What is Antivirus software? Getting started with PC security
What does antivirus software do, and how does it work? Here’s what you need to know about the essential tools to keep you safe online and beyond.
Image: Michael Crider/Foundry
As our lives become more and more digital, keeping our information and devices secure has become more important than ever. And that starts with good security software. An antivirus program is a piece of software that keeps your computer (or phone, tablet, etc.) safe from other software that tries to attack it. This includes detecting and blocking viruses, a very specific type of program, but also a wide variety of other digital threats.PCWorld is constantly covering the latest news in viruses and other threats, and how to defend against them. For the best antivirus software in 2023, be sure to check out our extensive roundup of the best antivirus programs.
What is a computer virus?
To understand what antivirus software does, you need to know what a computer virus is. “Virus” in this context has a broad definition, but to put it simply, it’s a program that gets installed on your computer, then automatically spreads itself to other computers across a network or the internet, mimicking the spread of a biological virus spreading through an organism’s cells.
What precisely a virus does depends on the specific virus, but it’s never good. In the early days of personal computers, a lot of viruses were designed merely to damage your computer for the sake of pure mischief. The famous “ILOVEYOU” virus spread through email downloads and merely overwrote files on the hard drive with junk data, until the computer became unstable and had to be completely wiped.
Then there are viruses designed to take remote control of your computer, often without you realizing it, in order to create a secret network called a “botnet.” Botnets like MyDoom can be used to spread spam or scams, or attack other computers with distributed traffic designed to shut down web services.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
But the most insidious and personally dangerous type of virus, and the more common one in the modern world, is designed to steal from users themselves. This can be done several ways. A “spyware” or “spybot” program searches the files on your computer for your personal information like login passwords or bank accounts, while “ransomware” locks down your files and instructs you to send money to criminals to get them back. Often these will be sent as emails or websites pretending to be something they’re not, like a crucial software update you need to click on, a process called “phishing.”
In these cases, the self-replicating viral factor might not even be present, so the software isn’t even technically a virus. Other terms, like “worm,” “trojan” (as in the Trojan Horse) or the more all-encompassing “malware” might be more accurate.
What is antivirus software?
The types of threat are wide and varied, but antivirus software is designed to detect and stop them all. These security packages might be called simply “antivirus,” but also a “protection suite,” or just “defender.” Regardless, they all use a few straightforward methods to identify, contain, and neutralize viruses and other kinds of malware before it can infect your system. Antivirus software also continuously scans both your computer and your network traffic to identify threats. Currently, our top pick for an all-encompassing security package is Norton 360 Deluxe.
What does antivirus software do?
The most straightforward way an antivirus program can protect against viruses is by scanning your files. The antivirus software taps into a huge database of known viruses, trojans, and other kinds of malware—thousands and thousands of different kinds, constantly being updated—and searches for them on the files in your computer. The antivirus program even scans new files that you download immediately, including installable programs that might hide viruses behind other programs like games or tools.
Foundry
When the antivirus program finds a file that it’s identified as malware, it immediately isolates the file from the rest of your computer and prevents it from running any operations that might affect other files or programs. With the threat isolated, it then thoroughly deletes the dangerous files. Usually it will display some kind of alert letting you know that it’s found and neutralized the danger.
This method of protection has proven to be extremely effective, but it’s not perfect. A virus or a piece of malware has to be identified before it can be added to the detection database… which means that for at least some amount of time, it has to be active “in the wild” of the internet before the database gets updated. That’s a good reason to practice basic computer security at all times, for example, not downloading unknown programs or opening email attachments from untrusted sources.
What’s the difference between antivirus and a firewall?
Antivirus software primarily scans your computer’s files and programs. A firewall is a piece of software that directly scans traffic going in and out of your computer on both your local network and the internet. This is important for your security, because firewalls can be used to block malicious data from coming in or going out. This can be used to prevent a program from sending your personal information out, or prevent a program from outside your computer’s network from controlling it remotely.
Michael Crider/Foundry
Some antivirus software includes at least some kind of basic firewall functionality to supplement its file and program scanning tools. For example, Windows Defender, a standard antivirus checker, and Defender Firewall, are both part of the built-in Windows Security system. Bundled firewalls are enough for basic security for most users, while dedicated firewall software (or even more advanced hardware-based firewalls) are generally for large corporations or organizations, requiring dedicated management by security professionals.
Are there any computers that don’t need antivirus?
If you have a Windows desktop or laptop that’s connected to the internet, you need an antivirus program. Personal computers have been connecting to the internet for over 50 years at this point, and viruses and other malware designed to infect them have been spreading for just as long. Browsing the web without some kind of protection in place is kind of like swimming in sewage: sooner or later, you’re going to get an infection.
Fortunately, Windows PCs have built-in protection in the form of Windows Security, a basic antivirus and firewall suite that’s included free with the operating system. So, as long as you can keep that updated (which it does automatically through Windows Update), you’re covered at the basic level. But what about other devices that connect to the internet, like your phone, tablet, your smart TV, or even connected devices like your security cameras or smart lights?
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Smartphones have become so ubiquitous that, yes, there are viruses and malware out there designed to infect them. They’re especially tempting for criminals because so much personal information is stored on them. But unlike desktops and laptops, iOS and (most) Android phones can’t download just any program out there, they have to go to the “official” Apple App Store or Google Play Store to get apps and games.
