Monday 19th July 2021
PREFACE
Identifying and specifying system security needs for users is difficult, but designing for a specific audience does not promote inclusivity for the wider audience. Mainstream research in security and privacy tends to focus on technical mechanisms and usability, but does not account for specific needs promoting accessibility. Worldwide there are 500 million people with disabilities, accounting for 15% of the total population. Disability can be classified using the World Health Organization International Classification for Disability, Functioning and Health Framework (ICF). It is important to consider accessibility and inclusion to ensure that this user community has equal access to opportunities.
It has been identified that people with disabilities can encounter barriers due to web security and privacy technologies, for example, users with learning disabilities experiencing challenges when following multi-step procedures on websites and individuals with physical disabilities being unable to authenticate themselves using one time codes over the telephone. This results in poor accessibility and potentially being excluded from purchasing goods, accessing services or communicating with organisations that result in frustration and cancelling of transactions. Accessible authentication mechanisms are recommended by the World Wide Web Consortium to promote inclusivity of computing to all abilities.
The Diversity, Accessibility and Inclusivity Workshop will investigate the recent developments that aim to ensure that cyber security is accessible and inclusive to the users. Mainstream research in cyber security often focuses on technical mechanisms and usability, but does not account for the specific needs of the users to promote accessibility. This inaugural workshop will provide a forum for researchers in the domains of accessibility, cyber security and human computer interaction to discuss opportunities for bridging the three areas and creating a roadmap to ensure that security mechanisms are suitable to users of all abilities. This year, we are pleased to announce our 1st workshop in conjunction with the British HCI 2021 Conference, hosted by the University of West London.