From 28 June 2025, the regulatory landscape for digital infrastructures in Europe and particularly in Austria will change fundamentally. The Accessibility Enhancement Act (BFSG), the national implementation of the European Accessibility Act (EAA), comes into force. What was previously often treated as a voluntary "gesture of inclusion" is becoming a strict legal requirement for manufacturers, importers, and operators. Anyone operating digital touchpoints such as kiosks, ticket machines, or interactive wayfinding systems must ensure that these are accessible to people with impairments without third-party assistance. This is not just about software adjustments, but about the physical integration of hardware, the ergonomic placement of components, and the provision of alternative interaction methods.
The legal framework: More than just a recommendation
The BFSG is not an isolated law but works in conjunction with existing standards such as EN 301 549 ("Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services"). In Austria, monitoring by market surveillance authorities is strictly regulated. Violations of accessibility can lead not only to fines but, in the worst case, to the decommissioning of systems in public spaces.
The distinction between purely passive displays (DOOH screens without interaction) and interactive systems is central. As soon as a user performs a transaction, retrieves information, or navigates through a menu, the BFSG applies in full. This particularly affects:
- Self-service terminals (check-in, ticketing, payment).
- Interactive information totems in shopping centres or government offices.
- ATMs and payment terminals.
- Digital user interfaces in public transport.
Hardware standards: From reach height to contrast ratio
Accessibility starts with mechanics. An interactive display mounted at a height of 180 cm is effectively non-existent for wheelchair users or persons of short stature. We follow DIN 18040-1 for barrier-free construction and specific ICT requirements.
Physical usability
Interactive elements (touch zones, card readers, receipt printers) must be arranged at a height between 700 mm and 1200 mm above the floor. Ideally, the enclosure should be designed to allow knee clearance for wheelchair users to enable frontal use. For wall mounting, the protrusion of the enclosure must not exceed 10 cm, so as not to represent an obstacle for visually impaired people with long canes (collision rail problem).
Display specifications and panel technology
Visual accessibility requires panels with high luminance and stable viewing angles. An LG MAGNIT MicroLED or a Samsung The Wall offers system-related advantages here: Due to the extreme contrast ratios (Infinite Contrast) and brightness of partly over 1,000 nits, readability is maintained even in difficult ambient light.
For text display according to WCAG 2.1 Level AA, a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for bold or large text is required. In bright entrance halls, conventional LCDs without high-brightness backlights quickly reach their limits. We increasingly rely on panels with an anti-glare coating that minimises reflections to under 2%.
Software and CMS: The role of easescreen and BrightSign
An accessible system is only as good as the Content Management System (CMS) that controls it. Solutions like easescreen Crossfire already offer integrated functions for scaling content or activating high-contrast modes.
Assistive technologies and audio output
One of the most frequently overlooked features in the BFSG is the "two-sense principle". Information must be accessible via at least two of the three senses (hearing, seeing, touching). For digital signage, this means:
- Audio feedback: Text-to-speech (TTS) functions for the visually impaired. On the hardware side, this requires a 3.5mm jack socket (protected against vandalism) or Bluetooth pairing for hearing aids.
- Tactile elements: Touchscreens alone are often not sufficient. A logical navigation field (e.g. mechanical buttons with Braille labelling or tactile reliefs) is essential for blind users.
BrightSign Series 5 media players (e.g. the XC4055) are leaders here, as they natively support the integration of external input devices (such as the Storm Interface NavPad) via GPIO interfaces and USB ports.
Comparison of accessible interaction types
| Feature | Standard kiosk | BFSG-compliant kiosk | Technology example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating height | Centred (approx. 150cm) | 70cm to 120cm | Custom enclosure construction |
| Input | Touch only | Touch + Tactile/Audio | Storm Interface / USB-HID |
| Contrast | Standard (approx. 1000:1) | High Contrast (> 4000:1) | Samsung The Wall / VA panels |
| Audio | Optional (Speaker) | Audio jack + TTS | BrightSign XC5 / easescreen |
| UI Design | Free layout | Focus management / Scaling | WCAG 2.1 AA compliance |
Practical application: The Municipal Department 4.0
Let's consider a practical scenario: A pilot project for an Austrian provincial capital for the digitisation of citizen services. In the entrance area, three interactive kiosk systems are to provide wayfinding and dispense application forms.
The configuration:
- Display: 32-inch Alfalite Modularpix with high colour depth and calibrated contrast.
- Enclosure: A Lumexo custom-engineered enclosure made of powder-coated stainless steel, with knee clearance for wheelchair users, IK10 certified against vandalism.
- Interaction: A 3M Projected Capacitive Touch (PCAP) display, combined with a tactile navigation unit below the screen.
- Assistance: An integrated inductive hearing loop amplifier that transmits audio signals directly to hearing aids.
- Software: The UI was programmed so that all interactive elements move to the lower half of the screen ("Reachability Mode") at the push of a button.
This system not only meets the BFSG but also sets standards in longevity through the use of industry standards (IP65 front for cleaning, EN 60598 safety).
What we see in practice
In our daily work at Lumexo, we observe the following critical points when planning infrastructure projects with a view to 2025:
- Software focus vs. hardware reality: Many companies only think of their website when it comes to accessibility. However, a physical kiosk is a unit consisting of hardware and software. An accessible interface is useless if the card reader is unreachable for a wheelchair user.
- Underestimation of ambient conditions: In glass atria, the contrast of conventional screens drops below the required limit values in direct sunlight. High-brightness hardware (min. 2,000 nits) is mandatory here.
- Lack of focus management: When controlling via keyboard emulation (for the blind), the "focus" must move logically through the menu. Many proprietary CMS solutions have poor support for this tab management on touch overlays.
- Audio latency: With text-to-speech solutions, the delay is often too great. Fluid navigation requires powerful media engines like the NovaStar MX Series in conjunction with fast processors.
- Cleaning resistance vs. haptics: Mechanical buttons are important for inclusion but pose a challenge for the IP protection class (dust/water). We often solve this through flush-integrated, tactile stainless steel buttons.
Who is affected? The scope of the law
The BFSG is not a niche topic for the public sector. Private companies offering services to consumers are also covered. These include banks, transport companies, travel providers and, in a broader sense, retail, provided that interactive payment or information systems are used. There are exemptions for micro-enterprises (fewer than 10 employees and less than 2 million euros annual turnover), but in the B2B environment of digital infrastructure, this threshold is usually quickly exceeded. Furthermore, public clients already demand compliance in tenders today, making accessibility a hard competitive factor.
Recommendation from Lumexo
To make optimal use of the transition period until 28 June 2025, we recommend a structured approach:
- Status quo analysis (Audit): Check your existing fleet for physical accessibility and software structure. Which systems can be retrofitted via firmware/software updates, which enclosures require mechanical conversion?
- Hardware consolidation: Rely on players and controllers that natively support assistive input devices (e.g. BrightSign Series 5). For new investments, look for panel technologies with high native contrast (MicroLED or high-quality VA panels).
- Standard-based interface design: Consistently design your user interfaces according to WCAG 2.1 (Level AA). Use large click areas (min. 44x44 pixels), high contrasts, and avoid purely colour-based information (e.g. red/green issues).
- Holistic integration: Accessibility must not be an "add-on". Plan the structural conditions on-site (mounting height, floor conditions in front of the screen) from the start together with your integrators and architects.
Accessibility in the sense of the BFSG 2025 is not a burden, but the technological answer to an ageing society and the claim to a democratic digital infrastructure. Lumexo accompanies this process with certified hardware and deep engineering expertise.