Transcript Presentation - FIL Forum for Interlending and Information Delivery

Web Accessibility Issues from
the User Perspective
Jenny Craven, Research Associate
Centre for Research In library and
Information Management (CERLIM)
Manchester Metropolitan University
[email protected]
Introduction – awareness of
the following?
•
•
•
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Web accessibility and/or Web usability
Design for All – Universal Design
W3C/WAI
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
(WCAG)
• PAS 78: Guide to good practice in
commissioning accessible websites
• Jakob Nielsen’s Usability Heuristics
What is accessibility?
Ensuring systems and interfaces can be
visited, understood and interacted with by
all users through:
• Access to hardware and software
• Use of appropriate assistive technology
• Ensuring information can be interpreted by
the user and the technology.
What is accessibility?
• Accessibility between technologies
– o/s – application – assistive technology
• Accessibility between technology and humans
– o/s – application – AT – user (interface)
• Accessibility between humans and the context
where technology is used
– e.g. interlending transactions
Source: Holbye, S. T4P conference, Kristiansand Norway. June 25-27
2007
Typical Web Interface
HTML, XML and CSS Coding
Potential accessibility and
usability issues
Why make information
accessible?
• Information increasingly being provided in
electronic formats via PCs, smart phones, TV,
hand held computers etc
• The business case: accessibility = commercial
success
• Inclusive society - information for all
• Legislation e.g. UK Disability Discrimination Act,
1995, SENDA, 2001, Disability Duty, 2006
From a user perspective, it helps
people ………..
• With disabilities e.g. visual, mobility, learning,
hearing.
• Working in a noisy environment
• Using a PC with a slow connection
• Using small screen web-based devices e.g.
smart phones, hand-held computers etc
Accessible design helps people to
independently access and interact with
web-based content
Alternative ways to access web
services
Assistive, Adaptive, Access Technology:
• Screen readers
• Magnifiers
• Scanners
• Braille output
• Voice recognition
• Alternative mouse devices
Also:
• Mobile and Handheld access
Accessible Web Design
Based on W3C/WAI Recommendations:
• Text descriptions for all images and sound
• Contrasting colours
• Plain fonts
• Adjustable font sizes
• Properly labelled frames and tables
• Appropriate text for hypertext links (avoid ‘click
here’)
• Alternatives for scripts, applets, plug-ins etc.
• Use of Accessible Style Sheets (CSS)
Source: http://www.w3.org/WAI/
Usability issues
• Unambiguous language
• Clear and consistent layout
• Logical navigation of forms, search
screens etc
• Warning of new windows opening
• User control, e.g. to adjust screen display
• Dynamic interaction: online chat, quizzes,
Web 2.0
Web Accessibility in Context:
Some relevant inter lending issues
• Access to library materials:
– Library website and catalogue
– Online databases
• Inter lending request forms:
– Downloadable
– Online
• Other issues:
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–
–
–
Online payments
Electronic document delivery
Notification – email, text messaging
Digital signatures
Access to Library Materials
• Library website and catalogue
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–
–
–
–
Adhere to web accessibility guidelines and recommendations
Terminology should be meaningful to general public
Avoid repeated link descriptions to different targets
Cut down on multiple links to the same place
Avoid over use of acronyms
• External resources
– Is there a policy for the selection of external resources?
– Are there guidelines for selection of accessible resources?
– Are users provided with a description of how best to access the
resource as well as resource description?
• E-materials (to be covered in other presentations)
Interlending Request Forms
Downloading forms
• Problems:
– PDF can be inaccessible, can lead to…
– Loss of independence
– Confusing presentation/download instructions
Online request forms
• Problems:
– No logical order when using Tab key
– Poor navigation when using drop-down menus
– Form labels (e.g. name) not placed next to form
element (e.g. edit box)
– Mouse dependent
Interlending Request Forms
Downloading forms
• Solutions:
– Accessible PDF (tagged for navigation)
– Providing choices (PDF, Word, HTML, etc)
– Clear presentation/download instructions
Online request forms
• Solutions:
– Keyboard accessible, logical, easy to use
– Adhere to guidelines on creating accessible online
forms; conduct user testing
– Reporting mechanism for problems (email, telephone,
online etc)
Example of an online form
Example of an online form
Other issues
• Online payments – similar to online form
issues
• Electronic document delivery (covered in
other presentations)
• Notification – email, text messaging similar to web accessibility issues (but on
a small screen)
• Digital signatures – un-resolved?
User Perspective (1)
• Present information in a logical order, using
simple and relevant language
• Keep users informed about what is going on
e.g. if they need to go back to complete a
field, if they have to click on a copyright
agreement box, the number of pages in a
form
• Follow standard conventions e.g. terminology,
order of information, command buttons
(search, submit)
• Give users choices e.g. download options,
screen display
Adapted from: www.useit.com/papers/heuristic/heuristic_list.html
User Perspective (2)
• Error prevention – ask users to confirm
important actions before submitting
• Provide helpful error messages e.g. an
example of how a date or ISBN number
should be submitted
• Make objects, actions and options visible
so the user doesn’t have to remember
them e.g. provide a breadcrumb trail to
allow them to track back; consistent layout
• Simple design
• Helpful help documentation!
Adapted from: www.useit.com/papers/heuristic/heuristic_list.html
Simple Evaluation:
• Look and feel – colours, language,
terminology, structure
• Look for good navigational aids, e.g.
search facility, return to home page
• Adjustable font sizes and styles
• Choice of downloadable forms
• Navigating around online forms using
Tab key
Other ways to evaluate
• Automated checking tools:
WebXact, WAVE, Cynthia Says
• Validation e.g. HTML Tidy
• Expert testing
• Accessibility and Usability Audits
• User testing
See also: W3C/WAI Evaluating Web
Sites: http://www.w3.org/WAI/eval/
Conclusion
• 'Design for all' can be difficult to achieve – be
prepared to prioritise
• Evaluate your website using a combination of
manual and automated tools, but also….
• … Include users in your assessments and
feedback mechanisms
• Participate in accessibility related discussion
groups and forums
• Take advantage of all the free advice and
guideance available…
Advice on accessibility/usability
• World Wide Web Consortium - Web Accessibility
Initiative: http://www.w3.org/WAI/
• PAS 78: http://www.drcgb.org/library/website_accessibility_guidance/pas_
78.aspx
• Jakob Nielsen’s Usability website: http://www.useit.com
• Just Ask: Integrating Accessibility Throughout
Design (includes usability issues):
http://www.uiaccess.com/accessucd/index.html
• CERLIM research on accessibility and usability:
http://www.cerlim.ac.uk/projects/indexaccessib.php
Jenny Craven, Research Associate
Centre for Research In library and
Information Management (CERLIM)
Manchester Metropolitan University
[email protected]