When using the Web there are often distractions that draw the users attention away from content, or from the current action being performed. Distractions can cause issues for Web users, ecpecially those who have a cognitive impairment.
Drawing the user's attention away from content can create a range of issues dependant on the user's impairment(s). If a user is consuming content and their attention is drawn away this may impact their ability to consume content. If a user is carrying out an action (such as form filling) being distracted may cause the user to lose context, thread or position in the action or sequence of actions.
Distraction may come from many sources. Common sources of distraction include:
When attention is drawn away from an action (reading, form filling etc) it breaks the user experience sequence and may result in a loss of context, place or position in the action or sequence of actions for those with impaired memory. This may cause the user to need to re-read content repeatedly, or restart a sequence such as form filling. This will cause the user to take longer than normal to complete an action which may cause additional time out issues.
Continual disruption of the user experience by distraction may cause users to abandon a task.
Those with impaired executive function may have difficuly identifying the source of a distraction. They may have difficulty closing pop-ups, this may impact their ability to use a site with pop-up dialogs (messages, adverts, assistance windows).
Those with impaired executive function may have challenges completing time limited tasks, and as such may have that difficulty exacerbated by distractions, especially those that are difficult to close.
Those with impaired executive function may have difficulty identifying embedded adverts such as Adwords etc, and may assume that they are part of content. This may cause issues where products and commerical messages are interpreted as part of content.
It may be difficult for those with impaired executive function to correctly interpret the purpose of the distraction, to differentiate between adverts, pop-up help windows or actual content.
Those with impaired reasoning may have difficuly closing pop-ups, this may impact their ability to use a site with pop-up dialogs (messages, adverts, assistance windows).
Those with impaired reasoning may have challenges completing time limited tasks, and as such may have that difficulty exacerbated by distractions, especially those that are difficult to close.
It may be difficult for those with impaired reasoning function to correctly interpret the purpose of the distraction, to differentiate between adverts, pop-up help windows or actual content.
Those with attention related difficulties will have those difficulties increased by any distraction from Content.
Distraction will increase the time taken to consume content, and for those with significant attention related issues could make a site completely unusable.
Those with language related impairments may not be able to understand the context or purpose of a pop-up or help window.
Those with literacy related impairments may not understand the purpose of a pop-up, or any instructions on how to close or deal with the distraction.
Those with literacy related impairments may need use of Text to Speech software (TTS) or other Assistive Technology (AT). AT functionality may be impaired by overlays.
Perception-processing limitations may make it difficult for a user to understand the pupose of a distraction such as a help pop up, or to recognise that the overlay not a part of content. They may have difficulty closing any overlay/pop up or pop over window.
Reduced Knowledge may prevent a user from identifying the nature of a distraction, and hence dealing with that distraction effectively.
Add relevant information (if any).
Overlays should not be used where possible.
Where unavoidable the purpose of an Overlay should be clear. The closing mechanism should be clear easy to find and effective.
Any overlay should be accessible, and should integrate with any existing AT provision already on the site.
Where possible a User should be able to prevent any Overlays.
Adverts should not automatically start playing (if Audio/Visual).
Adverts should not Overlay content.
Adverts should not present as content. It should be clear that an Advert is an Advert.
Adverts should be easily closed.
Any Adverts should autoclose, that is if an overlay is used it should automatically close and return the user to the content.
Notifications - should be easy to dismiss, cancel or opt out of... ?? how though?
Don't use them?
Describe the extent any proposed solutions make content accessible, e.g., fully, significantly, slightly reliable.
Are any proposed solutions:
Also, we should identify safety concerns and frustration levels. (Is the solution usable but frustrating?)