tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10590469913616092462024-03-17T20:02:44.927-07:00Web Accessibility RamblesWeb Accessibility and User Experience news, thoughts and advice.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-31808831093957749252010-11-10T03:21:00.000-08:002010-11-10T03:27:40.334-08:00A new web accessibility Standard BS 8878 : Web accessibility. Building accessible experiences for disabled people. Code of practiceBy the end of November 2010, we should have a new web accessibility standard. The new document has been developed by the British Standards Institution (BSi) and will be known as BS 8878 : "Web accessibility. Building accessible experiences for disabled people. Code of practice". Several copies of the draft documents can be found here : http://www.bsigroup.com/en/Standards-and-Publications/Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-63945571404926271552010-08-25T08:47:00.000-07:002010-08-25T09:22:14.265-07:00Social networking & the Internet is beginning to scare me...Although this post is not strictly about Web Accessibility or the online User Experience, I thought it may be of interest to my readers. The thing is, social networking and the Internet is beginning to scare me. A few weeks ago I received an email which recommended I become ‘linked-in’ with several people. The people were a mixture of work colleagues from all different sources- people who I have Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-72590639715178687582010-08-14T01:54:00.000-07:002010-08-14T02:53:22.498-07:00iPhone 4 Accessibility featuresAs I am sure you are all aware by now, the iPhone 4 launched on 24th June 2010 in the UK. It certainly looks like a great device (despite the initial teething issues…), although I am trying my hardest to resist one. For me, Apple’s world domination is becoming rather unnerving... This said, I have been extremely impressed with the accessibility features built into the iPhone 4. Apple’s continued Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-6477231638759317312010-07-31T03:07:00.000-07:002010-07-31T03:15:27.744-07:00Revised Web Accessibility regulations in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)Last week (on July 23rd 2010), the United States Department of Justice issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) regarding (amongst other things) new regulations of how the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) should be applied to the Internet. Please see the full ANPRM here : http://www.ada.gov/anprm2010.htmHere is a passage from the 'Department of Justice' press release:“We are Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-61684185908527873732010-05-08T04:43:00.000-07:002010-05-08T04:48:59.551-07:00The Accessibility of Javascript hyperlinksStatement : Using Javascript for hyperlinks will cause accessibility issues. Approximately 5% of Internet uses will not use, or will not have JavaScript functionality enabled in their web browsers. This basically means that these people will be excluded from using your webpage to its full potential if it is coded using non-accessible JavaScript hyperlink techniques.Simple solution : Use real Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-16961465816269567032010-02-13T03:32:00.000-08:002010-02-13T04:42:51.090-08:00Relative font sizes Vs. Browser zoom functionalityI was recently asked a question about whether we can rely solely on the browsers inbuilt zoom functionality instead of using relative fonts in our web design. This is an issue which seems to have two strongly conflicting schools of thought… here was my response, please let me know your views on the subject :-----To be honest, I don't think there is a straight answer. However on the whole, I wouldUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-7167380971870998112010-01-16T05:38:00.000-08:002010-01-16T05:51:03.852-08:00Apple Computers are infuriating... according to FHM UKOk, so this post is not strictly related to web accessibility or user experience. I just wanted to share with you what the UK’s FHM magazine thinks about Apple Computers. The following quote was included in the February 2010 edition in an article about infuriating things in 2009. Apple computers appeared alongside Facebook, Cocaine, Celebrity perfumes and Barack Obama… Apple computers“Despite theUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-59221719197911465572009-12-22T01:36:00.000-08:002009-12-22T01:40:22.139-08:00My website is down : Alternative contact detailsUnfortunately, my website (http://www.simplicityuserexperience.co.uk/) is down today. There is an issue with my web host… grr.If you need to contact me, please email me at info@simplicityuserexperiece.co.uk or DM me on Twitter on @simplicityUX. I am offering some unbeatable rates over this festive period, so don't be shy! Best regards,Charlie MUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-69497582040316247332009-12-09T01:42:00.000-08:002009-12-09T01:48:59.139-08:00Charlie M featured in this weeks 'Show Me Your Dock'Morning readers,Just a quick post to say that I am featured in this week's 'Show Me Your Dock' on Grace Smith's superb blog. Check it out!Also, please let me take this opportunity to let you know that Simplicity is offering up to 75% off our usual rates in the run up to Christmas. Don't hesitate to get in touch for a quote!Happy browsing!