Thread Subject: Re: about the word usable

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From: Jim Tobias
Date: Wed, Feb 14 2007 4:40 PM

that's funny; i've been trying to make sense of the
distinction between *potential* and *actual* (as really
used by people), and i came up with "accessibility" as
the raw potential, and "access" as the actual.


***
Jim Tobias
Inclusive Technologies
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-----Original Message-----
From: Whitney Quesenbery [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ]
Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2007 5:13 PM
To: TEITAC General Interface Accessibility Subcommittee
Subject: Re: [teitac-general] about the word usable

At 02:57 PM 2/14/2007, Robinson, Norman B - Washington, DC wrote:
>That is, we ask the question can a person, regardless of ability, _use_
>the _function_ of the electronic information or electronic technology?
>To me, this is access. It doesn't mean that is necessary very usable,
>the use could be difficult, but specifically it should be possible.

A group I worked with once came up with the formulation that

access + usability = accessibility

I know this is not the usual meaning of the word - this was a group trying
to work through the very issue that Norman is talking about and clarifying
for themselves the different considerations.

Whitney



Whitney Quesenbery
Whitney Interactive Design
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mobile: 908-328-5959
www.WQusability.com
www.usabilityprofessionals.org

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