Relative font sizes Vs. Browser zoom functionality
Saturday, 13 February 2010
I 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 :
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To be honest, I don't think there is a straight answer. However on the whole, I would say that relative font sizes are *still* important in accessible webdesign, particularly as you can never be sure who, or indeed, how the user will access your site.
Most of the modern browsers do have great "zoom" functionality. They use what is called "page zooming" which quite literally zooms in on the entire page (text, imagery, formatting, etc). However, some older browsers (IE6 springs to mind…) only gave the option to "text zoom". This scaled the text size up (or down) while maintaining the layout of the page. Since several old browsers are still used by some users, we should strive to support these older browsers as much as possible.
My opinion is that we should still code webpages using relative text sizes. This really gives the user (and the web designer to some extent) the ability to make their own choice as to whether they increase the size of the text alone (using text scaling) or zooming in on the page using "page zoom".
Relative font sizes can be fiddly to get right, but I usually find it pays off in the end. Some websites can display better if the text has been scaled, rather than zooming. One of the main reasons is that page zooming often results in horizontal scrolling, which I believe to be a usability no-no, particularly as it reduces page scannability. Admittedly, text scaling can make webpages look terrible (if the layout was not designed to be liquid) but it usually maintains the page dimensions and retains normal (vertical) scrolling.
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Posted byCharlie M at 03:32 0 comments
Labels: accessibility, browsers, discussion, fonts, relative, zoom
Apple Computers are infuriating... according to FHM UK
Saturday, 16 January 2010
Ok, 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 the temptation to hate them too, we reserve judgement on the iPod and iPhone. Apple’s dodgy little girls’ computers on the other hand, suck harder than a Murray Mint addict in a decompressurised airliner. Just because one architect thought it was clever not to use a PC back in the ‘70s anyone who so much as likes the Stereophonics uses a ‘Mac’ as a badge of creativity. “Newsflash”, as you Destiny’s Child-justifying morons would say: you’re not an artist, photographer or musician. You’re a mediocrity. “
Do you agree? Let me know what you think!
P.s. I love my Mac!
Posted byCharlie M at 05:38 1 comments
My website is down : Alternative contact details
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Unfortunately, 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 M
Posted byCharlie M at 01:36 0 comments
Labels: contact, Simplicity, website
Charlie M featured in this weeks 'Show Me Your Dock'
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
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!
Posted byCharlie M at 01:42 0 comments
Labels: Charlie M, Offer, Simplicity
Is Accessibility becoming more mainstream?
Thursday, 3 December 2009
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 important accessible design is now!
So, what has happened to change the mindset of big companies and designers about the importance of accessibility?
One mainstream global, commercial reference to the benefits of accessibility that I can think of was during the release of the Apple iPhone and Snow Leopard operating systems. The accessibility benefits / improvements of these products were clearly documented and advertised alongside the other product features. I have written about the accessibility improvements in both of these products in previous blog posts:
Apple iPhone Accessibility
Snow Leopard Accessibility improvements
To a lesser extent, Microsoft also highlighted the importance of accessibility in there release of the Windows 7 Operating System : http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/accessibility
Without a shadow of a doubt, social networking, blogging and especially twitter have all had their part to play in the ‘education of accessibility’ too. Accessibility literature seems to be everywhere!
Although the mainstream knowledge of accessibility is a great step forward, there is still a long way to go. In my experience, accessibility features may be implemented more frequently in web design projects, but often with little understanding of the reasons why such features are important. This can create a difficult (dangerous?) position where designers believe that they have fulfilled the accessibility requirements of the project without truly producing accessible, usable products. Sometimes, poorly implemented 'accessibility features' can be more difficult to use than none at all.
Can you think of any other mainstream advertisements / mentions of the importance of accessibility?
Have you also noticed a change in the acceptance of accessible design?
I would be very interested to hear your thoughts and comments.
Also, please don’t forget to contribute to my recent online poll to find the most accessible, and most usable websites…
Online Poll : Examples of websites with good 'accessibility' and good 'usability'
Thanks!
Posted byCharlie M at 00:59 0 comments
Labels: accessibility, benefits, mainstream
Online Poll : Examples of websites with good 'accessibility' and good 'usability'
Monday, 30 November 2009
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 each question, please either email me or add a comment to this blog post providing the website URL, and an optional explanation of why you are nominating this particular site. Please note that you do not need to answer both questions.
I will collate the results and report back by the end of the year. The results should be interesting!
Please pass this blog post on to your friends and colleagues… The more examples of ‘usable’ and ‘accessible’ sites we receive, the more conclusive our results will be!
Posted byCharlie M at 05:43 6 comments
Labels: accessibility, online poll, usability
Title text on text links
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Following 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 title text is the same as the hyperlink text- this is unnecessary duplication, and just adds 'noise' to the website.
My colleague said that this "aids accessibility for blind user's", but it clearly doesn't. In fact, screen readers such as JAWS do not read title text as a default setting. This functionality has to be configured manually (through the JAWS verbosity options window).
The basic rule of thumb is : Title text should only be used to provide more information about the link destination. Use with caution, and certainly don't just duplicate the link text in the title attribute.
Title text is misused in many websites… don't let yours be one of them!
Please let me know if you have and thoughts or comments on this topic.
Posted byCharlie M at 03:16 0 comments
Labels: accessibility, html, TITLE attributes