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Universal Usability

 

Universal Usability is the idea that a service, system or product that is being designed should have ways built in so that as many people as possible can access it (Novick & Scholtz, 2002). This is very similar if not the same concept as Universal Access as mentioned by Stephanidis (2000). Which emphasizes that Universal Access/Universal Usability is not a case of one-design fits all, but rather that systems should start to become smart and adaptable enough to where they can adapt themselves to the users' needs.

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Universal Usability and Universal access is a golden idea to strive for when designing products, systems, and services. All researchers should consider this idea when working on their own products, and should expand their participant pool when they can to try and catch usability and user experience problems prior to launch.

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Novick, D. G., & Scholtz, J. C. (2002). Universal usability.

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Stephanidis, C. (2001). Adaptive techniques for universal access. User modeling and user-adapted interaction, 11(1-2), 159-179.