[vicsireland] Re: Wanted: People to help test websites for accessibility
- From: "Darragh" <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2006 11:25:34 +0100
Hello Mark,
If you'd like a tester let me know.
Darragh Ó Héiligh
Web development, O/S and Application technical support.
Website: http://www.digitaldarragh.com
-----Original Message-----
From: vicsireland-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:vicsireland-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Mark Magennis
Sent: 22 June 2006 10:34
To: Vics Mailing List; IrelandVIPnews
Subject: [vicsireland] Wanted: People to help test websites for
accessibility
Dear all,
The NCBI Centre for Inclusive Technology is looking for people with
disabilities in the Dublin area to help test websites to find out
whether they are easy to use. We need people who can talk openly
about their experience of using a website and describe any
difficulties they come across. No special skills are required other
than experience of using a computer to access websites. Testers will
be paid for their participation.
The background:
Access to the Web is becoming very important for people right across
society. Websites now provide a major source of information,
entertainment, holiday bookings, shopping, banking, government
services and more. It is vitally important that these websites are
equally accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Many websites have text
that is too small to read, layouts that are too complicated, content
that is confusing or difficult to find and other problems. Some
websites are even incompatible with the assistive technologies that
many people with disabilities use to access a computer.
The NCBI Centre for Inclusive Technology (CFIT) plays an important
role in helping ensure that websites are designed to be accessible to
the widest audience, including older people and people with
disabilities. CFIT advises and assists website owners and creators in
how to make their websites more accessible, easier to use and
compatible with assistive technologies. An important part of this
work is 'user testing' by web users with disabilities.
We are looking for the following types of people to take part in
'user testing' of websites, as paid participants. We are not looking
for experts, just normal people who have at least some experience
using websites, whether with or without assistive technology.
- People with a visual impairment, ranging from slightly reduced
vision to blindness.
- People who are unable to use a mouse but can use a keyboard or
other input device.
- People with a cognitive or language impairment such as dyslexia
that makes it more difficult to read or understand written text.
About the tests and payments:
In a user test you will be asked to try out typical tasks on a
website, such as searching for a specific bit of information or
filling in an online form. You will be observed and video recorded
and asked to describe any difficulties that arise. The aim is not for
you to do the tasks well, but for you to help us identify any aspects
of the website design that make it difficult to understand and use.
It is the website we will be testing, not you.
You will be paid 60 Euros for a session lasting roughly an hour to an
hour and a half. Tests will normally take place between 9am and 7pm
on weekdays in NCBI?s offices in Whitworth Road, Drumcondra, Dublin.
More experienced Web users also wanted:
As well as user testers, we are also looking for more experienced Web
demonstrators who use assistive technologies. People with an ability
to talk in general about the problems that arise with websites and to
discuss the issues in more detail with website owners and creators.
You do not have to be an expert in Web accessibility, just a normal
Web user with a wider experience and an interest in talking about
access problems. The scenario will be similar to the user test,
except that you will be asked to demonstrate in more detail how you
use the Web and your assistive technology and will explore various
issues on a website with the owners and creators.
For this more involved role, you will be paid 100 Euros for a session
lasting roughly an hour to an hour and a half.
If this sounds interesting to you, then please contact Josh O Connor
in CFIT, either by email at joshue.oconnor@xxxxxxx or by telephone on
01 8821980.
Dr. Mark Magennis
Director of the Centre for Inclusive Technology (CFIT)
National Council for the Blind of Ireland
www.cfit.ie
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