I.Accessible.2 is a programming interface (A.P.I.) that Web browsers and document programs can use to communicate with programmes that convert text to speech.

The A.P.I. is designed to help the assistive technologies work even with complex websites that have been designed with state-of-the-art tools like Ajax, which enables bursts of information. These can cause errors in automated screen readers such as Jaws and Windows Eyes.

According to I.B.M., with the wide acceptance of the standard, visually impaired users would not have to change or upgrade their assistive technologies each time they install a new version of a browser or office programme.

According to I.B.M., the A.P.I. is standards based and has been accepted by a wide range of key industry players, including Oracle, SAP, and Mozilla Project.

The company added that the I.Accessible.2 A.P.I. has been endorsed by the Free Standards Group.

Recently, a United Nations sponsored survey showed that only three out of 100 Web sites meet the minimum standards for accessibility to blind people.