Amberlight unveils new look offices
Amberlight has revealed their new-look offices including state-of-the-art equipment for viewing and recording tests.
read press releaseUseful | Accessible | Usable | Persuasive
An accessible technology is one that does not discriminate against users based on platform or disability.
For example, on the Web, users should be able to use a service whether they are using handheld technology, Microsoft browsers, Netscape browsers or text-only browsers. Also, users must not be prohibited from using a service because they have mobility problems, sight problems or any other disability. This is a stated requisite of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
There are legal, moral and financial reasons for focusing on accessibility:
Legal. The UK Disability Discrimination Act 1995 legally obliges suppliers to take reasonable steps to ensure that goods and services are equally available to all.
Moral. Non-inclusive design is socially unacceptable and will inevitably result in damaging brand associations.
Financial. The market of disabled customers is significant in the UK and beyond. Also, a complete redesign and production when DDA 1995 is enforced will be very expensive.
A famously inaccessible website was the one for 1999 Sydney Olympics. Mobile-phone manufacturers are increasingly criticised for producing systems that exclude many users (small keys, complicated menus, etc.) with no alternative provision in their product range for these users.
Good accessibility is achieved by ensuring the involvement of a wide variety of users in the design process. Online providers whose services are approaching good practice are listed in a comprehensive recent report by the Disability Rights Commission.
Methods that focus on accessibility include:
- Guidelines conformance
- Expert review
- Real-user testing with disabled users
That a product is accessible does not guarantee that it will be used. To ensure this, a system must meet the criteria on the two remaining tiers of the hierarchy.
