Improving Website usability and accessibility to disabled people and in-experienced web users

Abstract

The onslaught of information technology has made the World Wide Web integral to today 's society . Furthermore , due to the universal popularity of the Internet , online merchandising (or e-commerce ) is becoming a norm . However , accessing the Web is not easy for all especially for the inexperienced web users and users with visual and learning disabilities . This research aimed to determine if by replacing texts with icons , it would be easier for such users to access the website . Also , this research had develop an icon e-commerce website using icon symbols that

would make e-shopping more accessible to web users that are either experienced , in-experienced and people with disabilities and would enable them to comfortably browse through an e-commerce website . The researcher tested and observed the accessibility of e- commerce websites : Amazon .co .uk and an icon-based website designed by the researcher . Based on the results , all of the 20 respondents agreed that the icon-based website is easier to use . The researcher has concluded that web users , with or without visual and learning disabilities experience difficulties in accessing websites . Moreover , it was also found out that the use of icons is helpful especially in e-commerce websites

Introduction

Websites continue to gain its importance in conducting business . Using various websites , citizens can look up information like bus schedules due dates , and services . They can also shop , receive commercial and public information (Smith , Fraser , McClure Charles , 2000 ,

.274

Ideally , impaired users can perform computer jobs through workplace accommodations . The personal computer revolution gives them easier and less expensive computer access . Unfortunately , many websites are still inaccessible to some users especially those who are visually impaired and have learning disability . It is still impossible for them to access information from some websites . According to Jim Allan of Texas School for the Blind and Impaired in Austin , 13 .5 million Americans are color-blind and 40 million have dyslexia

This phenomenon is an example of the Digital Divide . People with visual disabilities continue to be deprived of the opportunity to gather the huge amount of information that people without disabilities are able to gather . Moreover , the Digital Divide has hindered to participate in a community in the same quality of participation their non-disabled counterparts do (Smith , Fraser , Mc Clure , and Charles , 2000 ,

.274-81

Moreover , the Clinton presidential administration increased Digital Divide as it initiated the creation of the Information Superhighway Although the administration intended to narrow the divide by improving accessibility of government agencies and information , technological advancements had made it worse by shifting from DOS operating systems that were easily- accessible to the less accessible click-and-drag types of systems . These include Cyberspace environments such as White House Home Page , the US Patent Office and Congress which have enormous information . These websites have interfaces that are inaccessible to the visually-impaired (Rogers , 1999 ,

.15-25

The impact of the multimedia revolution has changed . Now , computers are more character-based and keyboards become more interactive . They have multifaceted machines capable of two-way sound , voice , imagery , video and...