Summary
Did you know that the SUS creates biases in your research, affecting one in five people? That’s right! People with disabilities, especially those who use assistive technology, are not considered by most of the questions in the SUS. When the SUS was invented, the author encouraged people to change it to suit different needs. In this talk, Samuel Proulx and Abid Virani from Fable will discuss how Fable adapted the SUS to work for assistive technology users. Drawing from over five thousand hours of research and testing involving assistive technology users, we created the Accessible Usability Scale (AUS). This presentation will include trends in AUS responses since it was released in December of 2020.
Key Insights
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Assistive technology includes software/hardware used by people with disabilities to access computers.
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Screen readers allow blind users to navigate content by jumping between sections using headings.
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Screen magnification helps visually impaired users to enlarge content for better clarity and interaction.
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Alternative navigation allows users who can't use traditional input methods to interact with devices through various means, such as voice commands or head tracking.
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Research methodologies often overlook the unique needs of assistive technology users, creating extra cognitive load during usability testing.
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The System Usability Scale does not accommodate the different challenges faced by assistive technology users.
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The Accessible Usability Scale aims to provide a better framework for measuring user experience in assistive technology contexts.
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Differences in user experience are influenced by the type of assistive technology, with screen reader users often reporting the most challenges.
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Remote usability testing can yield more authentic results as users engage with technology in their own environments.
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Continuous engagement with the community of users with disabilities is crucial for refining usability assessments.
Notable Quotes
"We're starting to really run experiments and try to contribute to the space as much as we're learning."
"Assistive technology allows individuals with disabilities to access computers in different ways."
"The primary customization for screen reader users is speed; many can listen at over 300 words per minute."
"Accessibility and semantic layout is critical for assistive technology users to navigate effectively."
"Accessibility is not a checklist; it exists on a spectrum."
"If a screen reader can't activate or describe a button, the user has no backup and can become completely stuck."
"It's important to consider the features of a website, not just whether it can be used at all."
"We're working to improve the way we capture experiences of assistive technology users in usability research."
"The Accessible Usability Scale is our attempt to make the System Usability Scale more relevant for assistive technology users."
"Remote testing allows users to test in environments tailored to their needs, increasing the diversity of participants."
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