On Selected Population Groups, pp. On Key Processes, pp. As a start for the study, the steering committee notes that good interface design can help the spread of technologies. In the last several years, we have also witnessed the explosive growth of the World Wide Web and its use by individuals, schools and universities, companies, governmental units, and nonprofit organizations. Yet problems with many interfaces have also been observed.
Interfaces often frustrate or are of limited use to many users, restricting access and use.
2 Problems begin with those who do use these technologies despite some apparent difficulties. Market research also shows that today's costs of owning a personal computer, in the home or office, are very high once the various support costs are factored in. 3 Other problems relate to those who do not or cannot use the information infrastructure. Current interfaces are among a variety of factors that limit use today by those who have physical, sensory, cognitive, language, and learning difficulties and by those whose activities or environments impose constraints on what they can do and how. Despite an enormous number of smart people working to improve interfaces, this is an area characterized by tough problems, many of which are getting tougher as the user population and its demands grow.