The latest version of the National Accessibility Portal (NAP 3.0.0) is making strides in connecting persons with disabilities to the mainstream economy and society through the use of ICT.
A Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) statement says the portal has a number of new features, such as the inclusion of South African Sign Language (SASL), on the interface, which aids the navigation process for the deaf.
The portal also provides information through other modalities, specifically an SMS-based query facility on cellphones, as well as an interactive voice response system via telephones.
Dr Louis Coetzee, NAP system architect and also a CSIR principal researcher, says NAP is unique because it caters for people across the entire spectrum of disability. “Some local Web sites do include accessibility features for disabled persons, but these are mostly aimed at people who are visually impaired.
“A range of 'assistive' technologies are required to enable people with different disabilities to access information, and this is where NAP 3.0.0 comes into its own, specifically with the inclusion of SASL on the interface.”
To avoid bandwidth problems, significant research went into finding ways to optimise the downloading process and the information being conveyed in the sign language videos, says the CSIR. This element will be expanded in future NAP versions.
Coetzee says the lack of bandwidth is one of the main challenges, yet he remains optimistic that appropriate funding mechanisms, such as corporate social investments, will ensure the sustainability of the project.
“The next technical development phase will focus on adding functionality to improve peer-to-peer communication, such as mechanisms to enable instant chats and enhanced mailing capabilities.”
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