Understanding the crucial characteristics of the web platform

In a nutshell, therefore, a web platform can be defined usable when it appears to be of immediate comprehension, fruition and interaction. Moving from theory to practice, it is possible to outline a usable layout, considering, for starters, three elements

Logical and coherent layout of the information within the page, giving precedence to the main ones or those defined as more important. To get professional help you must opt for LinkHelpers Phoenix Website Design Company  and the elimination of conventionally shared color and information ambiguities (for example the use of red to report errors). Analysis and evaluation of the interface in relation to the target and its specific cognitive abilities is important. Closely related to usability is the concept of accessibility that defines, with regard to web design, the ability of a web page to be used by different types of users.

Various aspects of the WAI

The WAI (Web Accessibility Initiative), W3C working group, defines accessibility, applied to the web, through some guidelines. The goal of these principles is to make a site accessible to both able bodied people, with physical or cognitive disabilities, and by users not in possession of the latest technological innovations. Everything can be summarized in these two points

The pages must be able to be interpreted by the widest possible number of browsers.

The contents must be easily viewable and understandable

The “universal design”, intended as usable by the widest possible number of users, is an increasingly current topic. On the web there are several barriers physical, linguistic, cognitive and technological, to design an accessible site is necessary aim, as far as possible, to make information available to multiple categories of disabled users.

What are the differences between usability and accessibility?

One of the main differences between these two disciplines is the target audience accessibility, as mentioned, is oriented to all possible users, usability focuses on the target audience. In fact, designing sites often becomes a matter of choices and compromises linked to objectives. We cannot forget that many corporate sites are not ‘for all’ marketing is based precisely on the segmentation of the market, and therefore its users. As a consequence, the accessibility requirements cannot be the same as for a service site, for example that of a public administration, which by definition must be addressed to all citizens.

It is not easy to create a product that is usable and accessible at the same time, but bearing in mind usability as a condition cannot work towards greater integration to make web pages flexible and suitable to meet the needs of accessibility.