City Of Philadelphia: SEPTA For All Challenge: Resources To Consider

Press release from the City of Philadelphia:

Labonno Islam

June 28, 2021

The SEPTA for All Challenge asks innovators to use augmented reality (AR) to make public transit more accessible, welcoming, and comfortable for people with disabilities. The accessibility of the apps is especially crucial for bringing their ideas to life.  

Below are some resources to help participants in the challenge learn about accessibility and AR. Accessibility considerations are different depending on the user and the platform. We’re counting on participants to do their own, deeper dive into the needs of their audiences. 

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) establishes open standards for web development. The City of Philadelphia (and many others) use the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines for online accessibility. The W3C’s Augmented Reality and Accessibility article includes existing research on the topic. It summarizes research on using AR to better deliver information and data to people with disabilities. 

Facebook Reality Labs is a sponsor of the SEPTA for All challenge. The developer resources for their Oculus VR platform include a video and guide on designing accessible VR experiences. In 2020, Oculus released “Virtual Reality Checks” (VRCs) for its platforms. The VRCs recommend techniques for increasing the accessibility of VR software. 

UC Berkeley compiled resources about barriers to using AR and VR in a learning context. Their “XR Accessibility” site includes best practices for using these technologies. They include resources for technology that serves “diverse users across a truly representative range of visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive capacities.”   

Accessible applications involve many considerations. We hope the resources above serve as a good foundation for participants in the SEPTA for All Challenge. 

This press release was produced by the City of Philadelphia.The views expressed here are the author’s own.