OD Solutions makes PDFs accessible to all

OD Solutions plays a crucial role in the digital world bymaking PDF documents more accessible to everyone, especially those with functional disabilities. The company was founded in 2008 and specialises in unstructured information and language technology. With digitalisation booming, OD Solutions started using its knowledge and technology to make documents digitally accessible. We sat down with Charel van Ommeren to discuss the services provided by OD Solutions.

The challenge of digital accessibility

In today's digital world, many organisations are working to make websites accessible, particularly to comply with the WCAG guidelines (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). A common problem here is that PDF documents are often seen as an obstacle to accessibility. Some organisations choose to remove PDF files from their websites and replace them with HTML pages.

An important aspect overlooked here is that government agencies are obliged to keep published information available and accessible. While publishing all documents in HTML format makes them accessible, there is a growing question of how to archive this huge amount of web pages efficiently. This is where PDF documents excel: they are easy to archive.

However, there is a common perception that creating accessible PDFs is difficult. To meet this challenge, OD Solutions offers two practical solutions:

  • 4@LL2B WeCo:a tool integrated into Microsoft Word that makes it easy to create accessible PDF documents. Users can easily create an accessible PDF by activating a wizard in MS Word. More information can be found on the website of OD-solutions.

  • 4@LL2B Ally: this is an automatic converter that converts existing PDF documents that are not accessible into accessible versions. This tool automates 99.5% of the tagging process, contributing to the efficiency of making PDFs accessible.

Innovation in search technology

OD Solutions has developed an advanced language engine and AI-driven search function that enables contextual and associative searching of documents and archives. Unlike traditional search engines that are primarily keyword-based, OD Solutions' search function can interpret and respond to user queries.

For example, if someone asks, "When do I cause housing nuisance?", the search engine will not only find a relevant document, but also provide an answer to the question directly, including a citation from the document. This makes searching internal archives and corporate websites more intuitive and user-friendly.

For more information on how OD Solutions applies this technology and for a demonstration of the search function, visit OD Solutions - 4@LL2B and watch the explainer video here: OD Solutions Language Engine.

Digital anonymisation of documents

Essential anonymisation of documents is critical for organisations with strict privacy regulations. OD Solutions offers advanced systems that process confidential data securely and anonymise it effectively.

To this end, the National Archives will use the language technology of OD Solutions Nederland BV. This technology is deployed within this solution as a privacy detection tool.

All documents published undergo a check for privacy-sensitive information. This forms the basis for successfully anonymising the documents.

The accessibility street and the Open Government Act (GOA)

"The Accessibility Street" provides an integrated solution for making documents accessible. A practical example of its application is in the context of the Open Government Act (WOO), where the process includes: finding, processing, anonymising, and making documents accessible. This approach makes it easy for organisations to publish documents efficiently and effectively accessible.

The process includes:

  • Search and find: with the 4@LL2B search and find system, relevant documents are found quickly and efficiently.

  • Anonymise documents: OD Solutions has developed a method to anonymise documents without affecting accessibility.

  • Creating Response Documents: new documents are created and converted to accessible PDFs using 4@LL2B WeCo.

  • Recovering Accessibility: OD Solutions ensures that lacquered documents remain accessible.

"We continue to innovate and adapt our tools to new technologies and user needs to stay at the forefront of digital accessibility."

Charrel van Ommeren

Stronger together

Charel stresses the importance of collaboration: "We provide training and guidance to organisations to improve their digital accessibility, playing a key role in creating an accessible digital world."

Charel and his team are dedicated to making digital content accessible, usable and understandable for all. Their ongoing commitment to innovation and collaboration positions OD Solutions as a leading player in the field of digital accessibility. For more information about OD Solutions and their approach in digital accessibility, visit their website.

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