World Cup on the Net for visually challenged

By Shakti Sharma
Friday, 14 June 2002

A Singapore based company, Enabling Dimensions, has created a World Cup website designed to enable the visually challenged to access the live coverage of the soccer matches.

Enabling Dimension's managing director, Atul Pant said, "We have made an attempt to pass on the fruits of the IT industry to the visually challenged. Why should they miss out on the thrills of one of the greatest events of the world?"

With just a simple gadget like screen reader, the visually handicapped would be able to get minute-by-minute information on the world cup.

The website seems to be a philanthropic act and nothing more. "Our attempt is a loss making venture, as we can neither put adds on the site nor we intend to charge money by having a restrictive access to the site," says Atul.

The project was completed in a record time of about a fortnight and the website, created as per the standards laid down by the WAI (Web Accessibility Initiative) consortium - the apex body for setting standards, is totally accessible.

The website www.enableall.org will be available June 15 onward, i.e. from pre-quarter final matches till the finals match.