By Tim Richardson for The
Register.
This article has been reproduced with permission.
Last week the British Standards Institution (BSI) published new
guidance (PAS 78) to ensure that sites are user-friendly for
disabled people.
According to the BSI guidelines, those responsible for websites
need to carry out practical tests - preferably with disabled
people to ensure their sites are usable and accessible.
To meet this need, an outfit called the Usability
Exchange has been set up to provide practical testing by
disabled people. Employing disabled people to check out sites for
themselves, the Usability Exchange allows website developers to
receive direct feedback regarding the accessibility and usability
of their websites. Developers can even watch testers attempt to
navigate their website by using remote viewing software.
Julie Howell, Digital Policy Development Manager at the RNIB
said: "PAS 78 reminds website designers to consult disabled people
and involve them in testing their designs at every stage of the
site development cycle. Research published by the Disability Rights
Commission in 2004 showed that testing with disabled users may
uncover 45 per cent more accessibility problems than testing with
software alone."
Companies and organisations that have already been checked out
by the Usability Exchange include the Royal Mail, Orange, Adult
Dyslexia Organisation and the Scottish Parliament. Charges for the
service start from £299 (exc VAT).
© The Register
2006
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