Replay AI for creating accessible web UI with ARIA Compliance for video conversion

TL;DR: Replay AI revolutionizes accessible web UI development by converting video recordings into ARIA-compliant code, ensuring inclusivity and usability for all users.

Building Accessible Web UI from Video: Replay AI's Approach#

Creating accessible web applications is paramount, but often a complex and time-consuming process. Traditional methods rely heavily on manual coding and testing, making it difficult to ensure compliance with accessibility standards like ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications). What if you could generate accessible code directly from observing user behavior in a video? That's the promise of Replay AI.

Replay analyzes video recordings of user interactions to reconstruct working UI, including crucial ARIA attributes. This "behavior-driven reconstruction" ensures that the generated code not only replicates the visual design but also captures the intended user experience, translating directly into accessible UI elements.

The Problem: Manual ARIA Implementation is Error-Prone#

Implementing ARIA attributes correctly is crucial for screen reader users and others who rely on assistive technologies. However, it's easy to make mistakes:

• •Forgetting to add
  text

  aria-label
  to a button.
• •Incorrectly setting
  text

  aria-expanded
  on a collapsible element.
• •Using the wrong ARIA role for a custom component.

These errors can severely impact usability for people with disabilities. The conventional development workflow often overlooks these details until late in the process, leading to costly rework.

Replay AI: Accessibility from the Start#

Replay offers a different approach. By observing user interactions in video, Replay can infer the intended semantics and automatically generate ARIA-compliant code. This means accessibility is baked in from the beginning, rather than being an afterthought.

How Replay Creates ARIA-Compliant Code#

Replay's ability to generate accessible code stems from its unique approach to UI reconstruction:

1. •Video Analysis: Replay analyzes the video to identify UI elements, user actions (clicks, form entries, etc.), and the context in which these actions occur.
2. •Behavior Inference: Using its AI engine (powered by Gemini), Replay infers the purpose and behavior of each UI element. This includes understanding the relationships between elements and how they respond to user input.
3. •ARIA Attribute Generation: Based on the inferred behavior, Replay automatically generates the appropriate ARIA attributes. For example, if a button toggles the visibility of a panel, Replay will add
   text

   aria-expanded
   and update its value accordingly.
4. •Code Generation: Finally, Replay generates clean, well-structured code (React, Vue, HTML/CSS) that includes the ARIA attributes.

Step-by-Step Example: Building an Accessible Modal#

Let's walk through a simplified example of how Replay can generate accessible code for a modal dialog.

Step 1: Record the User Interaction#

Record a video of a user opening and closing a modal dialog. Make sure the video clearly shows the button that triggers the modal, the modal itself, and the close button.

Step 2: Upload to Replay#

Upload the video to Replay. Replay will analyze the video and identify the key UI elements: the trigger button, the modal container, and the close button.

Step 3: Review and Refine (Optional)#

Replay provides a visual representation of the reconstructed UI. You can review the generated code and make any necessary adjustments.

Step 4: Generate the Code#

Replay generates the code, including the necessary ARIA attributes:

typescript
// Generated by Replay AI

import React, { useState } from 'react';

const Modal = () => {
  const [isOpen, setIsOpen] = useState(false);

  const openModal = () => setIsOpen(true);
  const closeModal = () => setIsOpen(false);

  return (
    <div>
      <button onClick={openModal} aria-label="Open Modal">
        Open Modal
      </button>

      {isOpen && (
        <div
          className="modal"
          role="dialog"
          aria-modal="true"
          aria-labelledby="modal-title"
        >
          <div className="modal-content">
            <h2 id="modal-title">Modal Title</h2>
            <p>Modal content goes here.</p>
            <button onClick={closeModal} aria-label="Close Modal">
              Close
            </button>
          </div>
        </div>
      )}
    </div>
  );
};

export default Modal;

Notice how Replay automatically added the following ARIA attributes:

• •
  text

  aria-label
  to the buttons, providing descriptive labels for screen readers.
• •
  text

  role="dialog"
  and
  text

  aria-modal="true"
  to the modal container, indicating that it's a modal dialog.
• •
  text

  aria-labelledby
  to link the modal container to its title.

💡 Pro Tip: While Replay automates ARIA attribute generation, always manually review the code to ensure it meets your specific accessibility requirements. Use accessibility testing tools like Axe or WAVE to identify any potential issues.

Benefits of Using Replay for Accessible UI#

• •Increased Efficiency: Automate the process of adding ARIA attributes, saving time and reducing the risk of errors.
• •Improved Accessibility: Ensure that your web applications are accessible to users with disabilities from the start.
• •Enhanced User Experience: Create more inclusive and user-friendly experiences for all users.
• •Reduced Development Costs: Catch accessibility issues early in the development cycle, avoiding costly rework later on.

Beyond Basic ARIA: Complex Interactions#

Replay isn't limited to simple ARIA attributes. It can also handle more complex interactions, such as:

• •Dynamic Content Updates: Automatically updating
  text

  aria-live
  regions when content changes.
• •Custom Components: Generating ARIA attributes for custom UI components based on their behavior.
• •Keyboard Navigation: Ensuring that keyboard navigation is fully accessible.

⚠️ Warning: Replay AI is a powerful tool, but it's not a replacement for accessibility expertise. Always consult with accessibility specialists and conduct thorough testing to ensure your web applications meet the needs of all users.

Real-World Applications#

Here are a few examples of how Replay can be used in real-world scenarios:

• •E-commerce Websites: Generating accessible product listings, shopping carts, and checkout processes.
• •Web Applications: Creating accessible dashboards, forms, and data visualizations.
• •Content Management Systems: Ensuring that content is accessible to all users, regardless of their abilities.
• •Internal Tools: Building accessible internal tools for employees with disabilities.

📝 Note: Replay integrates seamlessly with Supabase, allowing you to easily store and manage your generated code. Style injection allows you to quickly apply your existing design system to the generated UI.

typescript
// Example of fetching data from Supabase
import { createClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js'

const supabaseUrl = 'YOUR_SUPABASE_URL'
const supabaseKey = 'YOUR_SUPABASE_ANON_KEY'
const supabase = createClient(supabaseUrl, supabaseKey)

const fetchData = async () => {
  const { data, error } = await supabase
    .from('your_table')
    .select('*')

  if (error) {
    console.error("Error fetching data:", error);
    return [];
  }

  return data;
}

// Use fetchData to populate your UI

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited features. Paid plans are available for users who need more advanced capabilities.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While v0.dev focuses on generating UI from text prompts, Replay generates UI from video recordings, allowing it to capture user behavior and intent more accurately. Replay excels at understanding the how and why behind the UI, leading to more functional and accessible code.

What frameworks does Replay support?#

Replay currently supports React, Vue, and HTML/CSS. Support for other frameworks is planned for the future.

How accurate is Replay's ARIA attribute generation?#

Replay's ARIA attribute generation is highly accurate, but it's essential to review the generated code and conduct accessibility testing to ensure compliance with accessibility standards.

---

Ready to try behavior-driven code generation? Get started with Replay - transform any video into working code in seconds.