ANALYSIS OF THE USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF WEBSITES IN VIEW OF THEIR UNIVERSAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Błażej BADZIO

blazej.badzio@pollub.edu.pl
Department of Computer Science, Lublin University of Technology, Lublin, (Poland)

Agnieszka BODZIAK


Department of Computer Science, Lublin University of Technology, Lublin (Poland)

Bartłomiej BRODAWKA


Department of Computer Science, Lublin University of Technology, Lublin (Poland)

Karol BUCHAJCZUK


Department of Computer Science, Lublin University of Technology, Lublin, (Poland)

Maria SKUBLEWSKA-PASZKOWSKA


Department of Computer Science, Lublin University of Technology, Lublin, (Poland)

Mariusz DZIEŃKOWSKI


Department of Computer Science, Lublin University of Technology, Lublin, (Poland)

Paweł POWROŹNIK


Department of Computer Science, Lublin University of Technology, Lublin (Poland)

Abstract

Universal design is a strategic approach for planning and designing both the products and their environment, aimed at making a given product available to the widest number of possible users. It ensures equality for all of them and the opportunity to participate in the society. This concept is also crucial in the process of designing and developing software. The research was conducted with the use of four services, three of them were implemented for the purpose of this study. Two of them took into consideration the principles of universal design, while the others did not. The aim of the study was verification of the level of usability and accessibility of services by means of three independent methods: the LUT (Lublin University of Technology) checklist, an assessment taking into account WCAG 2.0 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards using the automatic WAVE evaluation tool (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool) and a device allowing to track the movement of the eye while performing various tasks on websites. The websites were assessed by twenty experts in the field of creating web application interfaces, using the LUT checklist. The time to the first fixation (TTFF) that it took respondents to look at  specific website elements was measured using the eye tracker device and iMotions software. All websites were checked by means of the WAVE tool to detect irregularities and non-compliance with universal design standards. The analysis performed clearly indicated that websites that follow the universal design guidelines were more useful, intuitive and accessible for users. It might be concluded that interfaces allow to find necessary information and perform desired actions in a shorter time when prepared in accordance with the principles of universal design.


Keywords:

accessibility, usability, universal design, eye tracking, WCAG

Abascal, J., Arrue, M., & Valencia, X. (2019). Tools for Web Accessibility Evaluation. In Y. Yesilada & S. Harper (Eds.), Web Accessibility. Human–Computer Interaction Series (pp. 479–503). Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-7440-0_26
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-7440-0_26   Google Scholar

Acosta-Vargas, P., Acosta, T., & Luján-Mora, S. (2018). Challenges to Assess Accessibility in Higher Education Websites: A Comparative Study of Latin America Universities. IEEE Access, 6, 36500–36508. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2018.2848978
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2018.2848978   Google Scholar

Alonso-Virgós, L., Espada, J. P., Thomaschewski, J., & Crespo, R. G. (2020). Test usability guidelines and follow conventions. Useful recommendations from web developers. Computer Standards & Interfaces, 70, 103423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csi.2020.103423
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csi.2020.103423   Google Scholar

Centre for Excellence in Universal Design. (n.d.). What is Universal Design. Retrieved May 20, 2022, from https://universaldesign.ie/what-is-universal-design/
  Google Scholar

Digital Around the World. (n.d.). DataReportal – Global Digital Insights. Retrieved May 19, 2022, from https://datareportal.com/global-digital-overview
  Google Scholar

Fogli, D., Provenza, L., & Bernareggi, C. (2014). A Universal Design Resource for Rich Internet Applications based on Design Patterns. Universal Access in the Information Society, 13, 205–226. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-013-0291-6
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-013-0291-6   Google Scholar

GP3 HD Eye-Tracking Device – Take Advantage Of Research-Grade Equipment. (n.d.). Gazepoint. Retrieved May 20, 2022, from https://www.gazept.com/product/gp3hd/
  Google Scholar

Grobelny, J., Jach, K., Kuliński, M., & Michalski, R. (2006). Śledzenie wzroku w badaniach jakości użytkowej oprogramowania. Historia i mierniki. https://repin.pjwstk.edu.pl/xmlui/handle/186319/166
  Google Scholar

Harper, S., & Chen, A. Q. (2012). Web accessibility guidelines. World Wide Web, 15(1), 61–88. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11280-011-0130-8
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11280-011-0130-8   Google Scholar

iMotions: Unpack Human Behavior. (n.d.). Imotions. Retrieved 20 May 2022, from https://imotions.com/
  Google Scholar

Initiative (WAI), W3C Web Accessibility. (n.d.). Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). Retrieved May 20, 2022, from https://www.w3.org/WAI/
  Google Scholar

Isa, W. A. R. W. M., Suhaimi, A. I. H., Ariffrn, N., Ishak, N. F., & Ralim, N. M. (2016). Accessibility evaluation using Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. In 2016 4th International Conference on User Science and Engineering (i-USEr) (pp. 1–4). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/IUSER.2016.7857924
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/IUSER.2016.7857924   Google Scholar

