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Category Archives: Web Site Accessibility and Usability

New Book Available Online – Search User Interfaces

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

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 Michigan’s American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) E-Government Satisfaction Index. The Index aggregate score for the first quarter of 2008 fell to 72.4 on ACSI’s 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

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

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