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Easy Reading: A Framework for Personalised Cognitive Accessibility when using Original Digital Content

Project description

DEENESFRITPL

Making digital documents accessible to all

Digital information may be abundant today, but accessibility remains a significant challenge for individuals with limited reading and language skills. In this context, the EU-funded Easy Reading project aims to enhance the cognitive accessibility of digital documents. It will use techniques such as real-time personalisation through annotation, adaptation and translation, including symbols, pictures, videos, Easy to Read formats, Plain Language, and symbol writing systems. Taking a user centric approach, the project will incorporate input from individuals with cognitive disabilities throughout the entire development process. Planned as a cloud based, open-source and freely available infrastructure, it will reach a wide audience, including people with cognitive disabilities, senior citizens, and individuals with different native languages.

Objective

The “Easy Reading” framework will improve the cognitive accessibility of original digital documents by providing real time personalisation through annotation (using e.g. symbol, pictures, videos), adaptation (using e.g. layout, structure) and translation (using e.g Easy-to-Read, Plain Language, symbol writing systems). The framework provides these (semi-)automated services using HCI techniques (e.g. pop-ups/ Text-To-Speech (TTS)/captions through mouse-over or eye-tracking) allowing the user to remain and work within the original digital document. This fosters independent access and keeps the user in the inclusive discourse about the original content. Services adapt to each user through a personal profile (sensor based tracking and reasoning of e.g. the level of performance, understanding, preferences, mood, attention, context and the individual learning curve).
The interdisciplinary project team includes users with cognitive disabilities in all phases through the Inclusive Participatory Action Research Method (IPAR) ensuring to address real users´ needs.
The “Easy Reading” framework is planned as a cloud based, open source and freely available support infrastructure. It will reach as many people with limited reading and language skills (e.g. people with cognitive disabilities - ~2,5% of the population - older adults, people with a different mother tongue) summing up to 25% in some regions or countries. Additionally, many more people will enjoy exploring new and unfamiliar content using personalised access.
This framework integrates and supports state-of-the-art and future R&D. It incorporates tools for annotation, adaptation and translation of content by providing a sustainable user-centred eco-system for personalisation. It promotes European ideals and enables independent applications to leverage the infrastructure and socialize their application for business (profit and non-for profit) in a new EU driven growth market.

Fields of science

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Call for proposal

H2020-ICT-2016-2017

See other projects for this call

Sub call

H2020-ICT-2017-1

Funding Scheme

RIA - Research and Innovation action

Coordinator

UNIVERSITAT LINZ
Net EU contribution
€ 324 875,00
Address
Altenberger strasse 69
4040 Linz
Austria

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Region
Westösterreich Oberösterreich Linz-Wels
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Other funding
€ 0,00

Participants (8)

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EC signature date 10 November 2017
Last update: 18 August 2022

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/780529

European Union, 2023