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http://techrepublic.com.com/5138-3513-6002416.html
Does your organization's Web site make accommodations for the visually impaired? Why not?
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Wouldn't it be nice if TR implemented this?!
I've tried changing the text size in Firefox. I makes all of your other web commands write over each other.
I use opera to view TR because I can zoom the entire web page, not just the text size as in Firefox.
Unfortunately your blog editor doesn't work in opera so I have to use Firefox to make entries in the blogs.
I've tried changing the text size in Firefox. I makes all of your other web commands write over each other.
I use opera to view TR because I can zoom the entire web page, not just the text size as in Firefox.
Unfortunately your blog editor doesn't work in opera so I have to use Firefox to make entries in the blogs.
My personal opinion is that TechRepublic needs an overhaul - of course that takes lots of resources in time and labor.
Maybe someday (fingers-crossed)
Maybe someday (fingers-crossed)
My organization's website does make accommodations for the visually impaired for many reasons:
1) I designed it that way (I am the designer) from the beginning to be forward compatible with changes to standards, and to keep my major future website changes to a minimum.
2) We are a small sized business and we did not want to lose any potential customers.
3) Many of our customers in our End User division tend to be older education professionals.
http://www.gravic.com/
Any comments/suggestions would be appreciated.
Note: Although I did plan for accommodations for the visually impaired, I do realize that at the largest text size some of the site structure does change a bit. This is due to additions to the horizontal bar, I did not plan for. (hope this helps someone else)
1) I designed it that way (I am the designer) from the beginning to be forward compatible with changes to standards, and to keep my major future website changes to a minimum.
2) We are a small sized business and we did not want to lose any potential customers.
3) Many of our customers in our End User division tend to be older education professionals.
http://www.gravic.com/
Any comments/suggestions would be appreciated.
Note: Although I did plan for accommodations for the visually impaired, I do realize that at the largest text size some of the site structure does change a bit. This is due to additions to the horizontal bar, I did not plan for. (hope this helps someone else)
Many of my customers are seniors who are active computer users. I wish to redesign my web site to include impaired accomodations, visual and hearing alike.
I have not attempted the sample code, which mentions buttons. However, I did check out the Gravic and PrincipiaProducts sites. I must have misunderstood this article. I found no trace where adjustments can be made (buttons or instructions). One thing I do know is that if you are dealing with seniors, you had best make it as plain as day.
SO, what did I miss? And what would I need to include Volume Control, including on/off.
I have not attempted the sample code, which mentions buttons. However, I did check out the Gravic and PrincipiaProducts sites. I must have misunderstood this article. I found no trace where adjustments can be made (buttons or instructions). One thing I do know is that if you are dealing with seniors, you had best make it as plain as day.
SO, what did I miss? And what would I need to include Volume Control, including on/off.
I apologize if I was unclear. I was referring to the fact using your browser you could scale the text larger or smaller.
While its true there are no controls on the website itself, if a senior has their browser set for larger text, when they get to our site it will change all of the text to a larger size to help readability.
(On IE, click: View > Text Size > Larger)
Sorry for any confusion.
While its true there are no controls on the website itself, if a senior has their browser set for larger text, when they get to our site it will change all of the text to a larger size to help readability.
(On IE, click: View > Text Size > Larger)
Sorry for any confusion.
Wrong, wrong, wrong. Display settings such as text size should be a function of each individual's display device, not a function controlled by web site code.
Most people who need text size change just use Microsoft Magnifier and Macintosh Zoom. They're free and built-in to every PC.
Putting text size control on a web site only changes the text size of that web site. And it results in each web site having a different text size and a different control to change text size. Why would a person want each web site to have a different text size, and a different text size control command? Magnifier and Zoom enlarge everything on the screen and are consistant no matter what web site you are visiting.
As far as I can tell these scripts to put text size control into a web site are nothing more than hollow attempts to give the impression that you are trying to do something about disability access, when in fact they do not provide what people really need.
If you care about web access, make web sites that work on a variety of display resolutions and display sizes, then let the user use the display device that works best for them. Don't pretend to provide text size change to the user when the user's display already takes care of that.
Most people who need text size change just use Microsoft Magnifier and Macintosh Zoom. They're free and built-in to every PC.