Apple and Google control the security for these programs on the server end. It’s not a perfect system — viruses, spyware, and malware have gotten through their detection filters before. But for the vast majority of users, this basic level of protection is enough that they don’t need to run extra anti-virus software.
Android phones are a bit of a special case here. Unlike iPhones, most Android devices can install programs that haven’t been pre-approved by Google in a process called side-loading. This is similar to installing a third-party program on Windows. And just like Windows, you need to be careful that you trust the source of the download if you install this software. Even here, Google has implemented a system called Play Protect that performs basic antivirus and anti-malware scanning for all apps, even those that are sideloaded. If you want even more protection, it’s available.
The same general principle applies to any device that gets its content and apps from managed sources, and doesn’t include open-ended access to the web, like smart TVs, e-readers, smart watches, et cetera. So long as the company managing the content keeps an eye on it, you really don’t have to worry about viruses made specifically for those devices, especially since there’s not much personal information at stake. That’s not a universal rule—it’s possible for almost any connected device to be compromised—but these gadgets are much lower priorities for malefactors.
Is Windows Defender a good antivirus solution?
The default security settings that came with Windows weren’t always up to snuff. Twenty years ago, you’d be called reckless for running Windows without any kind of add-on security software. But Microsoft has made a dedicated and admirable effort to make Windows much safer without needing any extras, paid or otherwise. So the simple answer is, yes, Windows Defender is pretty great.
Michael Crider/Foundry
The antivirus scanner built into Windows is constantly updated with the latest threat detection, and said updates are baked right into Windows itself. Most of the time you won’t even notice it running in the background, unless it directly detects and neutralizes a threat. Ditto for the basic built-in firewall in Windows Security: Aside from the occasional tweak necessary to grant network access to third-party apps and games, you’ll probably forget it’s there.
If you’re running Windows and you don’t have any cash to spare for more robust security, relax. You’ll still be fine as long as you keep your computer updated through Windows Update, and don’t go seeking out especially sketchy software.
Is Norton 360 a good antivirus solution?
Norton is a great choice if your store important or sensitive data on your PC, or you share it with other users who may not have the best judgment. In addition to standard file scanning, the subscription includes access to a VPN, dark web monitoring to alert you when your accounts have been compromised, free cloud storage, and a password monitor. It’s pricey, but a good choice for a “total package” security solution for up to five devices.
Read our full Norton 360 Deluxe review here.
Is Avast antivirus any good?
Avast has been in the game for a long time, and it remains a solid choice that’s less expensive than Norton. It doesn’t have all of the same features, but its resource hit is lighter, and it’s cheaper if you need to secure a ton of devices (up to 30 at the highest tier) at once. It’s a great choice if you need anti-virus and other security features on a PC that has to run hot, like a gaming or media production desktop.
Read our full Avast One review here.
Is AVG Internet Security worth the price?
AVG used to be a go-to pick for antivirus, because the basic version was free. That’s no longer the case—again, if you need a free solution, Windows Defender will suffice. But it remains a popular choice thanks to a much-improved interface and frequent virus scanner updates. It does offer notably fewer options than the choices above, at a price that isn’t that competitive.
Read our full AVG Internet Security review here.
Is Trend Micro a good antivirus program?
Frankly, it’s not a great choice if you know what you’re doing in terms of advanced PC maintenance. Trend Micro Maximum Security is functional and very user-friendly, making it a good choice for those who are less than tech-savvy. But its more advanced features are both less robust and less reliable than the competition, and it doesn’t offer much of a price advantage.
Read our full Trend Micro Maximum Security review here.
Is McAfee Antivirus any good?
McAfee is one of the oldest names in PC security…and boy, do they know it. The software is among the most expensive on the market on a per-device basis. While it offers some unique features like the “file shredder” secure delete and home network analyzer, it’s hard to recommend for anyone on a budget.
Read our full McAfee Total Protection review here.
https://www.pcworld.com/article/1974484/what-is-antivirus-software.html
Accessibility Blog – Friday, July 7, 2023, 8:26 AM
Enhancing Inclusivity: A Guide to Google Meet’s Accessibility Features and Improving User Experience
Virtual communication today has a quintessential role in fostering inclusivity and ensuring that everyone feels valued and heard. Google Meet, a popular video conferencing platform, recognizes the importance of accessibility and has implemented various features to cater to individuals with diverse abilities.
In this guide, we will explore the wide range of accessibility options available in Google Meet and guide how to make the platform even more accommodating for all users. Join us as we delve into accessible communication, empowering everyone to engage and participate in meaningful conversations, regardless of their unique needs and capabilities.
Google Meet’s Commitment to Accessibility
Regarding their accessibility standards, Google Meet states, “Users with disabilities can participate in Google Meet video meetings using accessibility features in Meet, Chrome Browser, and Google meeting room hardware. We are committed to making accessibility a core consideration from the earliest stages of product design through release. We also strive to cultivate relationships with a variety of users and advocacy groups to solicit feedback.”
As Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, emphasizes the company’s dedication to accessibility: “When we say we want to build for everyone – we mean it. As a company, accessibility is a core value and is written into our mission statement. We don’t think a problem is solved until we’ve solved it for everyone. Technology’s great promise is to give everyone the same power to achieve their goals. As long as there are barriers for some, there’s still work to be done.”
