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e-Government in Rhode Island: what effects do templates have on usability, accessibility, and mobile readiness?

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Abstract

This study examines state and local e-government Web sites in Rhode Island with an eye toward determining the effects of templates on accessibility, usability, and mobile readiness. After examining 132 state and local e-government sites, using a combination of code inspection, heuristic evaluation, and automated analysis, the researchers found that templates had, at best, mixed success in promoting these key issues. The results suggest that while best practice-based templates may be helpful in improving usability, accessibility, and mobile readiness, it is critical that designers at the local level receive training in these areas and that governments monitor state and local Web sites for compliance with industry and legal standards.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Communication Department, Rhode Island College, 600 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Providence, RI, 02908, USA

    Robert Anthony Galvez

  2. School of Communication and Journalism, Auburn University, 217 Tichenor Hall, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA

    Norman E. Youngblood

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  1. Robert Anthony Galvez
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  2. Norman E. Youngblood
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Correspondence to Norman E. Youngblood.

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Galvez, R.A., Youngblood, N.E. e-Government in Rhode Island: what effects do templates have on usability, accessibility, and mobile readiness?. Univ Access Inf Soc 15, 281–296 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-014-0384-x

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