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-87788165812997211162009-12-03T00:59:00.000-08:002009-12-03T01:12:11.995-08:00Is Accessibility becoming more mainstream?Over the past few months I have seen a change in the accessibility world. Several large companies I’ve been involved with have adopted accessibility regimes, and I‘ve had an much easier job convincing clients that accessibility is an important requirement of web projects. The latter in particular has knocked me for six… it used to be such a struggle! My technophobe mother even understands how Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-20890660072907159522009-11-30T05:43:00.000-08:002009-11-30T05:50:09.609-08:00Online Poll : Examples of websites with good 'accessibility' and good 'usability'On a regular basis, I am asked for examples of websites that provide good accessibility, good usability, or a combination of both. I certainly have a few personal favourites, but I would like to throw this question out to the Internet…There are two main polls :1) Which website do you think is an example of good ‘usability’?2) Which website do you think is an example of good ‘accessibility’?For Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-68388847009908211842009-11-29T03:16:00.000-08:002009-11-29T03:28:11.596-08:00Title text on text linksFollowing a discussion I had with a colleague on Friday, I have decided to post a few paragraphs on the topic of using 'title text' on textual hyperlinks in HTML.In one of the corporate websites I am working on, title text (the title attribute of the HTML anchor tag) is everywhere. You can't move your cursor without title text popping up left, right and center. What makes this worse, is that the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-34057328106235857422009-11-09T06:54:00.000-08:002009-11-09T07:08:26.774-08:00Microsoft Accessibility Roundtable – Sharepoint 2010Today I visited the Microsoft offices in London to participate in a meeting concentrating on the accessibility improvements included in the upcoming release of Sharepoint 2010.Sharepoint 2007 was plagued with issues and as a result, producing accessible web content was and still is very difficult. Consequently, HiSoftware have produced an ‘Accessibility Kit for Sharepoint’ that aims to repair Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-82661335011108533682009-10-27T14:04:00.000-07:002009-10-27T14:15:20.327-07:00Web Accessibility discussed on 'Click On' show (BBC Radio 4)Here is an interesting radio article about the importance of Web Accessibility & the new Web Accessibility standard "BS 8878 British Standard For Accessible Websites". The show is hosted by Simon Cox and is joined by Léonie Watson (Nomensa) and Bim Egan (RNIB). The show can heard by clicking here : http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ndzw4This is the show writeup from the BBC website:"While ramps Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-44494631663567714742009-10-22T14:49:00.000-07:002009-10-24T01:23:18.602-07:00Jaws 11 - what's new?So, Jaws 11 has now been released bringing additional exciting and innovative functionality for screenreader users. The full new version is now shipping to coincide with the release of Windows 7 : Jaws 11 Download link (http://www.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWS-whats-new.asp#download)The new features are thoroughly documented at : http://www.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-55620070488575405472009-10-17T02:05:00.000-07:002009-10-17T02:26:52.692-07:00Google AccessibilityThis week Google have launched "Google Accessibility"- a new website which will be a central resource for all their existing accessibility documentation & information. "Google Accessibility" enables us to follow all their updates from one place (RSS feed is available), and perhaps most importantly will allow us provide our feedback on all their services.This is a another great step forward for Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-22973590105029680692009-10-06T03:24:00.000-07:002009-10-06T03:31:09.200-07:00Accessibility 2.0Here is a link to a great write up of the Accessibility 2.0 