the forgotten of web accessibility

The forgotten of web accessibility

CSUN 2013


CSUN: 27 February 2013San Diego

Roger HudsonWeb Usability

www.usability.com.au

http://www.usability.com.au/


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I don’t use the web ...

?


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I don’t use the web ...

I use Facebook!


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Hang on!

What’s this got to do with accessibility?


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“There are many general usability guidelines that make content more usable by all people, including those with disabilities. However, in WCAG 2.0, we only include those guidelines that address problems particular to people with disabilities.”

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0

WCAG 2.0•Technological neutrality

•Greater reliability

•Accessibility purity


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Racing down the information highway


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UN World Population Prospects (2006) http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wpp2006/WPP2006_Highlights_rev.pdf

Overall people are living longer

• 1950 - about 8% of world population over 60• 2005 - 10% over the age of 60• 2050 – estimated 22% of population will be over 60

In developed countries, like Australia and US, the increase is more rapid.

Population is also ageing in the developing world, but at a slower rate.

http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wpp2006/WPP2006_Highlights_rev.pdf


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• 2000 -15% of people 65 and over in the US use the Internet• 2009 - 38% of 65+ use the Internet• 2012 - 53% of 65+ use the Internet

Most recent PEW ‘Older Adults and Internet Use’ report (June 2012) http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Older-adults-and-internet-use.aspx

And, older people are increasingly going on line

http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Older-adults-and-internet-use.aspx


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Accessibility for older web users

CSUN 2011 presentation, “Improving Web Accessibility for the Elderly”, reported on web use by people over 60 years old.

Most went online to:• Keep in touch with family and friends• Find health related information

Most had difficulties when using websites

http://usability.com.au/2011/03/improving-web-accessibility-for-the-elderly-csun-slides-and-transcript/


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Many older people have age-related impairments that can affect how they use the Web, such as declining:• vision• physical ability• hearing• cognitive

“These issues overlap with the accessibility needs of people with disabilities. Thus, websites and tools that are accessible to people with disabilities are more accessible to older users as well.”

WAI Web Accessibility and Older People

Well yes, sort of ...Issues relating to cognition, understanding and reasoning not well addressed in WCAG 2.0.


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Two projects compared

2007 and 2012


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Similar demographics

Different expectations


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2007: Limited internet experience28% online 5 hours per week or more

But, willingness to explore and learn

“I thought it was tricky at the beginning because there’s all these different sections to look at for information”


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2012: More internet use50% every day

80% at least once a week


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But, less curious

Reluctant to learn


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‘Home’ and ‘About’

“Home is that Australia or where you live?”

“What is About? Is that about the information you are looking for.”


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WHY?


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Facebook effect

The web is about me


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GoogleficationSearch not surf

2004: Google <50% search engine use

2012: Google 83% search engine use

“I normally just type the words in Google and it comes up. I always select one of the top results, because if I type a good question it will be there.”


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Changes in web behaviour

=Changes in access requirements


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Some things to consider:• Use of common terms like ‘Home’ and ‘About’;

Make them more specific

• Success Criteria 2.4.8 Location – could be more important than AAA suggests

• Maybe breadcrumbs aren’t so naff after all?

• Review focus of SEO to providing more help in locating content within a site


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Cautious, fearful or paranoiac?

“I don’t download because I might get into trouble”


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One similarity:Content of both sites is difficult to read


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Testing reading levels can help communication

2012 site Telegraph pagesFlesch Reading ease: 49.50 68.70Flesch-Kincaid grade: 9.91 4.83

NOTES:• Flesch Reading ease - higher the score the easier

content is to read. • Flesch-Kincaid grade – measure of number of years

of school required to understand the content.


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Statistics, damn statistics

Literacy level in Australia99% Literacy rate (Wikipedia)

Australian Bureau of Statistics

17% minimum level of literacy

46%% have literacy skills less than the level needed to meet the demands of modern life


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Reading abilities

Not the same as Cognitive abilities


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Can WCAG meet the needs of

people with literacy difficulties?


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3.1.3: Unusual words

3.1.4: Abbreviations

3.1.5 Reading Level: When text requires reading ability more advanced than the lower secondary education level after removal of proper names and titles, supplemental content, or a version that does not require reading ability more advanced than the lower secondary education level, is available.


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WCAG 2.0

PERCIEVABLE1.3.1 Info and Relationships (A)1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence (A)1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) (AA)1.4.4 Resize text (AA)1.4.8 Visual Presentation (AAA)

OPERABLE2.2.1 Timing Adjustable (A)2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide (A)2.2.4 Interruptions (AAA)2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) (A)2.4.6 Headings and Labels (AA)2.4.8 Location (AAA)2.4.9 Link Purpose (Link Only) (AAA)2.4.10 Section Headings (AAA)

UNDERSTANDABLE3.1.3 Unusual words (AAA)3.1.4 Abbreviations (AAA)3.1.5 Reading Level (AAA)3.2.3 Consistent Navigation (AA)3.2.4 Consistent Identification (AA)3.2.5 Change of request (AAA)3.3.1 Error Identification (A)3.3.2 Labels or Instructions (A)3.3.3 Error Suggestion (AA)3.3.4 Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data) (AA)3.3.5 Help (AAA)3.3.6 Error Prevention (All) (AAA)


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Think about how people find and read information

It’s more important than AAA


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Most had difficulties when using websites:• Hard to find information on sites (80%)• Flashing or moving content (55%) • Size/colour of words hard to read (50%)

Update

155 survey or test participants, aged 60 - 93





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Over 60% didn’t know how to change text size on web pages.

• Nearly all said they had never seen text-size tools on web pages.

• Most did not understand purpose of a link called “Accessibility” on a web page.


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Change colours with Firefox (Windows 7)

Change text size with Mac Safari

User-friendly information using text and video

Other examples:

http://usability.com.au/firefox-11-14-change-colours/

http://usability.com.au/mac-safari-change-text-size/


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Sharing information and assistance

A11y communityWeb sites

Host server


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Link to tool


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Thank you and any commentsRoger Hudson, Web Usability

Web site: www.usability.com.au

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: http://twitter.com/rogerhudson

http://www.usability.com.au/

mailto:[email protected]

http://twitter.com/rogerhudson

the forgotten of web accessibility

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