T he genralization of graphical user interfaces (GUIs), coupled with the recent popularization of the World Wide Web and graphical HTML pages, limits access to the Internet for persons with visual disabilities. The main goal of the AB-Web project is to increase access to the World Wide Web sites for blind and visually impaired computer users. More precisely, our goal is to embed new alternative access modalities into the Microsoft Internet Explorer©, based on :

• The generation of a virtual sound space (3D audio environment) into which the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) elements are mapped;
• The transcription into sound not only of text, but also of images;
• Active and passive user interaction for the macro- and micro-analysis of HTML elements;
• The use of a touch-sensitive screen for facilitating blind user interaction.

   O ur studies have lead to the realization of WebSound: a generic Web sonification tool which allows HCI researchers working in the field of non-visual Web interfaces to easily add new accessible modalities to a standard visual browser such as Internet Explorer.

This project is conducted in collaboration and with the support of the "Association pour le Bien des Aveugles et Amblyopes, Geneva", and of the Swiss Priority Program - Information and Communication Structures.