Usability of web search interfaces for blind users --- a review of digital academic library user interfaces

Authors:
Tapio Haanperä;Marko Nieminen
Affiliations:
Aalto University School of Science, AALTO, Finland;Aalto University School of Science, AALTO, Finland
Venue:
UAHCI'13 Proceedings of the 7th international conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction: applications and services for quality of life - Volume Part III
Year:
2013

Citing 6
Cited 0

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Abstract

In this paper we report our findings on the usability of four digital academic library databases when used by blind individuals using a screen reader. Our interaction level analysis shows that despite improvements in accessibility guidelines and technologies web search interfaces still lack good usability for screen reader users. Accessibility issues appear to have been addressed from the angle of technical readability instead of usability or user experience. As a result of the analysis we present design suggestions for making a web search interface more usable for screen reader users: 1) Highlighting search results (e.g. using headings), 2) No unnecessary elements before search results, 3) Search edit field and button in the beginning, 4) Descriptive labeling of search elements, 5) Abstract right after the search result title.