Combining utility, usability and accessibility methods for Universal Access

It is known that many products are not accessible to large sections of the population. Designers instinctively focus on providing the necessary utility for someone with their physical and skill capabilities. They are either unaware of the needs of users with different capabilities, or do not know how to accommodate their needs into the design cycle. Usability engineering techniques exist that broadly extend the skill range of potential users, and accessibility techniques for physical capabilities. However, approaches for combining all three are rare. The aim of this position paper is to present a design approach for combining utility, usability and accessibility design activities into a single coherent approach. A tool for measuring the resultant success of the design is also described.