Do you care about usability?
14:57, 26 June 2009
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It's a wonderful thing to put information and services online, whether you are a nonprofit organization, a school, a government agency, a business, whatever. You will not only reach new audiences, but you will better serve and build your credibility with your current customers, clients, supporters -- whomever.HOWEVER, the information or product has to be easy to find, and the web site or online tool has to be easy to use, for your organization to realize these benefits. In short, your web site has to be usable. Your primary audience isn't the web designer -- it's your current and potential customers, clients, partners, supporters and others external to your organization.
In November 2008, the International Seminar on Usability and Accessibility for the Web / Inicia el Seminario Internacional de Usabilidad y Accesibilidad para la web 2008 was held in Cintermex. Monterrey, Mexico, and a result of this gathering was the Manifesto on Usability and Accessibility for Mexican Government Websites / Manifiesto Nuevo León sobre Usabilidad y Accesibilidad para los Portales Gubernamentales Mexicanos. From the Manifesto:
The web can be the most democratic tool a government has because it allows for direct communication, overcoming geographic, cultural, economic and hierarchical barriers, as well as those faced by people with disabilities.
But technologies do not do this on their own. They can either reduce or widen the gap between those with more and those with fewer opportunities, and they can enrich or hurt the relationship between citizens and government. It is the duty of the creators and administrators of these technologies to guide them and improve people’s quality of life.
Good stuff! Every e-government initiative should adopt this manifesto, not just Mexico! And your nonprofit needs to always have usability in mind when it delivers information or services online. Otherwise, what kind of message are you sending with your online activities?
Thanks to Sharron Rush at Knowbility for bringing this to my attention... over beer in Austin, Texas...
