Assessing standards-driven accessibility in top video conferencing platforms

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, video conferencing tools have become deeply integrated into various aspects of our daily lives, underscoring their importance as pivotal avenues for societal inclusion. However, a significant concern has arisen regarding their accessibility for individuals with disabilities. These individuals face various barriers that inhibit their comprehensive utilization of these tools, making it crucial to involve them directly in the design process and adhere to established accessibility standards. While such standards can be challenging to implement, this article includes specific accessibility requirements for video conferencing platforms that align with these standards. Additionally, a proposal for a heuristic evaluation instrument for expert use is presented. An accessibility study was conducted using the proposed instrument by six experts across four widely used platforms: Zoom, Google Meet, MS Teams, and Cisco Webex. This evaluation was complemented by a blind expert"s review of screen reader access. Results indicate that while all platforms address some accessibility requirements to varying degrees, none of them is fully accessible. Thus, the choice of platform should be made based on specific user characteristics. The findings highlight the substantial potential for enhancing accessibility in video conferencing platforms to achieve true inclusivity.

Assessing standards-driven accessibility in top video conferencing platforms Articles