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Evaluation of techniques defined in WCAG 2.0 with older people

Published: 20 April 2009 Publication History

Abstract

Although WCAG 2.0 offer techniques for making web content more accessible to all people, very little is known about how these techniques enhance web accessibility for older people. This paper addresses two techniques, keyboard-based navigation and design of links purpose. They are evaluated by using simple prototypes in the course of designing two websites for old-age pensioner associations. Participants (N=11) ranged in age from 65 to 80 years old and were familiar with web concepts. The results indicated that keyboard-driven navigation did not improve web accessibility. Older people preferred to use the mouse because of inclusiveness, despite their difficulties using it. 'Click here to' links helped participants clarify where they had to click and what would happen after clicking, despite not being suggested by the WCAG 2.0. Click-able pictures should resolve to full size renderings of those images rather than opening a new web page. These findings suggest that WCAG 2.0 do not consider carefully enough some important needs of older people. The paper discusses some alternatives for taking them into account.

References

[1]
Camacho, L. and Sayago, S. Design and evaluation of a simple web site WCAG complaint for older people. MSc in Computer Science, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona (Spain), 2006
[2]
Krippendorff, K. Content Analysis. An Introduction to Its Methodology. SAGE, 1980.
[3]
Krug, S. Don't Make Me Think! A common sense approach to web usability. Prentice Hall, 2007
[4]
Paciello, M. G. Web accessibility for people with disabilities. CMP books, Kansas, 2000.
[5]
Sayago, S. Some aspects of ICT accessibility and design methods with the young elderly. MPhil in Computer Science and Digital Communication. Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain, 2006.
[6]
WAI-AGE (IST 035015). http://www.w3.org/WAI/WAI-AGE/.
[7]
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. W3C Recommendation 11 December 2008. http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/.

Cited By

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  • (2024)Automating Error Identification and Evaluating Web Accessibility for Differently Abled UsersProceedings of Data Analytics and Management10.1007/978-981-99-6547-2_22(275-292)Online publication date: 3-Jan-2024
  • (2020)“The Terms and Conditions Came Back to Bite”:HCI International 2020 – Late Breaking Papers: Universal Access and Inclusive Design10.1007/978-3-030-60149-2_53(699-711)Online publication date: 25-Sep-2020
  • (2017)Effects of accessible website design on nondisabled users: age and device as moderating factorsErgonomics10.1080/00140139.2017.140508061:5(697-709)Online publication date: 24-Nov-2017
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  1. Evaluation of techniques defined in WCAG 2.0 with older people

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    cover image ACM Other conferences
    W4A '09: Proceedings of the 2009 International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibililty (W4A)
    April 2009
    189 pages
    ISBN:9781605585611
    DOI:10.1145/1535654
    Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]

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    • The Mozilla Foundation
    • Google Inc.
    • Microsoft: Microsoft
    • Zakon Group

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    Association for Computing Machinery

    New York, NY, United States

    Publication History

    Published: 20 April 2009

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    Author Tags

    1. WCAG 2.0
    2. older people
    3. web accessibility

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    W4A '09
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    • Microsoft

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    Overall Acceptance Rate 171 of 371 submissions, 46%

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    Cited By

    View all
    • (2024)Automating Error Identification and Evaluating Web Accessibility for Differently Abled UsersProceedings of Data Analytics and Management10.1007/978-981-99-6547-2_22(275-292)Online publication date: 3-Jan-2024
    • (2020)“The Terms and Conditions Came Back to Bite”:HCI International 2020 – Late Breaking Papers: Universal Access and Inclusive Design10.1007/978-3-030-60149-2_53(699-711)Online publication date: 25-Sep-2020
    • (2017)Effects of accessible website design on nondisabled users: age and device as moderating factorsErgonomics10.1080/00140139.2017.140508061:5(697-709)Online publication date: 24-Nov-2017
    • (2016)Implementing Recommendations From Web Accessibility GuidelinesHuman Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society10.1177/001872081664096258:4(611-629)Online publication date: 4-Apr-2016
    • (2012)Information Technology for Communication and Cognitive SupportHuman–Computer Interaction Handbook10.1201/b11963-43(863-892)Online publication date: 14-May-2012
    • (2009)A framework for adaptive communication designProceedings of the 27th ACM international conference on Design of communication10.1145/1621995.1622005(45-50)Online publication date: 5-Oct-2009

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