For some of us, reading the manual is conceding defeat.
Microsoft recently announced a reversal in Internet Explorer (IE) 8’s expected default rendering behaviour.
Instead of IE8 automatically implementing IE7’s rendering when showing pages requesting “Standards” mode, it will now use its own (IE8) Standards mode. Developers who want their pages shown IE7 Standards mode will need to request this explicitly.
Microsoft Reverse Versioning Decision in IE8: continue reading …
Julie Howell, Director of Accessibility at digital design agency Fortune Cookie, will deliver the keynote speech at Headstar’s E-Access ‘08 conference in London on 23rd April 2008.
Now in its forth year, and described by Headstar as “bigger and better than ever
“, E-Access ‘08 will provide delegates with a unique opportunity to hear about the very latest trends in web accessibility from some of the world’s foremost experts on disabled people’s access to technology.
Web accessibility standardisation and access to the world of social networking will be on the agenda, which features a presentation from Simon Stevens of the virtual community Second Life.
Released in March 2006, Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 78 - “Guide to good practice in commissioning accessible websites” - was developed in order to tackle some of the confusion surrounding web accessibility. It is not a replacement for the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) but is a non-technical document which aims to assist site owners and managers by describing the role of standards and user testing within site development.
But, although developed by the British Standards Institute (BSi), a PAS is not a standard. It is a sponsored piece of work that can be made available quickly to suit the market need of the developers and users of a product, process or service. In comparison, a full standard requires several more stages of development and a full consensus before it can be published. However, a PAS - which must be reviewed every two years - can be the first step in the creation of a formal standard.
AbilityNet have just released their latest State of the eNation Report which, this time, focuses on social networking websites.
Social networking sites - such as Bebo and MySpace - may be revolutionising internet communication and creating new and exciting opportunities in both leisure and business, but AbilityNet’s examination of five of the most popular sites shows that millions of disabled people can’t even register - let alone participate in the rich on-line communities that these sites offer.
Disabled People Want Friends Too: continue reading …