16 April 2007

Online virtual worlds such as Second Life could be made more accessible for hearing and visually-impaired users and those with mobility challenges, according to experts.

Most of the information available on the Second Life platform is visually presented, with most communication conducted via instant messages and text - major challenges for visually-impaired users, claim Tom Peters and Lori Bell on Ecommerce Times.

Sites such as these are "a bust to blind and visually-impaired users", they assert.

The increasing popularity of such sites means that several bodies are currently working to improve their inclusiveness for these individuals, the experts state.

One such body is the Game Accessibility Special Interest Group of the International Game Developers Association, which seeks to "help the game community strive towards mainstream games that are universally accessible to all, regardless of disability".

Second Life was created in 2003 and has thus far garnered more than 5.6 million registered people hailing from all around the world, with a marketplace in which millions of US dollars change hands each day.

© Adfero Ltd

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