This literature review focuses on user-centered evaluation (UCE) studies of adaptive and adaptable systems. Usability, perceived usefulness and appropriateness of adaptation are the three most commonly assessed variables. Questionnaires appeared to be the most popular method, followed by interviews and data log analysis. The quality of most questionnaires was questionable, and the reporting of interviews and think-aloud protocols was found to be shallow. Furthermore, data logs need triangulation in order to be useful. The reports encountered lack empirical value. The article models the iterative design process for adaptive and adaptable systems, linked to the goals of UCE: supporting decisions, detecting problems and verifying quality. This model summarizes the variables to be assessed at each stage of the process and the relevant methods to assess them.
Background The W3C Web Accessibility Initiative has issued guidelines for making websites better and easier to access for people with various disabilities (W3C Web Accessibility Initiative guidelines 1999).
Method The usability of two versions of a website (a non‐adapted site and a site that was adapted on the basis of easy‐to‐read guidelines) was tested with two groups of 20 participants. One group had intellectual disabilities but could read, the other group had no identified intellectual disabilities. In a 2 × 2 experimental design, it was investigated whether the easy‐to‐read website was indeed better accessible and usable for the participants with intellectual disabilities.
Results The adaptation of the website worked well for participants with intellectual disabilities. Users without identified intellectual disabilities were as effective with the adapted site as they were with the non‐adapted site.
Conclusion The results form an empirical basis for recommendations about applying guidelines for easy‐to‐read text on websites for people with intellectual disabilities.
Local government organizations such as municipalities often seem unable to fully adopt or implement web accessibility standards even if they are actively pursuing it. Based on existing adoption models, this study identifies factors in five categories that influence the adoption and implementation of accessibility standards for local government websites. Awareness of these factors is important for stakeholders adopting and implementing web accessibility standards. To further develop and understand these factors, this study has identified and interviewed experts in the field of (organizational) accessibility. This has led to an extension of the existing models. The extended model was then validated by interviews with key stakeholders. The outcome of this study places existing adoption models in a new context. The result is an adoption model that contributes better to explaining adoption and implementation processes within eGovernment systems and organizations. This adoption model aims to better help local governments in the identification of factors influencing the actual adoption and implementation of web accessibility standards in their situation. The model explains how factors in the different categories contribute to the adoption and implementation of web accessibility standards. The model may also be applicable to the adoption and implementation of other guidelines and (open) standards within local government.
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