Evaluation Criteria: Technical and Usability Aspects

A website should function properly regardless of the computer or browser used by the audience. A website with broken links or page errors can be very frustrating.

In addition, the website should be accessible to all potential audiences including those with visual, auditory, or other challenges.

It's important to run a web accessibility test on the website to determine whether it meets recognized guidelines.

Go to the HiSoftware® Cynthia Says™ website. Enter the website URL and this free service will test single pages for web content accessibility. Check that the interface is set to Section 508 in the Accessibility Report Mode. Click on the 'Test Your Site' button to see results from the webpage for which you entered the URL. You don't need to understand all of the results to benefit from the test, but Reviewing Cynthia Results provides some beginning help.l

Technical and Usability Aspects Review

Consider the following questions as you are evaluating the website:

• Does the website function properly?
• Does the website use correct HTML coding?
• Do all graphics, animations, text, and other page elements appear in their proper places?
• Do the web links function properly?
• Do the mail links function properly?
• Is the site easily accessed without special software/plug-ins, or are useful help resources or alternatives provided?
• Does the entry page load quickly?
• Do secondary pages load quickly?
• Can important items on the entry page be viewed without extensive scrolling?
• Is the site user-friendly and easy to navigate?
• Are content elements well-labeled?
• Is the website accessible to all users?