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Searching Vs. Browsing

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From: Patrick Burke
Date: Nov 7, 2012 12:31PM

Hi everyone,

We are having a discussion about whether posting a link on a site is
worthwhile, or if the fact of having a high search-result ranking for
the key terms is good enough (from both in-house search & Google).

The general concept is that users these days are much more likely to
search for what they want, rather than browse through the content.
The question is, does this hold equally for users with
disabilities? It seems logical, for example, that a keyboard-only
user would be much more efficient with a good search facility, rather
than endless tabbing to reach the right link. But LD users might
prefer clicking to typing at all costs.

The Webaim survey answers a related but different question: How do
screen-reader users find info within a page? Link navigation & (SR)
Find features are equally unpopular (in the teens), while heading
navigation wins in a landslide with 60%. Perhaps the Survey could add
another question next time about preference of Googling to find info
vs. finding it via linked items. Maybe Google's profits already
answer that question...

Anyway, if anyone has insights on users with disabilities &
search/browse behavior, I'd be very interested.

Thanks!
Patrick

--
Patrick J. Burke

Coordinator
UCLA Disabilities &
Computing Program

Phone: 310 206-6004
E-mail: <EMAIL REMOVED>
Location: 4909 Math Science


Department Contact: <EMAIL REMOVED>