event (written by Liz at Pancentric Blogs : http://blogs.pancentric.com/2009/10/05/accessibility-2-0/). I particularly like the concluding paragraph : "The conclusion I’ve drawn from this conference is that the responsibility of ensuring our sites can be used by everybody needs to be taken away from the developers and laid down at the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-46693241268103726252009-09-25T06:28:00.000-07:002009-09-25T06:34:46.375-07:00List-based navigation menu generatorI have just stumbled across a generator to create custom list-based navigation menus. It allows you to modify the content, layout and presentation, and works really well! Give it a go!List-O-Matic : http://accessify.com/tools-and-wizards/developer-tools/list-o-matic/Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-85960164244940013602009-09-20T04:43:00.000-07:002009-09-20T04:53:51.102-07:00Web Accessibility / Web User Experience for Old UsersWeb Accessibility for Old Users is something which is often overlooked. Unfortunately, when we get older we often begin to loose some of our senses and mobility... vision declines, hearing becomes more difficult, movement can be reduced and cognition is often negatively effected. Therefore, Web Accessibility is likely to be important for most of us at some point! I will be writing about this Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-63410989697244286762009-09-17T09:04:00.000-07:002009-09-17T09:12:06.184-07:00Snow Leopard- Accessibility ImprovementsI have been trying to decide whether to update my Mac to Snow Leopard. To be honest, there does not seem to be many major improvements which I will benefit from, and I am a little concerned about losing my settings and preferences... can anyone reassure me?While researching the new Snow Leopard features I have seen several accessibility improvements, particularly for those with Physical Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-7502288626404968442009-08-18T05:40:00.000-07:002009-08-18T05:53:13.047-07:00Promotional OfferFor a limited time, 'Simplicity User Experience' are offering upto 75% off selected services including: - Accessibility Consultancy - expert advice, full website reviews, optimisation and testing. - Full website 'User Experience' review and optimisation. - Usability Consultancy - expert advice, full site reviews and usability optimisation.We are also offering FREE accessibility optimisation Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-52130489337062596432009-08-16T01:34:00.000-07:002009-08-16T02:03:58.761-07:00HTML headings for AccessibilityOne thing which is often overlooked in accessible webpage design is the correct use of HTML headings. The headings (coded as H1-H6 tags) are important for users who navigate webpages using screen readers, keyboard input, refreshable braille displays, voice commands and other assistive technologies. Headings basically enable users to navigate / scan a webpage more easily and quickly, by indicatingUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-42148732458521243722009-08-13T09:18:00.000-07:002009-08-13T09:39:22.835-07:00Colour Contrast / Color Contrast for AccessibilitySo, Colour Contrast.Some users with cognitive or visual impairments can have difficulty distinguishing and making sense of foreground text against certain background colours.I'm sure we have all been on websites where there is a terribly bold background pattern that prevents you from being able to read the text in the foreground. Many MySpace, Bebo and WYSIWYG personal webpages pages have this Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-59192339553488882922009-08-10T05:29:00.000-07:002009-08-13T10:03:35.516-07:00ALT and TITLE attributes for Accessibility & Web DesignI have been asked several questions about the use of ALT and TITLE attributes in webpage design recently, so thought I would write a brief summary here.'ALT text' or 'ALT attributes' (nb. not ALT 'tags' as many people call them) should be included on all non textual elements of your webpage, such as images. The ALT attribute should be provided as an alternative textual description for all Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059046991361609246.post-9376049098412767082009-08-09T02:55:00.000-07:002009-08-13T10:05:03.368-07:00Relative font sizes for accessibilityI wanted to do a really quick post on the accessibility benefits of using relative font sizes in web design. It is something which is usually easy to implement, yet is still often overlooked by designers. When presenting text on a webpage, there are various ways to specify the font size. Some argue it is best to leave the font size to the default size as specified by the browser, but for most Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2