Publicação
Researching a Methodology for Evaluating the Accessibility of Mobile Applications
| Resumo: | In a world where approximately 1.3 billion people face various forms of impairment, ensuring accessibility in digital solutions is of paramount importance. Accessibility, a universal right, ensures equitable access to information systems, irrespective of individuals’ abilities. “Mobile accessibility” focuses on adapting websites and applications to accommodate users with disabilities on mobile devices. Smartphones, while empowering users with newfound independence, present unique challenges due to their compact size, cognitive demands, and the rapidly evolving technology landscape. Ensuring accessibility in mobile applications is crucial. It requires a comprehensive, universally applicable evaluation methodology. Existing methodologies lack completeness, often missing key steps and procedures. This work encompasses four key components: an analysis of European Union (EU) member states’ adherence to the Web Accessibility Directive, interviews with EU evaluators, user testing involving individuals with disabilities, and manual evaluations of mobile applications. These components aim to comprehensively address the challenges and limitations in the current evaluation process. The overarching goal of this work is to streamline the evaluation of mobile applications for accessibility. Following extensive studies and result analysis, we propose improvements focusing on methodologies for conducting mobile accessibility evaluations. We emphasize three phases for manual evaluations: screen selection, evaluation, and results reporting. Additionally, we underscore the importance of enforcing user testing given its relevance in identifying previously unnoticed issues, calling for more attention to this aspect. Ultimately, this research seeks to help bridge the accessibility gap in mobile applications, contributing to a more inclusive digital environment for individuals with disabilities. |
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| Autores principais: | Matos, Maria Gomes de |
| Assunto: | Acessibilidade Avaliação de Acessibilidade Móvel Metodologias de avaliação de acessibilidade Aplicações Móveis Teses de mestrado - 2023 |
| Ano: | 2023 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | dissertação de mestrado |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso aberto |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade de Lisboa |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | Repositório da Universidade de Lisboa |
| Resumo: | In a world where approximately 1.3 billion people face various forms of impairment, ensuring accessibility in digital solutions is of paramount importance. Accessibility, a universal right, ensures equitable access to information systems, irrespective of individuals’ abilities. “Mobile accessibility” focuses on adapting websites and applications to accommodate users with disabilities on mobile devices. Smartphones, while empowering users with newfound independence, present unique challenges due to their compact size, cognitive demands, and the rapidly evolving technology landscape. Ensuring accessibility in mobile applications is crucial. It requires a comprehensive, universally applicable evaluation methodology. Existing methodologies lack completeness, often missing key steps and procedures. This work encompasses four key components: an analysis of European Union (EU) member states’ adherence to the Web Accessibility Directive, interviews with EU evaluators, user testing involving individuals with disabilities, and manual evaluations of mobile applications. These components aim to comprehensively address the challenges and limitations in the current evaluation process. The overarching goal of this work is to streamline the evaluation of mobile applications for accessibility. Following extensive studies and result analysis, we propose improvements focusing on methodologies for conducting mobile accessibility evaluations. We emphasize three phases for manual evaluations: screen selection, evaluation, and results reporting. Additionally, we underscore the importance of enforcing user testing given its relevance in identifying previously unnoticed issues, calling for more attention to this aspect. Ultimately, this research seeks to help bridge the accessibility gap in mobile applications, contributing to a more inclusive digital environment for individuals with disabilities. |
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