Google Meet’s Feature Accessibility: A Closer Look
Google Meet offers a variety of accessibility features to ensure users with disabilities can fully participate in video meetings. Let’s explore these features that make Google Meet more user-friendly for everyone:
Live captions
For participants with hearing impairments, live captions display real-time text transcriptions of the speaker’s words, allowing them to follow along easily.
Screen reader compatibility
Users with vision impairment can benefit from the built-in screen reader, full-page zoom, high-contrast color, and accessibility extensions in Chrome Browser to navigate Google Meet seamlessly.
Keyboard shortcuts
Users can control the camera and microphone and access accessibility features using various keyboard shortcuts, making it easier for individuals with mobility impairments.
Google Meeting room hardware
During meetings, people with hearing or vision impairment can use spoken feedback and live captions while using Google Meet hardware, such as a Chromebox or Chromebase. Spoken feedback means that the hardware will provide audio cues and descriptions to the user, such as confirming when a button has been clicked or reading the text on the screen aloud.
With live captions turned on during the meeting, the audio will be transcribed into written text in real-time, which can be useful for those with difficulty hearing.
Push-to-talk
The push-to-talk feature can be particularly helpful for individuals with speech or motor impairments, as it allows them to control when their microphone is active. This can make it easier for them to participate in a conversation without worrying about background noise or interruptions. Users with limited dexterity or those using assistive devices for computer navigation may also find this feature beneficial, as it simplifies muting and un-muting the microphone during a meeting.
Automated transcripts
Meeting organizers can enable automated transcripts, which create a written, audio record during the meeting. This option automatically creates a written record of everything said in real-time. This can be helpful for participants who may have trouble keeping up with the conversation, such as those with hearing difficulties or language barriers.
The automated transcript can also serve as a useful reference tool for all attendees, allowing them to review what was discussed during the meeting at a later time.
Notetaker and BSL interpreter support
Users can invite notetakers or British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters to the meeting. Notetakers can help document important information and action items discussed during the meeting, which can be especially helpful for people who may have difficulty taking notes themselves or have a disability that makes note-taking challenging.
BSL interpreters can help ensure effective communication for those who use sign language as their primary means of communication.
Audio quality adjustments
Google Meet users can customize their audio settings according to their needs. For example, they can adjust the noise cancellation settings to reduce background noise and ensure clearer audio.
They can also choose their preferred audio output settings to optimize the sound quality based on their hearing aid, cochlear implant, or other assistive technology devices. This customization allows for better audio clarity and quality, making the meeting experience more accessible for individuals with hearing impairments.
How to Make Google Meetings More Accessible?
Making Google Meet more accessible is essential for including everyone in video meetings, regardless of their abilities. Here are some steps to make it more user-friendly for people with different disabilities:
Enable live captions
To assist deaf and hard-of-hearing attendees, turn on live captions during meetings. This feature displays real-time text captions of the speaker’s words, making it easier for them to follow the conversation.
Share meeting details in advance
Provide participants with the meeting agenda, materials, and any necessary accommodations beforehand. This helps individuals with cognitive or learning disabilities to prepare and understand the meeting’s objectives.
Use high-contrast visuals
Consider using high-contrast visuals in your presentations or screen shares for individuals with low vision. Bold colors, large text, and clear images can make the content more accessible.
Encourage screen readers and magnifiers
Encourage participants who are visually impaired or have low vision to utilize built-in screen readers, full-page zoom, high-contrast color, and accessibility extensions available in the Chrome Browser.
Provide ample time for questions and answers
During meetings, allow extra time for questions and answers to accommodate participants who may need additional time to process information or formulate responses.
Invite BSL interpreters or notetakers
Participants who need sign language interpretation or notetaking assistance should be invited to the meeting and notified of their presence.
Building a More Accessible World through Google Meet
Google Meet offers a variety of accessibility features designed to create an inclusive and user-friendly environment for individuals with diverse abilities. By embracing these features and actively working towards making meetings more accessible, we can foster a collaborative and supportive digital space where everyone’s voice is heard and valued. As we continue to rely on virtual communication platforms, it’s essential to prioritize accessibility and ensure that no one is left behind.
WordvoyanceScrabble-inspired Game For Everyone
Welcome to Wordvoyance by Themis Games! Wordvoyance is a multiplayer crossword-building game similar to Scrabble and Words With Friends. It has been carefully crafted to be playable by everyone, and it includes multiple accessibility features for people with blindness and other disabilities. For players with unhindered sight, the game will play exactly as you expect. You can drag and drop tiles to form words on the board and rack up points. For everyone else, the game is fully compatible with popular screen readers and can be played with a number of different input methods including keyboards, assistive technology, and even game controllers.WordVoyance accessible Scrabble like Game
Microsoft Accessibility Vision Guide
Create and Move Between Worksheets in Excel
A worksheet is a collection of cells within an Excel file. Worksheets allow you to organise and manipulate different sets of data. Each Excel workbook can contain multiple worksheets. For example, you could have a worksheet showing data for each month of the year all within the same Excel file.
When you create an Excel workbook, there is just one worksheet called Sheet1. The name of the worksheet appears on its sheet tab at the bottom of the Excel window.