Putting text size control on a web site only changes the text size of that web site. And it results in each web site having a different text size and a different control to change text size. Why would a person want each web site to have a different text size, and a different text size control command? Magnifier and Zoom enlarge everything on the screen and are consistant no matter what web site you are visiting.
As far as I can tell these scripts to put text size control into a web site are nothing more than hollow attempts to give the impression that you are trying to do something about disability access, when in fact they do not provide what people really need.
If you care about web access, make web sites that work on a variety of display resolutions and display sizes, then let the user use the display device that works best for them. Don't pretend to provide text size change to the user when the user's display already takes care of that.
While I agree with a lot of your posting, I can't agree that..."Most people who need text size change just use Microsoft Magnifier and Macintosh Zoom. They're free and built-in to every PC."
They are built-in, but I know of no-one who uses either of these. My sight is limited, but I use the Firefox text-resizer plugin.
The Magnifier
a) needs to be activated, which means
b) it needs to be tracked down, which means
c) it needs to be known about,
and then it needs to be configured before use! I know of no-one who knows about Magnifier.
Text-size can also be controlled by mousewheel, but again I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of people I know who know that!
So, text-size changers placed on a web page may or may not not be the best thing since sliced bread, but if they are there they *might* be useful, so I'd say that for the amount of space/code involved, I can't see what real harm they do. Let the user choose to ignore or use - just like magnifier and/or mouse wheels.
They are built-in, but I know of no-one who uses either of these. My sight is limited, but I use the Firefox text-resizer plugin.
The Magnifier
a) needs to be activated, which means
b) it needs to be tracked down, which means
c) it needs to be known about,
and then it needs to be configured before use! I know of no-one who knows about Magnifier.
Text-size can also be controlled by mousewheel, but again I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of people I know who know that!
So, text-size changers placed on a web page may or may not not be the best thing since sliced bread, but if they are there they *might* be useful, so I'd say that for the amount of space/code involved, I can't see what real harm they do. Let the user choose to ignore or use - just like magnifier and/or mouse wheels.
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No need to code it. Just press Ctrl++ to increase the text size and Ctrl+- to decrease the text size.
Let's hope IE 7.0 has something comparible.
-Tony
Let's hope IE 7.0 has something comparible.
-Tony
There are some sites like TR that hard code the position of various elements on the page. When you increase the font size the text from one line overwrites the text or graphics of other lines. You end up with a jumble of graphics and messages that are written over each other. And borders end up hiding search boxes and action buttons that have text.
Now if TR coded relative positions and sized as html was designed to do instead of absolute positions and sizes then the browser would make the page look better regardless of text size. I have found that Opera is much better for resizing web pages. Instead of just increasing the text size it increases the size of the entire page. Opera's zoom is a lot like the zoom of a picture viewer. This keeps page components sized and spaced properly.
Now if TR coded relative positions and sized as html was designed to do instead of absolute positions and sizes then the browser would make the page look better regardless of text size. I have found that Opera is much better for resizing web pages. Instead of just increasing the text size it increases the size of the entire page. Opera's zoom is a lot like the zoom of a picture viewer. This keeps page components sized and spaced properly.
i tried firefox and it crashed my pc. had to rebuild the whole thing. when i installed it my java got screwed up and deleted all of my fonts. i reloaded my fonts and everytime i restarted they dropped again and again. i had to do a clean install just to make xp run right again. it took me a week to save everything before i wiped my pc. if i could i'd sue mozilla for their crappy firefox.
I have installed Firefox on my two PCs (XP) & a laptop(Win2000) at at home and five PCs(XP) at work all the PCs had Java on them as well as various IDEs. I have never had a problem nor have any of the other software developers or end users.
Cheers
Cheers
Why re-inventing the hot water? All webdesigners should know that the W3C has guidelines for this!
Both IE and FF offer functions to change the text size, it's up to the webdesigners to use the right code. Use CSS, avoid absolute positioning and absolute text sizes and all should work fine!
As for the senior users, they should be tought these browser functions! That's where the guys who teach them go wrong...
Both IE and FF offer functions to change the text size, it's up to the webdesigners to use the right code. Use CSS, avoid absolute positioning and absolute text sizes and all should work fine!
As for the senior users, they should be tought these browser functions! That's where the guys who teach them go wrong...
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