"User-friendly" Means Budget-Friendly: how improved software usability benefits purchasers & producers of software solutions - Presentation

Improving the usability of software for users - whether they are IT workers such as sysadmins, shoppers using web-based e-commerce sites, or users of shrink-wrapped home and business software - helps people work (or shop) more efficiently. However, improving software usability also is also highly cost-effective for both the organizations that develop the software and the organizations that purchase it. This presentation describes how development and purchasing organization benefit from creating and deploying usable software solutions, and also relates some of the hidden (and not-so-hidden) costs of poor usability. Select this link to request a copy of this paper.

Cost-Justifying Accessibility - White Paper

This paper provides an introduction to software and Web accessibility, and describes the costs and benefits of integrating accessibility with the software development process. We propose that accessibility is a crucial part of the software development lifecycle because it can both mitigate certain costs and yield significant benefits to the development organization. In this work we also set forth some guidelines for integrating accessibility into development in a cost-conscious manner. Select this link to request a copy of this paper.

Integrating Accessibility into Web Sites and Other Software Applications - White Paper

This paper presents a brief introduction to software and Web accessibility, and provides guidance for integrating accessibility into the software user interface design and development processes. In this paper, we assert that accessibility can be most effectively integrated into these processes if it is done early, inclusively — that is, if responsibility for ensuring accessibility is distributed through the development team — and with judicious testing and evaluation. Select this link to request a copy of this paper.

Introduction to Accessibility for Usability Engineers - Presentation

This paper was presented at the Austin Usability Professionals Association guest speaker series, June 7, 2001. It provides an overview of accessibility as it relates to software and the Web and also describes some adaptations that give people greater access to information technologies such as the Web. Select this link to request a copy of this presentation.