Institutional Web Management Workshop 2005: Whose Web Is It Anyway?
Workshop Session

Workshop Session B1: "Whose Web Do You Think It Is? Considering Web Accessibility And Usability From The Perspective Of Different User Groups"

This page provides details for the workshop session on "Whose Web Do You Think It Is? Considering Web Accessibility And Usability From The Perspective Of Different User Groups".

Title:

Whose Web Do You Think It Is? Considering Web Accessibility And Usability From The Perspective Of Different User Groups

Facilitator:

Jenny Craven, MMU

Abstract:

Drawing on findings from an EU-funded project (the European Internet Accessibility Observatory), this workshop session will start with a presentation on accessibility and usability, focussing firstly on the different ways end-users access the Web and some of the problems they are faced with, particularly if they are accessing in a non-standard format or using assistive technologies. The session will then consider some of the tensions that may arise between different user groups when striving to embrace an 'access for all' approach. For example, the Web designers who may want to have unrestricted creativity, without having to adhere to strict accessibility guidelines or rules; the Web managers who may have to implement institutional accessibility policies and guidelines relating to the Web and e-learning; the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) who want to widen access to the Web through use of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Learning Outcomes:

The aim of this session is to demonstrate the need to take different user requirements into consideration in order to properly inform accessibility related development, policy and management decisions, and how a more informed approach can help to address the possible tensions between different groups.
Participants will gain a better understanding of the different needs of user groups. This will help provide them with a more informed approach to Web accessibility and usability.

Room Requirements:

PC and data projector.

Venue:

Conference Room 4A (capacity 14/25). See venue details.

Time:

This session will place from 16:00-17:30 on Thursday 7^th July 2005.

Contact Details

Jenny Craven
Research Associate
Centre for Research in Library and Information Management
Manchester Metropolitan University
Email: j.craven AT mmu.ac.uk