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Ask HN: Accessible Applications in WebGL and for the Desktop?

2 points by ruste ↗ HN
I'm building a scheduling app right now using that renders directly on the desktop using opengl. I'm considering making a web version by compiling to web assembly. As I understand it, if I want to sell this application as a web app it needs to meet certain accessibility requirements. As far as I can tell that means I cannot sell the app and need to start over because opengl/webgl aren't particularly accessible on the desktop or browser. Am I legally required to build this as a traditional web app to meet accessibility requirements if I want to run it in a browser? Are requirements looser if I build it just as a desktop app?

2 comments

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Finnucane
'requirements' kinda depends on who you are trying to sell to. If it's to the US Federal government, it needs to meet the criteria of what's known as 'Section 508'. There's information about that here:

https://section508.gov/

Other customers, such as schools and universities, might want WCAG 2.1

https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/

They may also need to be 508 compliant because of funding rules.

Beyond that, things become complicated.

ruste
Thanks for the response! That clarifies a lot!

If I'm selling mostly to businesses does that mean most requirements are avoided? Does that differ between desktop and web?

For context, it's, roughly speaking, a tool for making gantt charts. Not something that would really be central to a role. Just makes a task that could be done in a spreadsheet easier.