 |
 |
Please note: this is not intended to be criticizm. But I think this needs to be added to your 'primer on html: designer vs viewer.' Besides accessibility the web page designer needs to take into account readability. In today's world, most computer users are familiar with pages containing graphics and colors pleasing to the eye. When you design a web page you need to keep 'balance' in mind and make the page as attractive but still utilitarian -- otherwise, you will lose the majority of the people who stop to browse. And you can always offer the 'customer' a text-only version if they have problems loading graphics. '..........or plain text in a preferred font in a preferred size' The font recommended most is Times New Roman. In looking at your page source, the font you're using is New Courier, and is rather indistinct, kind of a typewriter version when you need a new ribbon. I would at least experiment a little making the type on your pages in bold for those of us who may have vision problems - even changing the background color would help. It's also recommended once you've developed your webpage, try it out in different web browsers to make sure fonts look OK and everything works. Another important thing easily forgotten is to retest your links periodically to make sure they still work. Computer users get easily discouraged if they try a few links and get errors - or nothing at all. They may not return to your page to see if everything is operable. It doesn't hurt us to adapt to new things, new practices. We never stop learning, do we? You have so much useful and needed info collected on your pages, it's a shame more people don't take advantage of them. I'm guess I'm thinking of myself and others (some of your 'customers' )-who skip your pages because of the way they are formatted. Think about it. Looking at a monitor screen is not like reading a good book. Not only are monitors hard on your eyes, but using a stark white background and thin indistinct type makes it hard to concentrate and you lose interest in reading the content. As you know I offered help to Murray. Murray made some changes which improved readability. Murray said I should have offered the same suggestions and help to you - and I have done this. If you aren't interested in any assistance then sobeit. As you said: the end-users or the 'customers', i.e. you and me and the blind lady down the street call the shots......' So if you are happy, and your friends are happy, then retain the status quo. But if you're interested in improving your website so it attracts more people to educate them on PD, I'm still here. My offer remains open. Barb K At 01:53 PM 9/27/00 -0400, you wrote: >hi all: > >html >hyper text markup language >was developed for the world wide web >for universal access to many kinds of documents >by many kinds of computers and other 'platforms' eg cellular phones >by many kinds of people > >html designers are advised to create pages >with accessibility foremost in mind > >the end-user has the final 'say' in how the page looks depending on: >whichever techno gadget s/he is using >(eg 19" monster monitor, or the mini-tv in the kitchen) >and >whichever specific viewing needs the end-user may have >(eg pages as designed with whiz bang fonts and grraphics >or plain text in a preferred font in a preferred size) > >on the wwweb >the end-users or the 'customers', >i.e. you and me and the blind lady down the street >call the shots > > >janet >janet paterson >53 now / 44 dx cd / 43 onset cd / 41 dx pd / 37 onset pd >TEL: 613 256 8340 URL: http://www.geocities.com/janet313/ >EMAIL: [log in to unmask] SMAIL: PO Box 171 Almonte Ontario K0A 1A0 Canada