Blog
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
YouTube
RSS
Accessibility vs. Usability
Webster defines accessibility as "capable of being reached," and it defines usability as "capable of being used." So persons with disabilities must be able to reach products and services, yet everyone (disabled and non-disabled) must be able to use them. TecAccess is totally committed to removing accessibility barriers for all people with disabilities including the mobility impaired, hearing impaired, deaf, visually impaired, blind, and cognitively impaired. When we make Electronic and Information Technology (E&IT) accessible, we must make E&IT usable, as well.
To illustrate, a website may be accessible to visitors with vision impairments by having text descriptions on images so screen readers can decipher them. However, if the image does not represent anything on the site, then it is useless to all visitors. By the same token, if persons with dexterity impairments can navigate between links using TABS, then accessibility exists. But if links do not lead to anywhere, usability does not exist.
Usability is not only beneficial for the consumer; it´s also invaluable for companies. For instance, if employers make their Intranets usable, productivity would definitely rise. Greater usability also means reduced costs for employers since they would spend less time training and invest fewer resources in hotline technical assistance.
Five Factors of Usability
To make E&IT usable, a product or service must have the following five factors:
- Easy to learn: If people cannot learn to use something quickly, they probably will give up and go somewhere else. Simple instructions on how to use a web form, for instance, encourage users to remain on a website longer.
- Quick to use: The cliché "time is money" is so true. People don´t like to wait. Quick webpage loading and visible links save users time, thus making them more likely to focus their attention on the content.
- Simple to remember: A webpage with many similar links may cause visitors to have a memory overload if they want to locate a favorite item on the second visit. In fact, 50% of web sales are lost due to poor design. Clear, no cumbersome features can keep the potential purchasing memory fresh.
- Easy to navigate: When people make errors using a product, it may not be the user´s fault. Products that inadvertently cause users to make mistakes do not welcome them to return.
- Enjoyable to use: People continue to utilize a certain website, software application, or hand-held device because it gives them pleasure. They like the content, the design, the functions, or all three.
Accessibility and usability often go hand-in-hand. Making a website accessible allows someone who is blind, for example, to use it with a screen reader. But making a website usable means that the person with the screen reader can navigate it, learn from it, and enjoy using it as well.