To create a new worksheet, press Shift + F11.
To move between worksheets, press Control + PageUp/PageDown.
Note: the position of your PageUp and PageDown keys may vary depending on your keyboard. On a standard desktop keyboard they are in the set of six keys above the Arrow keys, on the right hand side.
https://sharons-shortcuts.ie/create-and-move-between-worksheets-in-excel/
Tips & Tricks for Testing Accessibility with Assistive Technologies
There are many ways to perform testing for accessibility, each one with their own strengths and weaknesses. Testing with assistive technologies is a great way to get a clear understanding of how your system behaves for real users – assuming that the tester is able to effectively use the assistive technologies they’re testing with. As a kickoff point, here are some valuable tips and tricks we’ve discovered during our own testing experiences.
Know when it’s time to test
Our first tip is to avoid testing with assistive technologies if you’re not ready to do so. At a minimum, you should ensure you’re passing automated accessibility testing before firing up a screen reader.
Software Assistive Technologies, like all software, have bugs. It can sometimes be difficult to track down where in the technology stack an issue exists. Is it in the Accessibility API? Is it in the browser? Is it in the assistive technology? Or is it in your website? For clarity’s sake, make sure you’ve tackled the things an automated tool like Tenon can tell you before beginning any AT testing.
Test with a purpose in mind
It rarely makes sense to just turn on a screen reader and start tabbing around the page. This practice does not accurately represent the experience of real users who visit your site with a screen reader. Additionally, it isn’t a very efficient way to find accessibility problems. Therefore, you need to test with a specific purpose in mind.
For instance, using assistive technologies when performing a scripted use case test is great. Using a screen reader to find out whether images have text alternatives is not so great, because an automated tool like Tenon is a faster way to get that information.
Checking for bugs
If you’ve done your part in making sure you’ve followed good semantic markup practices and are passing automated tests in Tenon, but testing with AT still doesn’t work out right, it could be an AT or browser bug. If you suspect this is the case, you’ll want to address and report it properly.
Digital A11Y provides links to various issue trackers for assistive technologies and browsers. In any instance where something isn’t right and you think it should be, it doesn’t hurt to check and see if you’re experiencing a bug elsewhere in the technology stack.
Specifics with screen readers
Screen readers can be difficult to please, especially because they don’t have any way of understanding context. There is only so much you can do to appease the way a screen reader is going to translate written text. Understand that mispronunciations on the screen reader’s part are not violations of accessibility.
As such, you don’t have to get hung up on correcting how a screen reader pronounces something. For instance, the first three digits of the Tenon phone number (443-489-6549) might get announced as “four-hundred-forty-three”, and that’s OK. Other things that might sound like they’re getting read aloud wrong are abbreviations, acronyms, and homonyms.
If your goal is to check that your visible content is going to be read out (separate from any speech viewer they have), turn on any highlighting options that the screen reader offers. VoiceOver on macOS and Narrator do this by default; NVDA features a highlight setting that can be enabled based on a user’s preferences.
Understand your assistive technology
Learn about the assistive technology you’re using before doing any real testing. For instance, try to fill out forms or completely navigate a discrete task with Dragon Speech Recognition Software. After going through enough practice forms to be comfortable with how to use Dragon and after your Dragon has had time to learn from you, you will be able to test more effectively.
You don’t need to test in every browser with every screen reader. In fact, some combinations work better than others, and some combinations don’t work at all.
Just because you can access an actionable element with a keyboard AND a screen reader doesn’t always mean that it is keyboard accessible. Sometimes, a screen reader might detect a click handler bound to an element and automatically fire that same handler when you press the Enter key. This is a feature that works for the benefit of screen reader users. However, with the screen reader off this workaround isn’t available and, as a result, won’t be available for those users who need keyboard accessibility but don’t use a screen reader.
Winaero Tweaker 1.55 Released
Winaero Tweaker is a program that allows you to adjust many Windows settings that would otherwise require registry hacks. The last few versions added some settings in File Explorer options which Microsoft removed in some builds of Windows. It also makes it easier to adjust some Microsoft Edge settings to enhance Edge’s security.
A few notes and warnings. While the program is very accessible there is information that appears on the screen as you move from one option to the next. This information explains what each option does and there are also links to learn more about each feature. JAWS does not speak this information by default. To have the information spoken automatically press insert+S until your screen highlighting setting is set to “all.” I am unclear as to how to perform the equivalent change using NVDA.
Many of these settings are capable of disabling critical functions of your computer. I recommend changing them only if you understand what the setting is designed to do or change. Due to time constraints I am unable to provide any assistance on using this program and I take no responsibility if it causes any undesirable effects.
Allyant – Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 11:24 AM
How Do I Check If My Website Is WCAG Compliant (And Does It Need To Be)?
One of the most common questions we get from organizations interested in digital accessibility is simply, “Is my website compliant?”
While this may seem like a simple question, there are many additional layers to peel back on when determining the short or long answer.
This article will break down these layers and outline some ways to determine the answer. Additionally, we will cover some ancillary topics, such as the relevance and potential impact of your website being WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) compliant.
There are several ways to approach this question – whether just doing a simple spot check or really diving into making your site highly usable for all visitors and compliant with the WCAG success criteria.
