Accessibility and Usability

Web developers should strive to build web sites that are both accessible, and usable. These are different, but related concepts. Accessibility deals with whether or not people can physically access the content of a web site. Usability considers how people use the web site once they access it.

Accessibility

Accessibility is concerned with overcoming design issues that make it impossible for people to access information on a web site. Problems could occur because of physical disabilities (a blind person cannot see your pictures), or technological disabilities (a PDA web browser cannot use imagemaps or use Javascript). The goal is to build web sites that work in the widest variety of browsers, without sacrificing the usefulness or visual appeal of the site.

The following resources provide information about how to build accessible web sites.

• U of S Web Templates
  
  
• Making Web Pages Accessible to All
  Online course developed by Information Technology Services
  
  
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0
  Recommendations from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
  
  
• Accessibility Checklist
  Documentation from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
  
  

Usability

Usability is concerned with designing web sites that are easy to use, and meet the needs of the site owners and visitors. It deals with wording of menus, navigation features, effectiveness of search engines, user interaction, etc.

The following links provide more information on building usable web sites.

• Designing a Web Site
  Online course developed by Information Technology Services
  
  
• Usability Resources
  Darlene Fichter, U of S Library
  
  
• Usability Testing on a Shoestring (PowerPoint)
  Darlene Fichter, U of S Library