Challenges in Agile Universal Design of ICT

Abstract

Universal design (UD) of ICT is about creating solutions that are usable and accessible for as many end-users as possible. Currently, agile development is a common approach in ICT-projects. This article investigates the challenges for ensuring UD in agile ICT-projects. We propose the term «agile universal design»(AUD)to denote UD in agile ICT-projects. Through a scoping review, we find that traditional user-centered and quality control activities may be seen as disruptive in the agile process. On the other hand, promotion of stakeholders and user involvement throughout the development process and in all phases fit well with UD approaches. Seven practical AUD challenges are identified and point to the fact that securing high quality usability aspects for users with a diverse set of needs require more than limited early attention followed by mere sporadic user focus. We find main AUD issues to be: a) capturing, communicating, keeping track of and quality assure requirements from stakeholders and users in the process towards developing a final solution, b) balance time spent on user-involved activities with development activities. The article discusses the challenges and the need for more research on AU methodology