Manual Review: The best way to check a website’s WCAG compliance status
The only authentic way to determine if your website complies with the WCAG standards is to do a manual review. In all cases, this should also include people with disabilities, specifically native screen-read users, as we detailed in a recent blog post.
If your organization is truly serious about providing equitable access to your consumers and ensuring you comply with the WCAG standard, you should deploy live-user testing as part of your accessibility project plan.
That said, you can perform more immediate tests in real-time to get a baseline understanding of your website’s current WCAG compliance level. This can also be a great way to expose your team to the importance of web accessibility.
3 Quick and easy ways to check whether a website is WCAG compliant
Keyboard Testing: Website visitors with various physical disabilities will largely use keyboard navigation to engage with your brand through your website. You can even do a quick test right now to understand how your site performs from this perspective. Simply visit your website’s homepage and attempt to ‘navigate’ through the experience using only keyboard commands. Turn your mouse off and see if you can easily navigate to a product and move it to your cart or learn about your services and find a way to contact your organization using primarily the Tab, Enter, and Arrow Keys. Is it possible? You should see a clear and visible Skip to Main Content link, easy access to full navigation menus, and clear ‘focus indicators’ on all elements that could otherwise be ‘clicked’ with a mouse.
Video Content & Captioning: Most websites today have some form of video(s) to portray their services or highlight key features of products. Mute your computer or mobile device and turn on closed captioning. Are you able to consume the content? If you had a hearing impairment, could you obtain equal information through strong captions on the video or spoken content?
Automated Accessibility Testing: Through tools like our Allyant HUB or other free tools in the marketplace, such as WAVE from WebAIM or Google Lighthouse – you can run a quick spot check on your website and even see a score of your current standing. It is important to note that automated testing tools find about 30% of WCAG violations. However, running these tools can provide a quick and easy way to better understand your current compliance level or outline the importance of a web accessibility plan to your leadership or legal teams.
Is WCAG Compliance the same as ADA Website Compliance?One of the most common misconceptions around website compliance is that ADA Website Compliance is the standard that an organization must meet. While this technically is not the case, it’s also not entirely off base as the WCAG standards and the ADA are closely connected when organizations work to ensure their website or mobile application is accessible to users with disabilities.
Among many others, here are three key areas where WCAG Compliance and ADA Website Compliance are closely, or nearly exclusively – when we consider web accessibility legal settlements – connected:
ADA Title III: The ADA is a U.S. civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities – this specifically includes public accommodations. Title III of the ADA outlines that places of public accommodation include both physical spaces (a bank, retail or grocery store, school, restaurant, and so on) and the digital realm. We can likely all agree that with the digital boom in recent years, this includes websites and online services that should not discriminate access based on the consumer having a disability. WCAG comes into play when aiming to digitally comply with Title III of the ADA as it is the internationally recognized standard for website compliance.
Legal Interpretation: Many times, when individuals and organizations first dive into web accessibility following a demand letter or lawsuit being aimed at their website, they are surprised to hear the ADA does not explicitly mention web accessibility standards or WCAG 2.1 AA conformance. However, there have long been legal interpretations and court rulings that have established that websites and digital platforms can, in fact, be considered places of public accommodation. Therefore, under Title III of the ADA, as outlined above, they are subject to ADA requirements, making WCAG highly applicable for brands considering website accessibility as a form of risk mitigation.
Recognized Standards: Although the ADA does not currently outline specific technical standards for web accessibility, its primary purpose is to ensure that individuals with disabilities are not discriminated against. The Department of Justice (DOJ), which enforces the ADA, has referenced WCAG as a recognized standard for web accessibility in various legal settlements, consent decrees, and formal statements on this topic – including very recently in a letter to colleges and universities.
Does WCAG Compliance apply to my business’ website?At the most baseline level, if your business has a website, the answer is yes!
As with any business decision, you have the choice to disregard WCAG Compliance and web accessibility. However, it’s important to acknowledge how significant the WCAG standards can be for your bottom line, depending on your industry vertical and the nature of your work.
Naturally, there are certainly more high risk verticals when we think about web accessibility legal cases that might make the business case for complying with WCAG much simpler.
The historical case law data shows that the most heavily targeted business verticals specifically offer purchase paths (such as retail and e-commerce) or digital services (such as financial institutions or hospitality).
Additionally, as outlined above, organizations operating in the Title II space where Section 508 compliance applies are legally required to conform with WCAG 2.0 AA for all digital content they publish – including websites and PDFs and other documents posted for consumption online.
More simply stated, no business is inherently immune from WCAG compliance.
If you have a website or other digital property that allows consumers to engage with your brand – WCAG compliance is applicable. It is, by and large, the only widely recognized and accepted standard for website accessibility conformance. Not trying to build out a web accessibility plan or consider the implications of WCAG conformance in any fashion will inherently mean your business is assuming at least some legal risk.
Additionally, providing equitable access to your business and services is simply the right thing to do!
Is WCAG a Global Standard?
The great news for many brands – including our long list of international customers who offer their websites in various languages across the globe – is that WCAG applies regardless of where you are offering your website to consumers.
Without a doubt, WCAG is acknowledged as the worldwide benchmark for website accessibility. This is mainly because the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) developed and maintains these standards. For background, this is an international community that focuses on creating web standards more broadly (not just for accessibility).
