Re: Revisited Download Time?

Hi Teajai

Been following this thread with interest, and thought I should mention a
problem re accessibility, even though it's not something you asked about
re the website.

The menu system can't be accessed using the keyboard, which is a major
problem for anyone who can't use a mouse or other pointing device (e.g.
blind users or those with mobility problems in their arms or hands).
And if the user has to increase the font size, the space available to
the main menu doesn't expand to accommodate the larger text.

While the law in the US might not require all websites to be fully
accessible to disabled people, you probably want to consider the
possible impression it would give to a potential client if they want to
know that you can create an accessible website, and find that your own
site isn't fully accessible.

What I normally suggest for menu systems like the one you've got on your
site is to make each of the top level menu items a link in its own right
(and one that can be tabbed to using the keyboard) which leads to an
intermediate, section "home" page which has the same links as those in
the drop down menu, but as static links presented on the page.  That way
keyboard users can access all of the links, as well as mouse users.  And
it might be a good idea to think about making the table structure
containing the top level menu more flexible to accommodate different
text sizes.

Cheers,
Donna
--
Donna Smillie
Best Practice Officer (Accessible Websites)
Royal National Institute of the Blind, UK

----- Original Message -----
From: Teajai Kimsey <tkimsey(at)budgetwebsitedesign.com>
To: Missy Scott <mbscott(at)d-assistance.com>; <hwg-techniques(at)hwg.org>
Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2003 3:26 PM
Subject: Re: Revisited Download Time?


> Missy;
>
> I agree with your comments on using other people's scripts -- that is
> exactly what comes into play here as well.  And you are right, there
are
> many people who really don't know about and don't care to know about
the
> down and dirty programming side. They just want to know that they will
have
> a good looking site that will get results.  And, of course, keeping
the cost
> in line.
>
> Thanks  for the comments!
>
> Teajai Kimsey
> Managing Partner
> Beyond Web Design
> www.bwdesignservices.com
> 316.944.8700
> Websites From Concept to Completion and Beyond
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Missy Scott" <mbscott(at)d-assistance.com>
> To: "Teajai Kimsey" <tkimsey(at)budgetwebsitedesign.com>;
> <hwg-techniques(at)hwg.org>
> Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2003 9:15 AM
> Subject: RE: Revisited Download Time?
>
>
> > TJ,
> >
> > I'm not having any trouble with download time, etc.  The menu looks
fine.
> > I'm on IE6, though.  Had a crash recently and have yet to reinstall
other
> > browsers to test.
> >
> > I would like to comment regarding using other people's scripts in
your
> > applications.  I think as long as you leave the credit in the code,
what's
> > the big deal?  If I were to write a script and offer it for free as
long
> as
> > you leave the copyright notice intact, I would expect others to come
> along
> > and take it.
> >
> > I'm also up-front with my clients on this.  I say, "OK, I can take a
month
> > and write this application for you or I can get a free one and
customize
> it
> > to your needs.  In the first instance, I'll own copyright on the
> application
> > and it'll take a month.  In the second, someone else will own
copyright
> and
> > it'll take two days.  Your choice."  I once did an entire intranet
for
> > someone that way.
> >
> > I don't know what kind of clients you guys all have, but mine walk
through
> > the door with budgets.  My clients could care less about my
abilities
> (most
> > don't understand what php or mysql is).  They want a site that fits
in
> their
> > budget, a designer who's honest with them, and someone who can be
reached
> > for questions and updates after the site is done.  They don't care
who
> wrote
> > the original application, only that they have license to use it
legally
> and
> > that it works and fits in with their website.
> >
> > Let us know how it goes!
> >
> > Missy
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-hwg-techniques(at)hwg.org
> > [mailto:owner-hwg-techniques(at)hwg.org]On Behalf Of Teajai Kimsey
> > Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2003 8:51 AM
> > To: hwg-techniques(at)hwg.org
> > Subject: Revisited Download Time?
> >
> >
> > Thank you all for the input.  The important questions are at the
top, the
> > debate is at the bottom.  :)
> >
> > Based on the responses I eliminated the scrolling text on the left
(at the
> > top level only for the purposes of this demonstration) to see if
that will
> > speed up the process.  Also, could it be that we have left the html
> version
> > of the index online as a redirct (because of search engines) and the
two
> > could be fighting it out?  If you care to check again and let me
know, the
> > web address follows again.
> >
> > I also got some messages about the menu bunching up.  For us, it
worked
> > pretty good in netscape 4.7 so we don't understand why it's bunching
in
> 6.2
> > and 7.0  (and maybe other versions newer than 4.7) Which brings me
to a
> > concern.  Don't AOL users have a netscape browser?  And are they
seeing it
> > the same way?
> > http://www.bwdesignservices.com
> >
> > So... could anyone with Netscape and / or AOL please look and see
what is
> > going on with the bunching?  I need a variety of browser versions so
I can
> > determine how much of the market is potentially seeing that bunched
up
> > effect.
> >
> > As for the issue of the scripts being from someone else, here's my
> thinking,
> > right, wrong or indifferent: As a business owner is it worth my
money to
> > pull an employee off of another project for the time it takes to
write
> that
> > script themselves when I can use something that is already written
and
> save
> > time ($).  My other projects will speak as well for my company
abilities
> as
> > my business page so I feel that the wide range of abilities is
already
> > shown.  Plus, some of my customers do come in with a budget in mind
and
> want
> > some "cool" effects, so when we demonstrate those and show them how
> > inexpensive it is we have added to the project at very little
additional
> > cost (sell them something, and sell them something else).  Just my 2
cents
> > and I appreciate the comments from several of you on the subject.
> >
> > Thanks for all of the input thus far.  It is really helping.
> >
> > Teajai Kimsey
> > Managing Partner
> > Beyond Web Design
> > www.bwdesignservices.com
> > 316.944.8700
> > Websites From Concept to Completion and Beyond
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>

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