Cognitive function vs accessible authentication : insights from dyslexia research

Ophoff, Jacques and Johnson, Graham and Renaud, Karen; (2021) Cognitive function vs accessible authentication : insights from dyslexia research. In: Proceedings of the 18th International Web for All Conference. Proceedings of the 18th International Web for All Conference . Association for Computing Machinery, Inc, SVN. ISBN 9781450382120 (https://doi.org/10.1145/3430263.3452427)

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Abstract

The most common authentication mechanism, the password, requires a user to recall a secret. Users take this memorisation, or cognitive function, test on a daily basis in order to gain access to systems and devices. This mechanism's design has received much scrutiny and there is a common realization that security and usability are key considerations. In this paper, we consider a third, emergent aspect: that of accessibility. Using a qualitative approach, we explore the challenges current password-based approaches pose to people with dyslexia, a relatively common cognitive disability, highlighting several issues. Following draft web accessibility guidelines, we also evaluate alternative authentication mechanisms. We observe a lack of consideration for accessibility in the area of authentication and offer suggestions for future research.

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