Over many years, WCAG has gained widespread acceptance and adoption worldwide. Governments, organizations, and web developers across different countries refer to the WCAG success criteria nearly exclusively as a reference point for ensuring websites and digital properties are accessible to people with disabilities.
More recently, many countries (or states and provinces) across the globe have adopted WCAG as the basis for their accessibility standards and regulations – including regulations such as the EU Web Accessibility Directive, the AODA in Canada, and of course, Section 508 Compliance in the United States.
So, is my website WCAG Compliant?
As outlined above, we strongly recommend organizations do a quick self-assessment when kicking off their web accessibility journey! If nothing else, it can introduce your design, development, and digital marketing teams to the WCAG standards and the types of violations you might need to work to resolve as you focus on driving compliance with your website through an expert audit.
However, we are always happy to help by giving our expert opinion. Our team here at Allyant would be happy to provide you with a free quick assessment of your website’s current compliance level and discuss how we can get you on your way to equitable access in no time.
Simply chat with our team of experts to get this started, or fill out the contact form below!
How Do I Check If My Website Is WCAG Compliant (And Does It Need To Be)?
50 things you need to know about Apple Vision Pro
Size! Price! Apps! Battery! Release window! Creepy eyes! More!
(Image credit: Future)
It’s the most talked about piece of tech hardware in many years, and there’s still a lot to learn about it. The Apple Vision Pro is the most ambitious device Apple has ever made: a head-mounted wearable computer that it believes will change the way we interact with technology forever.Fueled by a huge amount of processing power, sensors, an all-new OS and a truly striking industrial design, it’s still a long-way off from release. But that only makes us more eager to find out what this mixed-reality device is capable of.
From immersive ‘Environments’ to creepy digital ‘Personas’, from a hands-free control method to a potential date with Mickey Mouse, here are 50 facts, figures and features you need to know about Apple Vision Pro.
(Image credit: Apple)
HardwareApple is calling it a Spatial Computer. It believes the Vision Pro will usher in a new era for computing, a ‘spatial’ one, where our workspaces aren’t limited to desks and screens, but anywhere in the world around us — provided we’re wearing something like the Apple Vision Pro. Through its lenses, applications are superimposed onto your surroundings, similar to augmented reality iPhone applications.
Apple Vision Pro is powered by not one, but two chips in a dual-chip array. Mac fans will be familiar with the superb computing performance offered by the M2 chip set to be employed by the Vision Pro, but it’ll be paired with a brand new R1 chip, whose purpose is to handle all the data coming in from the sensors, cameras and mics.
It uses a pair of micro-OLED displays in its gasket, with 23 million pixels between them. That’s the same as having a 4K TV for each of your eyes.
Though Apple Vision Pro may appear like one, it’s not a VR headset. Not in the traditional sense at least, even though its hardware is conceptually similar. Apple is focussing on mixed-reality use cases, where applications and the real-world merge. Unlike most VR headsets for instance, Apple Vision Pro does not support ‘room-scale’ experiences — yes, applications can take up your entire field of view, but developer documentation shows that if you move more than 1.5 meters from the origin point of an experience, you’re going to have the plug pulled on immersion. The Meta Quest line, by comparison, lets you move freely around an area you define up to 15m x 15m.
There are a ton of cameras built in. There are at least 10 external cameras (oriented with two main forward facing cameras, four pointing downward, 2 TrueDepth cameras for establishing depth, and two pointing sideways to capture the periphery of your view and room), as well as at least four IR cameras for working in the dark areas inside the headset, as well as some on the outside.
(Image credit: Apple)There are a lot of sensors in the Apple Vision Pro too. There is a LiDAR sensor for measuring distance and 3D mapping of spaces, and accelerometers and gyroscopes to track movement. And of course there will be sensors for tracking things like chip temperatures, as standard.
That front piece? That’s a single piece of curved laminated glass that joins up with an aluminium alloy frame. It’s designed to adhere to common curves of the human head to make it as comfortable as possible to wear.
Behind the front piece is a Light Seal. This helps the Vision Pro sit comfortably on your nose, and blocks out ambient light that could reduce the clarity of the displays. It’ll be available in different sizes for maximum comfort.
A dedicated Top button lets you take spatial photos and videos, using the onboard 3D camera array.
The Apple Vision Pro will make use of an external battery pack. That’s not as bad an idea as it sounds! You’ll get two hours of use on average from the battery, and you can plug the headset into a wall socket for continuous use, too.
(Image credit: Apple)A Digital Crown, like what’s present on the Apple Watch, is on the Apple Vision Pro, too. It serves two purposes — firstly to act as a home button to go back to the Vision Pro’s main menu and apps screen, but also to dial in the level of immersion when in room scale ‘Environments’. In other words, turn it to tune in or out more or less of your real world surroundings.
The head band has an adjustable fit. Not only is its fabric mesh stretchy and breathable, but a side Fit Dial lets you tighten it just right, no matter what your head shape may be.
Perhaps the most striking feature of the Vision Pro design is its external EyeSight display. This forms part of the frontispiece of the headset and uses internal cameras to capture video of your eyes and the area around them, then shows that on the external screen to anyone looking at you. EyeSight turns on when someone approaches you.
Apple Vision Pro does not have a controller. You’re the controller! You’ll be able to navigate apps and the interface just by using your hands to create gestures, and your voice to issue commands.
