Ninety seven percent of websites did not provide even minimum levels of accessibility, a new survey has found.
2006-12-05 20:00:45 · 13 answers · asked by Klamidia 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Internet
It is disgraceful, you're right. Put your money where your mouth is though - what are _you_ doing about it?
The group that seem to lose out most are the blind. Most other groups are catered for, but web designers don't seem to understand the importance of technologies like CSS that can help filter out all the endless tags and comments that a blind person must sit through while listening to their screen readers.
Rawlyn.
p.s. I really hope that these people that have posted such mocking answers lose the use of their legs one day. Cheap shots like that are PATHETIC.
2006-12-05 20:04:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
The internet is one of the most accessible resources especially for those confined to a house/home and even a bed. If making a few alterations to websites would make it even more accessible to these people then it should be done. There should be advice on what needs to be done as well. I'm surprised many websites have not already done this to widen their customer base.
2006-12-05 20:13:26 · answer #2 · answered by ehc11 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
As a webdesigner I am nodding my head at this.
I look at the sites that I host, and a lot of them are not even compatible will all browsers, let alone user with visual impairment.
The level is most likely 97% because the guidelines to be considered 'blind friendly' are very stringent, and so difficult to do. I only offer it to customers if they are very large, or are likely to attract disabled customers.
This sort of modification adds something like 30% to the price tag.
If you look at government sites, they are often very impairment friendly.
I have to say that disgusting may not be the right word for it. If you look at a 30% increase in cost for less than 1% increase in customers, it is difficult to justify that sort of cost for most businesses.
2006-12-05 21:23:14 · answer #3 · answered by peacehammer2006 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Not entirely. The websites of the major corperations should have easy access for disabled people, and most usually do.
Websites owned by small businesses and people on their own cannot afford the time or money necasary to make their websites available to all.
2006-12-05 20:12:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If it makes sense commercially to spend money on accessibility then it will happen. If not, it won't - such is the nature of capitalism.
In the USA there are 231,001,921 Internet users, of which 196,000 people have a severe visual impairment. Does anyone realistically expect 97% of the web to change to accommodate 0.08% of its users?
Surely the best solution lies in screen readers.
2006-12-05 20:52:04 · answer #5 · answered by Chris Beach 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have Cerebral Palsy and I have to say I've never had any problems regarding web access, neither has any of my other disabled friends. This "survey" sounds like it is propaganda to me. I'd check it out before I believed it. I use my computer for shopping, chatting, working and playing so I reckon I'd know if I couldn't access 97% of the web!!!!
2006-12-05 20:40:52 · answer #6 · answered by Pixxxie 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
We are also very much concerned after learning of these statistics. Thank you for your patience in this matter. We are working very hard to eliminate this problem and restore 100% functionallity*. Our customers are our greatest asset and we strive everyday to meet the demands of the public. We are constantly improving our equipment and changing to meet the needs of future growth. Again, thank you for your patience and understanding while we attend to this matter.
Sincerely,
WWW.
*Indicates a theoretical percentage in a poll consisting of 4 (four) highly paid employees and may or may not exist. Actual percentages may vary and are affected by the number of users at any given time.
2006-12-05 20:24:37 · answer #7 · answered by Jason C 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yahoo answers seems to be highly accessible to the disabled.
2006-12-05 20:12:11 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes! I mean, no one should be making them change their sites for others, but it would be GRAND if sites for big companies did it. Disabled people shop at their stores too, right?
I would be harder for sites with low budgets to do it, though, unless that was their plan for the start. :-o
2006-12-05 20:07:25 · answer #9 · answered by Jennifer Z 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ive heard the development of braile screens is underway.
2006-12-05 20:21:57 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