Body
ADA Title II Digital Accessibility Requirements for Digital Signage
ADA Title II requires that all digital content meet WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards. Below are guidelines for all digital signage displayed on university-managed digital displays.
Visual Accessibility
WCAG 2.1 standards for visual presentation in digital signage, include, but is not limited to, font, text size, text height, and colors.
Digital signage text should facilitate maximum readability, with large and clear letters measuring ⅝ to 2 inches in height and a maximum of 12 points in width.
With regards to the background, the color should have a good contrast with the text, with a color ratio of at least 3:1. Flashing elements and rapidly changing content should also be avoided.
Content
Keep your message and content short and to the point; provide a link or QR code (or similar) to a webpage for more information.
Most signage changes every 8-12 seconds.
Legible Text
Use simple fonts that are clear and easy to read, avoiding script or overly complicated fonts.
San-serif fonts are recommended (for example, Arial).
Avoid text on top of photographs or "busy" backgrounds, as that will not have enough contrast.
Captions
Where applicable, with video or other audio displays, be sure to use accurate captions.
Color
Use colors that meet the contrast requirements, and use a tool like WebAim Contrast Checker to confirm they meet WCAG 2.1 standards.
Don't rely solely on color to convey information; ensure that there is another visual cue, such as an icon or text.
Avoid Flashing Elements
Don't include video or animations that flash or rapidly change.
Content & Format Requirements
General Considerations
The creation of content for the Digital Signage system requires consideration of technical, legal, and aesthetic factors. The technical considerations deal with the system's capabilities and limitations. The aesthetic or creative considerations relate to making the digital slides and/or digital videos visually interesting and accessible for effective communications.
When creating content for Digital Signage, it is important to consider the system's 16 x 9 horizontal aspect ratio, graphic readability and balance, graphic colors, compatibility, and overall style.
Minimum Requirements
Content submitted for display on the Digital Signage system must meet the following minimum requirements before it will be approved and scheduled for display.
- Digital slides can be submitted in JPG or PNG format.
- Slides should be formatted in widescreen- 16 x 9 ratio. The standard resolution is 1920 x 1080.
Digital video must be 60 seconds or less in length and may not contain audio. Videos may be submitted in any of 3 formats, including: mpeg, mov, or mp4 file types. Currently, Digital Signage does NOT support including an audio track in a submitted video. Audio will be removed from any videos played.
Digital slides or digital video using a solid red background will NOT be scheduled for display. Solid red backgrounds are reserved for Emergency Communications only.
Do notincorporate any element into digital signage content that violates copyright laws. If there are any questions regarding copyright issues about submitted content, that content will not be displayed until it has been verified that there is no copyright infringement.
Digital Slides
Digital slides can be produced in any program that can create a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) or PNG (Portable Network Graphics) file, such as Microsoft Office PowerPoint, Microsoft Office Publisher, Photo Shop, or Canva.
Aspect Ratio
It is important to realize that Digital Signage content should be created in a horizontal format. The areas of the Digital Signage screens reserved for display of digital slides use a 16 x 9 aspect ratio (16 units wide and 9 units tall). This means that when preparing digital slides the width of the slide should be approximately 1.77 times greater than the height. For campus presentations, digital slides should be formatted at 1920 x 1080 pixels, @ 72 dpi.
Readability
Campus digital slides are typically displayed for up to 8-12 seconds at a time. Therefore, it is best to limit the number of elements (text and graphic images) in a digital slide so that viewers have sufficient time to read the slide during its brief display time.
Text and Fonts
Limit the number of characters (letters, spaces, etc.) in a line and the number of lines on a slide. Forty characters or less is a preferred line length. A maximum of ten lines per slide is a good target. Be sure to allow sufficient white space between and around text so that it appears balanced and visually pleasing. The resolution limitations of the Digital Signage displays require the use of simple, bold text or type. It is best to avoid light, ornate fonts with fine thin lines or fonts with delicate serifs (even in larger sizes) because they are difficult to read. Avoid font sizes any smaller than 24 points.
Graphic Images
When using graphic images in digital slides, be sure to use images that are visually compatible with the other elements in the slide. Use images whose formats are compatible with creating slides in either JPEG or PNG formats.
Color and Contrast
Other readability considerations are color and contrast. Insufficient contrast between text and background colors can make reading difficult. Some color combinations may provide sufficient contrast but still be difficult to view because one or more of the colors is extremely bright.
Digital Video
Supported Formats Supported file types include: mpg, mpeg, mov, mp4, avi, dv, and wmv file types. Recommended Quality Settings MPEG-4 is best. Using a bitrate setting of 10Mbps - 15Mbps is recommended for high definition video.
Audio
Digital video may not contain audio. The audio portion of any submitted video will be erased, and not played over Campus Signage.
Copyrighted Material
Do not use digital video clips or incorporate elements into digital video content that infringe upon the copyright or trademark rights of others. Digital signage content that infringes on the copyrighted or trademarked works of others will NOT be approved for display. Copyrighted and trademarked material may include, but are not limited to, logos, digital images, photographs, paintings, movies, videos, and written works. Copyright and Fair Use information is available from the library.