Rethinking information behavior in the context of universal design

Beyene, Wondwossen M.; Byström, Katriina

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/96674 Copy

Description

Title

Rethinking information behavior in the context of universal design

Author(s)

• Beyene, Wondwossen M.
• Byström, Katriina

Issue Date

2017

Keyword(s)

• Universal design
• Information behavior
• Information services accessibility
• Information systems accessibility
• Human information interaction

Abstract

Universal design represents the idea of designing products and services to be accessible and usable to all, including to persons with disabilities. Its intent in the design of information systems could be understood as tackling user diversity, which relates it to part of studies in human information behavior. Both areas share concerns of users, context, and technology diversity in their respective undertakings. This conceptual paper analyzes the overlaps in the context of each research direction and highlights the challenges that need to be tackled so that their concerted efforts could enhance the design of accessible and usable information systems. It also attempts to reexamine the field of information behavior and explore its potential for providing much-needed “human input” to universal design endeavors which have been driven mainly by sets of guidelines and technical specifications.

Publisher

iSchools

Series/Report Name or Number

iConference 2017 Proceedings

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/96674

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2017 Wondwossen M. Beyene and Katriina Byström

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