Prioritizing accessibility allows conference organizers to promote the equitable dissemination of the latest research. Thanks to technology, there are more ways than ever to do this. In this blog post, we’ll discuss five benefits of eposters that make scientific meetings more accessible to people with disabilities and learning differences.
RCOG 2017
ePosters are one key way that organizers can leverage technology to create a more inclusive and accommodating experience for all participants. Through the internet and other advancements in accessibility tech like screen readers, it’s easier than ever to make a conference more accessible for attendees, virtual and in person.
1. Zooming In for Enhanced Clarity
One of the primary advantages of ePosters is the ability to zoom. While text and images on printed posters might be challenging to read from a distance, e-posters offer more dynamic viewing opportunities. Using a mouse or pinch-to-zoom for touch screens, attendees can zoom in on specific sections. This is a tool that’s useful for everybody, and ensures that individuals with visual impairments or those who can’t read fine print can still access the information presented. Because our software is PDF-based, the image and text quality does not get compromised no matter how much you zoom in on a poster. So zoom away!
2. Screen Readers and Alt Text
For individuals with visual disabilities, accessing information from traditional paper posters can be a challenge. With the assistance of screen readers and alt text, poster content can be conveyed audibly to visually impaired attendees, enabling them to understand and engage with the research presented both on-site and online. This feature marks a significant leap forward in making academic conferences and events more accommodating to everyone.
3. Audio/Video Supplements and Captioning
Incorporating multimedia elements into eposters lets researchers augment their static content with narrations, video evidence, and moving graphics. This versatility ensures that the research message is conveyed to a diverse audience with a variety of learning preferences. Since videos are such a common supplement to posters, having captions is crucial–so much so that some institutions require captions on any video or audio elements that supplement a poster.
4. Optimizing Space in Poster Halls
Traditional poster halls often become a labyrinth of crowded poster boards. This makes navigation cumbersome, especially for attendees with physical disabilities. Embracing electronic posters presented on monitors liberates valuable space, as a few monitors can replace a high number of poster boards. This spatial optimization enables better movement and accessibility for physically disabled attendees. It also allows for a more organized and visually appealing setup, enhancing the overall experience for everyone.
RCOG 2013
5. Extending Reach Beyond Physical Boundaries
ePostersLive's digital platform transcends geographical limitations by hosting all of your posters on a dedicated web page that’s specifically created for your event. People who cannot attend in person are able to access the content online before, during, and after the conference. This virtual accessibility ensures that scientific knowledge reaches a wider audience for an extended period of time, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange that surpasses the confines of your in-person event.
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The adoption of ePosters by academic conferences and research symposiums is an invaluable step towards creating a more accessible and inclusive platform for scholarly communications. The ability to zoom in, compatibility with screen readers, and integration of audio/video supplements with captions significantly broaden the reach of research findings to diverse audiences. Further, the reduced physical space required by eposters on-site ensures that conferences are more comfortable to navigate for people with physical disabilities.
By welcoming the positive changes of eposters, we not only elevate the quality of academic conferences but reaffirm our commitment to making research more widely available. It’s high time we bid farewell to the constraints of printed posters and step into a future where research is presented with greater impact, inclusivity, and ease.
Want to share your thoughts on how conferences can be made more accessible? Reach out to us on social media @ePostersLive or via email at [email protected].