100 points to know about...
Inclusive project management

In order to offer inclusive digital meetings, it is important to choose the right videoconferencing tool. To guide you in this choice, we present here the most used videoconferencing tools at work as well as their accessibility proposals: visual accessibility, text input in instant messaging, voice synthesis, automatic subtitling, simplified reader...

Videoconferencing tools generally respect the official Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). But accessibility features vary from one tool to another. Here is an overview of 4 videoconferencing tools and their accessibility features based on several sources including a comparative evaluation by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) : https://rnid.org.uk/

Microsoft Teams

Audio and video calling quality : Good. Be careful though : according to the RNID, it works best on Microsoft laptops and PCs. Microsoft Teams can reduce background noise in calls.

Live captions : Available on desktop app and mobile app. To learn how to use live captions on Microsoft Teams, check out their guidance : https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/use-live-captions-in-a-teams-meeting-4be2d304-f675-4b57-8347-cbd000a21260

Screen reader use : Yes. Check out Microsoft’s guidance : https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/screen-reader-support-for-microsoft-teams-d12ee53f-d15f-445e-be8d-f0ba2c5ee68f?ui=en-us&rs=en-us&ad=us

Transcription : Yes. Check out the guidance : https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/view-live-transcription-in-a-teams-meeting-dc1a8f23-2e20-4684-885e-2152e06a4a8b

Ease of use : Easy, according to the RNID

Cost : Business account needed, but guests can join

Maximum number of users on a call : 250

Notable feature or strong point :

The immersive reader is the highlight of Teams accessibility. It is also present in One Note. This feature offers a full-screen reading interface that improves the readability of instant messages. To learn more about the use of the immersive reader, go here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/topic/use-immersive-reader-in-microsoft-teams-a700c0d0-bc53-4696-a94d-4fbc86ac7a9a

Zoom

Audio and video calling quality : Good according to the RNID. Also reduces background noise in calls

Live captions : Zoom allows a scribe to type live captions during a meeting. You can also choose to use another service to do this for you. The captions can be streamed into the meeting or you can choose to view them on a separate screen. Read Zoom’s guidance on live captions : https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/4409683389709-Enabling-or-disabling-closed-captioning

Screen reader use : Yes. To know more about this, check out this video by Technology for blind : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qY8X70TGK4

Transcription : No, but available through an external provider

Ease of use : Easy according to RNID

Cost : Free basic package (50 minutes maximum if more than two users on the call. Subscription £11.99–£15.99 a month)

Maximum number of users on a call : 100 on basic plans (1,000 if you pay for an add-on)

Notable feature or strong point :

Zoom is often cited as one of the most accessible video conferencing tools. Fable, an accessibility testing firm, conducted a survey which revealed that 92% of testers from a variety of different disabilities listed Zoom as their tool of choice. According to the RNID, it’s also popular with people who require interpreters and speech-to-text reporters.

Skype

Audio and video calling : Good according to the RNID

Live captions : Yes, on mobile and desktop. Live captions are available in Skype version 8 or higher for Android, iOS, Windows and macOS. Read Skype’s guidance on live captions : https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA34877/how-do-i-turn-live-captions-subtitles-on-during-a-skype-call

Transcription : No

Ease of use : Easy according to the RNID

Cost : Free but there is also a paid-for premium version for voice mail, SMS texts or calls to a landline or mobile outside of Skype.

Maximum number of users on a call : 50

Notable feature or strong point :

The strong point of Skype is the subtitles. It offers an automatic transcription with instantaneous subtitles and dissociation of the speaker. As soon as a participant speaks, his profile picture will appear on the screen as well as the content of his sentences, and so on for the rest of the conversation. You can also access the subtitle history during a call.

Webex by Cisco

Audio and video calling : Excellent according to the RNID. Can detect background noise and remove distractions

Live captions : Yes

Transcription : Available from external provider

Ease of use : Mostly easy – some fiddly functions

Cost : Paid for service (free trial available)

Maximum number of users on a call : 1,000

Notable feature or strong point :

For users who are low vision, Webex’s integrations and bold design are quite useful. Cisco has also launched a feature called "optimize for all voices" that makes it easier to hear meeting participants who are far away from the microphone.

Sources :

How video conferencing apps compare for accessibility – The Royal National Institue For Deaf https://rnid.org.uk/information-and-support/technology-and-products/how-video-conferencing-apps-compare-for-accessibility/

Accessible video conferencing tools – Smashing Magazine https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2020/06/accessible-video-conferencing-tools/

Cisco introduces digital accessibility features for Webex – Tech Target https://www.techtarget.com/searchunifiedcommunications/news/252512340/Cisco-introduces-digital-accessibility-features-for-Webex