Apple Vision Pro offers eye-tracking to help make these hands-free controls work accurately. LEDs and infrared cameras beam tracked light patterns on your eyes to ascertain where your gaze is sitting. That helps Vision Pro recognize which elements of its interface you’re looking to interact with.
(Image credit: Apple)Wear glasses? You’ll be able to get prescription lens inserts for Apple Vision Pro. However, these will be sold separately, and made (initially at least) exclusively by ZEISS, a premium lens manufacturer. So don’t expect them to be cheap. They’ll magnetically attach to the lenses inside the headset.
It’s not just about Spatial Computing, but Spatial Audio, too. Apple has popped speakers into the side strap of the Vision Pro, over but not in your ears. This helps you hear your real-world surroundings without losing out on too much audio. During set up, they’ll map your ear geometry too to aid replicating a surround sound experience.
SoftwareThe headset runs on the new visionOS operating system. From its icons to its fonts and control points, it builds on what users will be familiar with from macOS and iOS, but presents them in new ways that interact with the world around the user.
You have full freedom to move apps wherever you want in visionOS. They’re not locked to a set size, or a set position in a space. Instead you can tailor them to suit your workflow, needs and surroundings — the apps will even react to the ambient lighting of the positions you place them in, casting natural shadows in the digital space.
Get used to pinching. Putting together your thumb and forefinger will be the primary way to make selections in visionOS, while flicks will let you scroll through content.
(Image credit: Apple)Worried about tired arms waved around all day? Don’t be! You can control Apple Vision Pro even if your hands are in your lap. Its onboard sensors and camera arrays are sensitive enough to track your intentions even if your hands aren’t waved right in front of the headset.
Can’t use your hands, or just want to give them a rest altogether? Siri will be on board to open and close apps and media, while hovering your gaze over a mic icon in any app will activate a dictation mode.
There’s already quite a few confirmed, familiar first-party apps that you can use on Apple Vision Pro. These include Apple TV, Apple Music, Photos, Messages, Mail, Safari, Freeform, Keynote, Mindfulness and Notes.
Lots of these apps can be viewed in those immersive ‘Environments’ mentioned earlier. A key one will be the Cinema Environment, which will blow Apple TV screenings up to as large as 100 feet wide.
Bespoke entertainment content is already being made for Apple Vision Pro. Spatial Video support for Apple TV means that the upcoming Godzilla TV show, currently titled Monarch: Legacy of the Monsters, is being filmed with Spatial Video support in mind.
(Image credit: Apple)Apple is looking to revive 3D video with Apple Vision Pro, too. It’ll be pushing Apple Immersive Videos, which use 180-degree 3D 8K recordings, alongside Spatial Audio, to put you in the heart of an action scene.
This is Apple’s first 3D camera too. You’ll be able to record and playback your own spatial videos and photos — and those being filmed will know you’re doing so as the headset’s front screen changes to a recording mode.
One of the key apps for Apple Vision Pro will be FaceTime. You’ll be able to make calls with the headset, and have your friends’ faces hover in panes alongside anything else you’re doing with Vision Pro at the same time.
But if you’re wearing a headset, what will your friends see when you’re on a FaceTime call? Your digital Persona, that’s what. Like a detailed memoji, the Apple Vision Pro will scan your face and create a bespoke, quite-uncanny 3D representation of you that will be beamed to your friends. It’s a bit like sending a video game character version of yourself to represent you on calls.
SharePlay will work in FaceTime too. If you want to work simultaneously on a SharePlay-supported app or project with Vision Pro on, you’ll be able to do so.
(Image credit: Apple)It may have taken years to get Final Cut Pro for iPad, but you won’t have to wait so long for the Spatial Computing version. Apple already has plans for Final Cut Pro for Apple Vision Pro, and it should be ready in time for launch, too.
Of course, it won’t just be about first-party apps. A visionOS App Store will launch alongside the headset, offering third-party developers the opportunity to create apps and services for the device, too.
There’s already a visionOS SDK available, and as a result, we’ve already got a sneak-peek at some of the potential third party apps heading to Vision Pro. Some are great, like a gaming museum, and some are silly fun, like a giant calculator.
Of the third-party developers announced for Apple Vision Pro so far, the biggest announcement was that Disney will be creating apps for Vision Pro. At the headset’s launch, Disney showed off a sizzle reel that included transporting viewers to locations from Star Wars, having Mickey Mouse run around your living room, and streaming the Disney+ catalogue in the headset.
On top of that, iPhone and iPad apps will be compatible with Vision Pro. Though they’ll likely be flat plane versions of existing apps, Apple is keen to make it easy for developers to get their existing apps working on the headset so that users can feel right at home straight away with the headset.
(Image credit: Apple)Among those supported iPhone and iPad apps will be Apple Arcade games. You’ll be able to Pair a Bluetooth controller with Apple Vision Pro, and play those titles on a giant screen inside the headset.
Vision Pro will support Apple’s Continuity features to allow you to work inside the headset, alongside your Mac. It’ll let you add multiple virtual displays to a MacBook, turning a single screen device into a multi-display workstation.
And though Vision Pro is a handsfree, controllerless device, there’s nothing stopping you from being able to pair a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse or trackpad with the headset. Handy for those aforementioned Continuity features with a Mac.
