Document URL:
www.acm.org/perlman/access/accessig.html
Updated:
This document is a summary of a SIG session accepted at the
CHI 99 Conference on Human Factors in Computing
to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA (May 15-20, 1999).
Scheduled for: Wednesday, May 19, 1999 2:30-4:00pm
Gary Perlman
OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc.
6565 Frantz Road, Dublin, OH 43017 USA
+1 614-761-5058
http://www.acm.org/perlman
perlman@acm.org
Table of Contents
To deliver services to more users, developers can try to reach more
diverse users (language / culture, handicapped / disabled, gender, age,
etc.). By developing and sharing methods and resources to address many
dimensions of diversity, developers may improve accessibility for all.
"The power of the Web is in its universality.
Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect."
CHIkids; SIGCAPH; accessibility; aging; assistive technology; character
set; children; disabilities; disabled; diversity; elderly; female;
global; globalisation; globalization; group and individual differences;
handicapped; i18n; impaired; impairment; intercultural; international;
internationalisation; internationalization; male; multilingual;
software localisation; software localization; special needs;
translation; universal access;
Several factors have made the Web increasingly available to millions of
users around the world. If our goal is to provide Web-based services to
broader markets, we need to understand the users in potential markets
and how to make services accessible to them. Just what makes a market
broader depends on your current market. If a service is directed to
English-speaking normal-sensory / motor / cognitive males aged 35-45,
then broader markets could include the other 99% of the world. Of
course, not all services are going to be of interest to all users --
some are only of interest to a few people -- but for services that have
the potential to be delivered to more users, this special interest
group session may be of interest. Instead of focusing on one type of
new user, it may be useful to consider many types of users at once; one
benefit might be a more adaptive software architecture.
By its focus on universal access, no topics are excluded, but some general questions are:
- What are some groups of potential new news?
- How many (likely) users are there in these groups?
- How can services be adapted to these groups?
What resources and methods are available for:
- analysis of user needs (e.g., mailing lists, Web surveys)
- design for more diverse users (e.g., object-orientation)
- tools and techniques to implement adaptable software (e.g., Unicode, Java)
- usability testing (e.g., remote testing)
Language and culture have been topics for previous SIGs (e.g., [2])
resulting in a rejuvenated SIGCHI mailing list and new Web page
(sigchi.org/intercultural).
Disability has been a topic of previous SIGs (e.g., [1]). ACM SIGCAPH
is concerned with a range of accessibility issues: sensory (hearing and
vision); motor (orthopedic); cognitive (learning, speech, mental),
which sponsors a link page (www.acm.org/sigcaph/links).
Along with other diversity issues, gender has been addressed at CHI
(e.g., [3]).
Both interfaces for children (e.g., [4]) and older users (e.g., [5])
have been topics of SIGs. Some issues of sensory, motor, and cognitive
limitations could be relevant to developing services for broader age
groups.
- Discuss resources to help reach new markets
- Motivate service providers to broaden their markets
- Create a network of people interested in gathering and sharing more information
Although the focus of the SIG is Web-based services, many of the issues
apply equally well to other software.
- Edwards, A.D.N. (1996)
HCI and Users with Disabilities.
CHI 96 Companion ACM Press, p.322.
- Khaslavsky, J. (1998)
Culture and International Software Design.
CHI 98 Summary ACM Press, p.387.
- Leventhal, L. et al (1994)
Designing for Diverse Users: Will Just a Better Interface Do?
CHI’94 ACM Press, p.191-192.
- Lieberman, D.A. (1998)
SIG: Children and the Internet.
CHI 98 Summary ACM Press, p.386.
- Meyer, B. et al. (1998)
Making Technology Accessible to Older Users.
CHI 98 Summary ACM Press, p.373.