What do we mean by ‘usability’?

If accessibility is all about equal access to the Web, usability is about how well a site works for users generally. Some key issues are:

• Familiarity. The design should be consistent, intuitive and follow conventions rather than present the user with a puzzle (unless that’s the aim).
• Helpful architecture. Information should be easy to find and users able to do what they came to the site to do with a minimum of fuss.
• Keeping things simple. Simplicity wins over complexity every time on the Web.
• Response times. Web users are impatient - don't assume they'll wait around for complex graphics or moving images to appear.
• Writing for printed publications is not the same as writing for the web. There isn't a beginning and an end to a website. People often don't sit comfortably at a computer, so their attention span is a lot shorter and less focused.

There can be situations where features that improve usability for some can make the site inaccessible for others. It's bit of a minefield but one we enjoy navigating for our customers and their site users.