Focus on and easy understanding of important information
Review methodology:
Overall purpose of the criteria
Information that is important to the user shall be clearly distinguishable. Such information includes notifications, status, messages, indication of progress and other information needed to understand the content and performance of the service. This information shall be visually designed to stand out against other information. It shall be placed so that the user can spot it directly. This could be done by placing the information high up on page and indicated by Heading, color, size, icons etc. Important information can also be placed on top of the page in modal messages or flyouts that appear on top on other information so that user will have to relate to it.
When testing for compliance of this criterion, the following is used:
- Manual testing
- Visual inspection
Important information applies to;
- Information needed to understand how to perform important tasks
- Important notifications of events, status, change of system status, error messages, indications of loading, updating and saving, incoming messages etc.
- Other important information and messages needed for the understanding and use of the service.
If there is important information;
- If this information is visually designed to stand out compared to other content, then it’s a pass. (Important information can be indicated by color*, size, font properties, icons etc.)
- If this information is not visually designed to stand out compared to other content, then it’s a fail.
- If this information is placed is placed first or early in read order, then it’s a pass.
- If this information is placed is placed late in read order, then it’s a fail.
- If this information is in text and written in plain language, then it’s a pass.
- If this information is in text and not written in plain language, then it’s a fail.
*Color value refers to the relative lightness or darkness of a color. Color cannot be the only indicator of information, but color value can as long as the requirements of contrast are met.
