CheckEngine USA

Agenda

• What We Do
• Challenges
• Usability, Standards, Accessibility
• Other Topics
• Resources
• Homework

What We Do

• Web site tune-ups and overhauls
• Web site creation
• Hosting
• Consultation
• Specialties
  • Usability
  • Standards
  • Accessibility

Challenges

• Usability
  Many people think there’s nothing to it.
• Standards
  People have heard of it, but are not familiar with what it’s all about.
• Accessibility
  Most people don’t know what it is (including developers), and many who do don’t fully understand it.

Usability

Usability is the measure of the quality of a user's experience when interacting with a product or system.

“Usable” web sites are:

• Quick and easy to learn
• Efficient to use
• Easy to remember
• Enjoyable to use
• Aesthetically pleasing
• Allow rapid recovery from errors

Usability, Cont.

According to Steven Krug, every page should have:

• Site ID (logo)
• Page name/title
• Sections and subsections
• Local navigation
• “You are here” indicator (in menu or breadcrumbs)
• Search function

Krug's book is "Don't Make Me Think". You can also learn more from usability expert Jakob Nielsen.

Dennis says, “Don’t forget your address and/or contact information on every page!”

Standards

• Adhere to the world's standards and guidelines set by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
• Separate content from design.
• Most web sites are HTML Soup—a sloppy mix of old, new, and proprietary code. Yuck!

Standards, Cont.

• Future-proofs your web site
• Backward compatibility (for older browsers)
• Better printing capabilities
• Increased speed and reduced bandwidth costs
• Quickly and easily change appearance
• Improved search engine placement (SEO)
• Delivery to multiple devices
• Better accessibility

Accessibility

An accessible web page provides content that is available to any user with any browser or platform. More specifically, this means that the user can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the web page.

The major factors driving the need for accessibility are:

• Users with disabilities (visual, auditory, motor, cognitive)
• Inexperienced web users
• Users with limited technology
• May be legally required (such as Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, U.S.)

Dennis says, “Providing an accessible web site shows that you’re socially responsible”

Accessibility, Cont.

Benefits of Accessibility

• Provides equal access and equal opportunity to people with disabilities (visual, hearing, motor, cognitive).
• Increases potential use by more people—expands potential market share.
• Increases positive image.
• Possibly avoid significant legal costs.
• Decreases cost of having to provide information in alternative media formats such as alternative web sites, print publications, embossed Braille, computer disks.

Other topics

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Blogs & Podcasts
  • WebAxe – Practical web accessibility tips
  • GM FYI Blog
  • Marketing Industry Blog
  • Boagworld
• Wikis
  • Wikipedia
  • Podcaster's Wiki

Resources

• CheckEngine USA
• World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
• WebAIM (web accessibility in mind)
• Usability.gov

Homework

Go to your web site and answer the following questions.

• Is the content up to date?
• Can you tab through all the links?
• Is the text resizable? (In menu, select View/Text Size.)
• Is your logo and contact information consistently placed on all pages?
• Is the navigation consistent and easy to use?
• Do the web pages have accurate titles and headings?
• Do the pages load quickly on a modem internet connection?
• Are the pages printer-friendly?
• Does the site appear and function relatively the same in different browsers (Internet Explorer/Firefox/Netscape) and platforms (Windows/Mac)?
• Do data tables have headings?
• Is there a site map?
• Is there a “You are here” indicator?
• Is there a search function?
• Is the site aesthetically pleasing?
• Do all of the images have alternative text?
• Are the form elements properly labeled?