This is the UK Web Focus blog, written by Brian Kelly, UKOLN. UKOLN is a national centre of expertise in digital information management, based at the University of Bath. UKOLN is funded by the JISC.
Web Accessibility Metrics For A Post Digital World
Title: Web accessibility metrics for a post digital world
Authors: Sloan, D. and Kelly, B.
Citation:
Sloan, D. and Kelly, B., 2011. Web accessibility metrics for a post digital world. In: RDWG Symposium on Website Accessibility Metrics, 5 December 2011, Online.
Author Details
The co-authors of this paper are:
- David Sloan, University of Dundee ORCID: 0000-0002-8302-7879
- Brian Kelly, UKOLN, University of Bath. ORCID: 0000-0001-5875-8744
You can view Brian Kelly’s Google+ page. His email address is currently b.kelly@ukoln.ac.uk
Abstract:
This paper argues that, as we move towards a ‘post-digital’ world where use of the Web becomes normalised, there is a need to address Web accessibility measurement challenges within a wider real-world context. Strategy and policy that defines Web accessibility purely by the conformance of digital resources with technical guidelines can lead to a danger that ‘good enough’ solutions may fail to be deployed; they also fail to consider a wider measure of user experience in accessibility measurement. We propose that metrics should draw on aspects of user experience to provide a more meaningful, real-world measure of the impact (or not) of accessibility barriers and therefore priority in addressing them. Metrics should also consider context in terms of the quality of effort taken by organisations to provide an inclusive experience; one option for doing so is the framework provided by British Standard 8878 Code of Practice for Web Accessibility. In both cases, challenges exist in the complexity of defining and implementing such metrics.
Access:
- University of Bath Repository: [About] – [MS Word] – [PDF] – [HTML]
- [Publishers copy]
- ResearchGate: [About] – [PDF]
URLs:
- Repository: [About]
- Blog posts:
- Paper on Metrics Accepted, UK Web Focus blog, 5 December 2011
- Metrics, This Time For Web Accessibility, UK Web Focus blog, 17 October 2011
- Event details: RDWG Symposium on Website Accessibility Metrics
- Google Scholar: [About]
Citations:
1 according to Google Scholar Citations on 15 April 2012
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