SIGCHI: Web Site Usability, Accessibility, and Universal Accessibility April 28, 2005

The Web enables broad dissemination of information and services, yet many sites have inadequate usability and accessibility. The presentation will describe a study which examined a fundamental web site design question: What makes a site usable, accessible, or universally accessible? Results suggest little commonality in users? and designers? perceptions. Furthermore, designers who have different levels of experience have differing perceptions. If we consider the predominant concepts that users discussed as representing the most important web site features for them and similarly for designers, then it is possible that this mismatch may lead to the design of sites which do not match users? expectations. Perhaps this mismatch is at the crux of the current state of the Web (i.e., the preponderance of sites with inadequate usability and accessibility).