Ismail, A., Kuppusamy, K. S., & Paiva, S. (2020). Accessibility analysis of higher education institution websites of Portugal. Universal Access in the Information Society, 19(3), 685–700. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-019-00653-2
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-019-00653-2   Google Scholar

Just, M. A., & Carpenter, P. A. (1976). Eye fixations and cognitive processes. Cognitive Psychology, 8(4), 441–480. https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-0285(76)90015-3
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-0285(76)90015-3   Google Scholar

Kumar, S., Shree DV, J., & Biswas, P. (2021). Comparing ten WCAG tools for accessibility evaluation of websites. Technology and Disability, 33(3), 163–185. https://doi.org/10.3233/TAD-210329
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3233/TAD-210329   Google Scholar

Leszczyńska, E. (2019). Polacy w sieci: Analiza przemian użytkowania Internetu. Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej.
  Google Scholar

Michalska, A. M., You, C. X., Nicolini, A. M., Ippolito, V. J., & Fink, W. (2014). Accessible Web Page Design for the Visually Impaired: A Case Study. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 30, 995–1002. https://doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2014.925771
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2014.925771   Google Scholar

Miłosz, M. (2014). Ergonomia systemów informatycznych. Politechnika Lubelska. Narzędzie do blogowania, platforma wydawnicza i system zarządzania treścią witryny (n.d.). WordPress.org Polska. Retrieved May 20, 2022, from https://pl.wordpress.org
  Google Scholar

Pascual, A., Ribera, M., Granollers, T., & Coiduras, J. L. (2014). Impact of Accessibility Barriers on the Mood of Blind, Low-vision and Sighted Users. Procedia Computer Science, 27, 431–440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2014.02.047
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2014.02.047   Google Scholar

Pivetta, E. M., Flor, C., Saito, D. S., & Ulbricht, V. R. (2013). Analysis of an Automatic Accessibility Evaluator to Validate a Virtual and Authenticated Environment. International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, 4(4), Article 4. https://doi.org/10.14569/IJACSA.2013.040403
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14569/IJACSA.2013.040403   Google Scholar

Sanderson, N., Chen, W., & Kessel, S. (2015). The Accessibility of Web-Based Media Services – An Evaluation. In M. Antona & C. Stephanidis (Eds.), Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction. Access to Today's Technologies. UAHCI 2015. Lecture Notes in Computer Science (9175, pp. 242-252). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20678-3_24
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20678-3_24   Google Scholar

Stasiak, W., & Dzieńkowski, M. (2021). Accessibility assessment of selected university websites. Journal of Computer Sciences Institute, 19, 81–88. https://doi.org/10.35784/jcsi.2462
DOI: https://doi.org/10.35784/jcsi.2462   Google Scholar

TVP Info. (n.d.). TVP Info. Retrieved May 20, 2022, from https://www.tvp.info
  Google Scholar

WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool. (n.d.). WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool. Retrieved May 20, 2022, from https://wave.webaim.org
  Google Scholar

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. (n.d.). World Wide Web Consortium. Retrieved May 20, 2022, from https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG
  Google Scholar

Yoon, K., Dols, R., Hulscher, L., & Newberry, T. (2016). An exploratory study of library website accessibility for visually impaired users. Library & Information Science Research, 38(3), 250–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2016.08.006
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2016.08.006   Google Scholar

Download


Published
2022-09-30

Cited by

BADZIO, B., BODZIAK, A. ., BRODAWKA, B., BUCHAJCZUK, K., SKUBLEWSKA-PASZKOWSKA, M., DZIEŃKOWSKI, M., & POWROŹNIK, P. (2022). ANALYSIS OF THE USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF WEBSITES IN VIEW OF THEIR UNIVERSAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES. Applied Computer Science, 18(3), 63–85. https://doi.org/10.35784/acs-2022-22

Authors

Błażej BADZIO 
blazej.badzio@pollub.edu.pl
Department of Computer Science, Lublin University of Technology, Lublin, Poland

Authors

Agnieszka BODZIAK 

Department of Computer Science, Lublin University of Technology, Lublin Poland

Authors

Bartłomiej BRODAWKA 

Department of Computer Science, Lublin University of Technology, Lublin Poland

Authors

Karol BUCHAJCZUK 

Department of Computer Science, Lublin University of Technology, Lublin, Poland

Authors

Maria SKUBLEWSKA-PASZKOWSKA 

Department of Computer Science, Lublin University of Technology, Lublin, Poland

Authors

Mariusz DZIEŃKOWSKI 

Department of Computer Science, Lublin University of Technology, Lublin, Poland

Authors

Paweł POWROŹNIK 

Department of Computer Science, Lublin University of Technology, Lublin Poland

Statistics

Abstract views: 601
PDF downloads: 475


License

All articles published in Applied Computer Science are open-access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.


Most read articles by the same author(s)

Similar Articles

1 2 3 4 5 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.