog on the messageboard changes, which is I understand the basis for all the recent changes, namely that ‘there are bigger things that we are trying to do - if ´óÏó´«Ã½ Online is connected up better rather than being a disconnected series of sites then that may mean that more people will visit it, which in turn that more people may visit a particular message board, which would be a benefit.’
I've asked Nick Reynolds about this on his blog, but he says he has no further information to give me on this at the moment.
Katy
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Comment number 55.
At 23rd Dec 2010, U14730871 wrote:All this user's posts have been removed.Why?
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Comment number 56.
At 5th Jan 2011, edinns wrote:toolaid is nice and simple and easily remembered and also easy to type
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