Dyslexia and password usage: accessibility in authentication design

Karen Renaud; Graham Johnson; Jacques Ophoff

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-57404-8_20

Dyslexia and password usage: accessibility in authentication design

Karen Renaud^*, Graham Johnson, Jacques Ophoff

^*Corresponding author for this work

Division of Cybersecurity

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

6 Citations (Scopus)

749 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Governments and businesses are moving online with alacrity, driven by potential cost savings, changing consumer and citizen expectations, and the momentum towards general digital provision. Services are legally required to be inclusive and accessible. Now consider that almost every online service, where people have to identify themselves, requires a password. Passwords seem to be accessible, until one considers specific disabilities, one of which can lead to many challenges: dyslexia being a case in point. Dyslexia is associated with word processing and retention difficulties, and passwords are essentially words, phrases or alphanumeric combinations. We report on a literature review conducted to identify extant research into the impact of dyslexia on password usage, as well as any ameliorations that have been proposed. We discovered a relatively neglected field. We conclude with recommendations for future research into the needs of a large population of dyslexics who seem to struggle with passwords, in a world where avoiding passwords has become almost impossible. The main contribution of this paper is to highlight the difficulties dyslexics face with passwords, and to suggest some avenues for future research in this area.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Human Aspects of Information Security and Assurance
Subtitle of host publication	14th IFIP WG 11.12 International Symposium, HAISA 2020, Mytilene, Lesbos, Greece, July 8–10, 2020, Proceedings
Editors	Nathan Clarke, Steven Furnell
Place of Publication	Cham
Publisher	Springer
Pages	259-268
Number of pages	10
ISBN (Electronic)	9783030574048
ISBN (Print)	9783030574031
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57404-8_20
Publication status	Published - 21 Aug 2020
Event	14th International Symposium on Human Aspects of Information Security & Assurance - Online/Virtual, Mytilene, Greece Duration: 8 Jul 2020 → 10 Jul 2020 Conference number: 14th https://www.haisa.org/?page=home

Publication series

Name	IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology
Publisher	Springer
Volume	593
ISSN (Print)	1868-4238
ISSN (Electronic)	1868-422X

Conference

Conference	14th International Symposium on Human Aspects of Information Security & Assurance
Abbreviated title	HAISA 2020
Country/Territory	Greece
City	Mytilene
Period	8/07/20 → 10/07/20
Internet address	https://www.haisa.org/?page=home

Keywords

Passwords
Dyslexia
Authentication
Accessibility

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-030-57404-8_20

Renaud_Johnson_Ophoff_DyslexiaAndPassword_Accepted_2020Accepted author manuscript, 458 KB

Cite this

Renaud, K., Johnson, G., & Ophoff, J. (2020). Dyslexia and password usage: accessibility in authentication design. In N. Clarke, & S. Furnell (Eds.), Human Aspects of Information Security and Assurance: 14th IFIP WG 11.12 International Symposium, HAISA 2020, Mytilene, Lesbos, Greece, July 8–10, 2020, Proceedings (pp. 259-268). (IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology; Vol. 593). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57404-8_20

Renaud, Karen ; Johnson, Graham ; Ophoff, Jacques. / Dyslexia and password usage : accessibility in authentication design. Human Aspects of Information Security and Assurance: 14th IFIP WG 11.12 International Symposium, HAISA 2020, Mytilene, Lesbos, Greece, July 8–10, 2020, Proceedings. editor / Nathan Clarke ; Steven Furnell. Cham : Springer, 2020. pp. 259-268 (IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology).

@inproceedings{e446d941bbee4721aec9f3a256085fd3,

title = "Dyslexia and password usage: accessibility in authentication design",

abstract = "Governments and businesses are moving online with alacrity, driven by potential cost savings, changing consumer and citizen expectations, and the momentum towards general digital provision. Services are legally required to be inclusive and accessible. Now consider that almost every online service, where people have to identify themselves, requires a password. Passwords seem to be accessible, until one considers specific disabilities, one of which can lead to many challenges: dyslexia being a case in point. Dyslexia is associated with word processing and retention difficulties, and passwords are essentially words, phrases or alphanumeric combinations. We report on a literature review conducted to identify extant research into the impact of dyslexia on password usage, as well as any ameliorations that have been proposed. We discovered a relatively neglected field. We conclude with recommendations for future research into the needs of a large population of dyslexics who seem to struggle with passwords, in a world where avoiding passwords has become almost impossible. The main contribution of this paper is to highlight the difficulties dyslexics face with passwords, and to suggest some avenues for future research in this area. ",

