>>30146It's true, there are actual real life standards and metrics for it with compliance mandated by several organizations. Gnome is the only desktop that can actually be used everywhere.
Copypasta from the course material
- Section 508 (U.S. federal agencies): requires electronic and information technology be accessible to people with disabilities — e.g., accessible websites, screen-reader compatibility, keyboard navigation.
- WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) conformance requirements adopted by many laws/policies (A, AA, AAA levels) — e.g., perceivable text alternatives, sufficient color contrast, keyboard operability.
- ADA Title II/III (U.S.): court rulings and DOJ guidance require public services and places of public accommodation (including many websites/apps) to be accessible — e.g., accessible online forms, captioned multimedia.
- EN 301 549 (EU): accessibility standard for ICT products and services used by public sector bodies — e.g., accessible documents, software, and websites.
- AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, Canada—Ontario): mandates accessibility standards for websites and digital content — e.g., timely remediation of accessibility barriers.
- Australian Disability Discrimination Act (and related Web Accessibility National Transition Strategy): requires reasonable access to digital services — e.g., alternative text, semantic markup.
- Canadian Accessible Canada Act (federal): accessibility requirements for federally regulated organizations — e.g., accessible digital communications and procurement.
- ISO 9241-171 / ISO 25237 (where applicable): usability and accessibility guidelines for software user interfaces and health informatics — e.g., user-centered design, data privacy/usability controls.
- Procurement mandates (many governments/large enterprises): contract clauses requiring WCAG AA compliance and accessibility testing/reporting — e.g., VPAT/Accessibility Conformance Reports required from vendors.