DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN ACCESSIBLE WEB INTERFACE

Abstract

Design is the skill of developing concepts and turning them into products and systems that benefit both users and manufacturers. In recent years, web interfaces have become essential and part of our daily lives. The digital world is constantly evolving, and with the increase in the use of technology, it is essential to ensure that web interfaces are easily accessible to everyone, irrespective of ability or disability. The project explores designing and implementing an accessible web interface. The Design Thinking approach is used to identify the barriers using user interviews and empathy mapping. The qualitative analysis of user interviews helped identify the users’ diverse needs and abilities and to define the design statement. As an applied design for web accessibility, the Laboratory of Inclusive Design (lid.iitr.ac.in) web interface is designed and developed. The guidelines and principles of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) were used as fundamentals of interface design for inclusivity and accessibility to ensure the accessibility of digital content. The project accounts for a web-responsive and accessible web research, design, and development process to educate users about Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. The author expresses his interest in the subject of web accessibility. The initial research was undertaken to understand better the problem’s context, the users involved, and the challenges associated with the current state of educational institute websites. Websites are crucial for universities as they serve as a notable representation of the institution in the digital realm for sharing information and education. However, despite the Government of India’s agreement with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2007, the Information and Technology (IT) Act 2000 India does not address website accessibility to a sufficient degree. As the recent study examined the websites of NAAC-accredited universities, many websites lacked accessibility features. 67.2% of the websites used videos and images, but few provided alternative text or audio descriptions. To achieve equality and inclusion, as promised in National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, educational websites’ accessibility elements must be improved. The current interface paradigm needs improvement to enhance user experience, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the significance of web accessibility. A comprehensive approach is required to address the issue of web accessibility, which involves considering the needs of all types of users throughout the development process and implementing web accessibility policies and guidelines. The significance of inclusive design principles in web design cannot be overstated, as they instill trust in visitors and

lend a professional appearance to a web interface. This project emphasizes the importance of inclusive design principles and their significant influence on a web interface. Through this project, the author establishes that inclusive design principles significantly affect the experience of visitors’ stay on a website.