Search User Interfaces by Marti A. Hearst [the author, with permission of Cambridge University Press, has placed the full text online free of charge. See the terms of service]: “This book focuses on the human users of search engines and the tool they use to interact with them: the search user interface. The truly worldwide… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Web Site Accessibility and Usability
Web Accessibility Guidelines For UN Websites
Web Accessibility Guidelines For UN Websites (Word doc): “In order to make information on the United Nations and its activities available to the widest range of audiences, and in keeping with resolutions of the General Assembly, the Department of Public Information (DPI) is aggressively pursuing accessibility of the United Nations website by persons with disabilities.… Continue Reading
AIDS.gov Has a New Look
“The new AIDS.gov home page provides easier access to site information and offers new features.” Prominently displayed at the top right side of the page are links to: a well designed and organized Blog, Podcasts to which users may listen and for which transcripts are provided, RSS Feeds to the podcasts, resource announcements and alerts.… Continue Reading
Citizen Satisfaction with E-Government Falls to Lowest in Three Years
News release: “Citizen satisfaction with federal government websites declines for a third consecutive quarter, according to the first quarter report [Excel] of the University of Michigans American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) E-Government Satisfaction Index. The Index aggregate score for the first quarter of 2008 fell to 72.4 on ACSIs 100-point scale, its lowest score in… Continue Reading
DOE OIG Audit Report: Management of the Department's Publicly Accessible Websites
U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Inspector General, Office of Audit Services, Audit Report, Management of the Department’s Publicly Accessible Websites, March 2008. “Our audit identified several opportunities to improve the security and management of the Department’s publicly accessible websites. Specifically: We identified over 50 significant cyber security incidents in the last three fiscal years,… Continue Reading
ABA Legal Technology Resource Center – Web Accessibility
“As much of the daily practice of law moves to web-based technologies, it is increasingly important that all members of the legal community — lawyers and non-lawyers alike — understand the need for websites that are accessible to all audiences. Efforts to ensure that websites are accessible to disabled persons, simply referred to as “web… Continue Reading
FTC Unveils New Web Site Design
FTC FAQ: “The Federal Trade Commission today unveiled a redesigned Web site to enhance consumers’ ability to find the information they want quickly and easily. As the federal agency that works directly with and for consumers, the FTC strives to be accessible and transparent, with information that is clear, simple, and easy to access. The… Continue Reading
NASCIO Progress Reports on State Government Internet Presence
Harmony Helps: A Progress Report on State Government Internet Presence – March 2007 – “This brief explores how state web portals have matured and examines the impact of the 2003 expansion of the dot-gov domain to state and local governments; trends in state portal domain naming conventions; trends in Internet portal branding and marketing; the… Continue Reading
E-Gov Sites Begin Development for Wider Accessibility Via Search Engines
GovExec.com: Google moves ahead with plan to open up federal Web sites: “Three federal organizations recently agreed to structure their sites to make them accessible for nearly all Internet searches, [Google] officials said.” See also PlainLanguage.gov Continue Reading
HHS and GSA Announce Updated Web Design and Usability Guidelines to Improve Government Web Sites
Press release, October 30, 2006: “HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced the publication of the 2006 edition of the popular Research-Based Web Design & Usability Guidelines. Based on the latest research, the Guidelines now include over 40 new or updated guidelines and have become a primary resource for government and other Web communicators. The updated… Continue Reading
Google Accessible Web Search for the Visually Challenged
Fom Google Labs, Accessible Web Search for the Visually Challenged: “In addition to finding the most relevant results as measured by Google’s search algorithms, it further sorts results based on the simplicity of their page layouts.” Accessible Search FAQ Google Tests Accessible Search Page Continue Reading
GAO Report on Medicare Website Highlights Overall Lack of Usability
Press release, May 3, 2005: “Rep. Waxman, along with Reps. Dingell, Rangel, Stark, and Sherrod Brown, releases a GAO report that finds that the information provided by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services about the complicated new drug benefit is rife with problems. According to GAO, the federal handbooks, website, and 1-800 Medicare hotline… Continue Reading
