Improving the design of accessible web pages through a study of user experience in order to define requirements

Abstract

An accessible web page is considered one which meets the framework determined by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) meets the conditions WAI (Web Accessibility Initiative) which provides the regulations (WCAG 2.0 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).The study is based on the information gathered from a project carried out on handicapped users [1] (according to the OMS classification [2]). A task-based test assessed their navigation from an AA (double A) accessible web page (this being the accessibility level accepted under Spanish law).The analysis of the date highlights accessibility versus user experience and user experience versus the autonomy of the user to navigate. Once the results are obtained, they are analysed and used for a second phase in which the design of the web page is created so that the page is accessible to users (considered user-friendly) and that the level of usability is considered satisfactory. These results, based on testing by handicapped users, have led to more positive results.The article is focuses on the comparison of a page created with accessibility in mind and a page which has been created with the aim of satisfying the users when aspects of content and graphic design were determined, while adhering to legal accessibility requirements.The accessibility validation cycle of the web has been analyzed through: an automatic validation process, a manual validation, a user-based validation, a review carried out by a specialist web consultant which shows the need to create a page which is designed, structured and whose content is adapted to the previously defined user requirements with the objective of creating an accessible user experience.