Internetnews.com reports on IBM’s aDesigner:
The software tool evaluates Web sites on their font choices and colors (and the ability to change them upon request), compliance with accessibility guidelines, alternate text for images and link navigation.
A five-pane window shows the Web site as it looks for most people. Another browser pane demonstrates how it looks or will read for blind or low-vision people, while the bottom three panes list and map out problems aDesigner had with the Web site.
The site is then scored (from 1 to 100) for compliance, navigability and listenability and given an overall letter grade from A to D. Also included in the program is a “simulator” showing how a Web site looks to a person with low-vision impairment.
Highly configurable to simulate a variety of conditions (different types of colour deficiency, eyesight, age), and featuring a built-in accessibility checker, this is an excellent tool for both demonstration and testing purposes.
Currently, there are no plans to release aDesigner as a commercial product; it’s freely available for download under the alphaWorks license.
Hat tip to David Poehlman for first bringing the article (as well as the product) to my attention.