author = "Karen Renaud and Graham Johnson and Jacques Ophoff",

year = "2020",

month = aug,

day = "21",

doi = "10.1007/978-3-030-57404-8_20",

language = "English",

isbn = "9783030574031",

series = "IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology",

publisher = "Springer",

pages = "259--268",

editor = "Nathan Clarke and Steven Furnell",

booktitle = "Human Aspects of Information Security and Assurance",

note = "14th International Symposium on Human Aspects of Information Security & Assurance, HAISA 2020 ; Conference date: 08-07-2020 Through 10-07-2020",

url = "https://www.haisa.org/?page=home",

}

Renaud, K, Johnson, G & Ophoff, J 2020, Dyslexia and password usage: accessibility in authentication design. in N Clarke & S Furnell (eds), Human Aspects of Information Security and Assurance: 14th IFIP WG 11.12 International Symposium, HAISA 2020, Mytilene, Lesbos, Greece, July 8–10, 2020, Proceedings. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol. 593, Springer, Cham, pp. 259-268, 14th International Symposium on Human Aspects of Information Security & Assurance, Mytilene, Greece, 8/07/20. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57404-8_20

Dyslexia and password usage : accessibility in authentication design. / Renaud, Karen; Johnson, Graham ; Ophoff, Jacques.

Human Aspects of Information Security and Assurance: 14th IFIP WG 11.12 International Symposium, HAISA 2020, Mytilene, Lesbos, Greece, July 8–10, 2020, Proceedings. ed. / Nathan Clarke; Steven Furnell. Cham : Springer, 2020. p. 259-268 (IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology; Vol. 593).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

TY - GEN

T1 - Dyslexia and password usage

T2 - 14th International Symposium on Human Aspects of Information Security & Assurance

AU - Renaud, Karen

AU - Johnson, Graham

AU - Ophoff, Jacques

N1 - Conference code: 14th

PY - 2020/8/21

Y1 - 2020/8/21

N2 - Governments and businesses are moving online with alacrity, driven by potential cost savings, changing consumer and citizen expectations, and the momentum towards general digital provision. Services are legally required to be inclusive and accessible. Now consider that almost every online service, where people have to identify themselves, requires a password. Passwords seem to be accessible, until one considers specific disabilities, one of which can lead to many challenges: dyslexia being a case in point. Dyslexia is associated with word processing and retention difficulties, and passwords are essentially words, phrases or alphanumeric combinations. We report on a literature review conducted to identify extant research into the impact of dyslexia on password usage, as well as any ameliorations that have been proposed. We discovered a relatively neglected field. We conclude with recommendations for future research into the needs of a large population of dyslexics who seem to struggle with passwords, in a world where avoiding passwords has become almost impossible. The main contribution of this paper is to highlight the difficulties dyslexics face with passwords, and to suggest some avenues for future research in this area.

AB - Governments and businesses are moving online with alacrity, driven by potential cost savings, changing consumer and citizen expectations, and the momentum towards general digital provision. Services are legally required to be inclusive and accessible. Now consider that almost every online service, where people have to identify themselves, requires a password. Passwords seem to be accessible, until one considers specific disabilities, one of which can lead to many challenges: dyslexia being a case in point. Dyslexia is associated with word processing and retention difficulties, and passwords are essentially words, phrases or alphanumeric combinations. We report on a literature review conducted to identify extant research into the impact of dyslexia on password usage, as well as any ameliorations that have been proposed. We discovered a relatively neglected field. We conclude with recommendations for future research into the needs of a large population of dyslexics who seem to struggle with passwords, in a world where avoiding passwords has become almost impossible. The main contribution of this paper is to highlight the difficulties dyslexics face with passwords, and to suggest some avenues for future research in this area.

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-030-57404-8_20

DO - 10.1007/978-3-030-57404-8_20

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 9783030574031

T3 - IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology

SP - 259

EP - 268

BT - Human Aspects of Information Security and Assurance

A2 - Clarke, Nathan

A2 - Furnell, Steven

PB - Springer

CY - Cham

Y2 - 8 July 2020 through 10 July 2020

ER -

Renaud K, Johnson G , Ophoff J. Dyslexia and password usage: accessibility in authentication design. In Clarke N, Furnell S, editors, Human Aspects of Information Security and Assurance: 14th IFIP WG 11.12 International Symposium, HAISA 2020, Mytilene, Lesbos, Greece, July 8–10, 2020, Proceedings. Cham: Springer. 2020. p. 259-268. (IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology). Epub 2020 Aug 21. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-57404-8_20

Dyslexia and password usage: accessibility in authentication design

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this