accessiBE’s vision is to make the internet accessible to everybody, regardless of any disabilities they may have.

The net has become indispensable over the years. Especially more so during these days of social isolation and lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic. Yet, consider the plight of the blind and deaf and people with motor and cognitive disabilities. Also, those suffering from handicaps due to old age.

They are unable to use the net because most websites are not designed for use by the “differently-abled.”

accessiBE uses AI to make websites fully accessible. (HACKERNOON)

“Web accessibility” is now front and center

accessiBE addresses a very serious problem. According to the World Bank Group, globally over a billion people suffer from a disability of some kind or other, and nearly 20% of these disabilities are serious. Unless web applications are fully accessible these unfortunate persons may not be able to buy essentials, read the news or use other internet resources.

Though some countries have issued legislation to support the differently-abled, these laws generally address physical issues.  They do not target the problems associated with web accessibility.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (known as WCAG 2.1) are an internationally recognized set of recommendations for improving web accessibility. These stipulate how businesses can make their websites fully accessible to the vision-, hearing-, or mobility impaired, even those with difficulty in thinking or understanding. However, the implementation of these guidelines leaves much to be desired. About 98% of websites suffer from some kind of inaccessibility. According to data from the UK nonprofit Purple, 75% of the UK’s differently-abled people are forced to abandon their website visits due to accessibility issues.

As a result lawsuits against businesses are mounting. Businesses are bound to make their websites and apps wholly accessible, yet many avoid the investment of expense and time required.

accessiBE uses AI to solve the problem

accessiBE uses AI to scan a website and identify any WCAG shortcomings. It then goes ahead and updates the appropriate solutions automatically. On average, this is achieved in just 48 hours, give or take, and requires only the addition of a line of JavaScript code to integrate the accessiBe AI.

The AI deployed includes tools such as image recognition, machine learning, and contextual understanding.

“Web accessibility is vital for the disabled community, but at the same time, we recognize that making such extensive changes can be a burden for business owners,” says CEO, Shir Ekerling. “We want to make the process relatively simple and affordable with a comprehensive solution that does the work automatically.”

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