3D objects will be a big thing in visionOS, naturally, given the 3D nature of the interface. But developers can potentially go the extra mile by letting you take 3D objects out of an app and place them in the real-world around you, letting you scale them as desired.
Visual search will be part of visionOS. Working a bit like Visual Lookup, it’ll be able to identify items or detect and read aloud text that your gaze centers on. It sounds like a great accessibility feature, as well as a great learning tool.
Price, release and other featuresApple wants to make Vision Pro as secure as any of its other devices. It’ll offer an Optic ID security system that scans your iris for its unique features to authenticate access to your sensitive data. That Optic ID data is encrypted, and never leaves your headset.
Privacy is important. Though Apple Vision Pro has cameras constantly tracking your environment, that information is processed at a system level, meaning that third-party applications don’t get to see inside your living room. Likewise, eye-tracking data, such as where your eye lingers on a Safari page, will not be shared — just any selection taps.
Want to take Vision Pro on the go? A dedicated Travel Mode will be available, which will ask you what sort of transportation you’re using, and scale back some ‘awareness features’ in line with your activity. No one wants to accidentally gatecrash the cockpit of a plane, right?
How about sharing your Apple Vision Pro? A Guest Mode will also be included, and while its details are not yet clear, it’s assumed that you’ll be able to register several Optic ID security locks and get individual ‘workspaces’ for each user. But the details here still need to be confirmed.
Don’t run! Apple Vision Pro has a speed limit. Early SDK users are seeing that when testing high-speed motion, a ‘Moving at Unsafe Speed’ warning message appears and temporarily hides virtual content.
(Image credit: Apple)Apple Vision Pro will make use of your iCloud account to make sure that everything you do on the headset is synced with your more traditional devices, like the iPhone and Mac.
It’s expensive. Apple Vision Pro will cost $3,499 when it launches at some point in 2024.
Try before you buy. Apple intends to shuffle its Apple Store retail locations around to include testing and showcase areas for Apple Vision Pro. Much like with the launch of Apple Watch, Apple reportedly wants people to come get fitted for the device to ensure they get the right band fit, optical inserts and more. That might mean you can’t get it at other retailers in that initial launch wave.
Can’t afford $3,499? Then patience, grasshopper. Rumor has it Apple already has plans to launch a cheaper version of Apple Vision Pro by the end of 2025.
But if you’re outside the US note that it’s not getting a global release. Not initially, anyway. The US is the first market to get the Apple Vision Pro, with other territories to follow at an as-yet-undetermined time.
https://www.imore.com/gaming/virtual-reality/50-things-you-need-to-know-about-apple-vision-pro
Introducing XploreNinja, a navigation app powered by BlindSquare for Android
BlindSquare – Friday, June 30, 2023 at 5:50 PM
Introducing XploreNinja, a navigation app powered by BlindSquare for Android devices
In today’s fast-paced world, technology has become an integral part of our lives, shaping the way we communicate, work, and navigate our surroundings. For individuals with vision loss, technology has opened up new possibilities and opportunities, empowering them to explore the world independently. One such groundbreaking innovation is XploreNinja – BlindSquare’s latest app release – a remarkable mapping system designed to support blind Android device users navigate safely and confidently; a new way to experience the world.
Introducing XploreNinja, Powered by BlindSquare:
• What is XploreNinja?
The XploreNinja Android app is a totally new platform, first released in January 2023, providing the BlindSquare developers access to new powers and flexible integrations. Available first for Android devices, an iOS version is planned and will be released as feature layers increase.
• What XploreNinja is not.
While powered by BlindSquare’s development team and using BlindSquare customized datasets (whether publicly sourced or custom developed) it is not BlindSquare for Android as features and functionality vary.
• What is BlindSquare (iOS) working on now?
Development of new features and expanding datasets continues with BlindSquare (iOS) as the flagship product.
• Datasets and special features.
The XploreNinja apple leverages customized datasets created for BlindSquare (iOS) serving geographies where public data is either poor or not currently available. Examples of these datasets include parks (urban/rural), college/university campus sites, transit services, public pedestrian malls, and more. The XploreNinja app, in a park setting as an example, can provide automatic (or optional) tracking via audible prompts from point A to B (such as from the parking lot, to a park bench by the pond, to the nearest facilities).
BlindSquare’s Enterprise Products includes a service known as CLS (Customized Location Services), a dataset of points of interest both indoors and outdoors for blind users, which is maintained and authorized using a map interface (such as OpenStreetMaps, Google Maps, Google Satellite View, Google Street view) or field-collected or client supplied data.The XploreNinja app unlocks access to this data on Android devices.
Example use cases and press coverage, including Parks, Transportation, Pedestrian Malls and more
BlindSquare’s new app, XploreNinja, represents a significant milestone in the field of assistive technology. By combining advanced mapping capabilities, continuous optimizations, and a user-centric design, the Xplore Ninja app empowers blind individuals to navigate their environments more safely, confidently, and independently. As technology continues to evolve, apps like XploreNinja serve as an example of how innovation can break barriers and create opportunities for individuals with vision loss. Through innovations like the XploreNinja app, BlindSquare is driving inclusivity and accessibility, enabling individuals with vision loss to embrace their surroundings and live life on their terms.
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