What is Accessibility? What is Usability? What different tools are there to help make the internet accessible for everyone?
What is accessibility?
Accessibility is creating, designing, and developing a software that is able to be used by anyone, including those who may struggle with visual, motor, auditory, and cognitive functioning. Examples of accessibility in software are screen readers, closed captions/transcripts, voice recognition, high-contrast modes, keyboard navigation, and customization text.
Four Core Principles (Pour)
Perceivable – the information must be easy to understand. Photos must have descriptions that paint an image that can help those who can’t see that image understand what is happening.
Operable – The internet must be easy to operate. One way that websites can make things easier for everyone is making your website layout similar to popular websites to make them easily accessible.
Understandable – The user interface must have a simple process that is easy to understand and the content must be the same way.
Robust – The content must be the same design and layout across all devices. The tools used for accessibility must also be the same across all devices & platforms.
What is Usability?
Usability is a measurement of how effectively and easily anyone can connect with a product to try to achieve a task or goal. Instead of focusing on designs like accessibility, Usability focuses on the overall experience.
Defined through 3 outcomes
Satisfaction – Is the experience pleasant?
Efficiency – How long or how much energy does it take to reach the end of the task?
Effectiveness – Can the users complete the task?
What different tools are there to help make the internet accessible for everyone?
- Screen Readers
- Screen Magnifying Glass
- Speech Recognition
- Color & Contrast Checkers
- Read & Write
- Automatic Scanners
Sited Sources
(WAI), W. W. A. I. (n.d.). Introduction to web accessibility. Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). https://www.w3.org/WAI/fundamentals/accessibility-intro/
IxDF – Interaction Design Foundation. (2025, October 8). What is usability – the ultimate guide. The Interaction Design Foundation. https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/usability?srsltid=AfmBOoqY4TKdytAanM1wItFtBLbDN1yIJvJQ_5GqyXLpywAbAAFDuGR_
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