Newsletter issue #31 - 2nd October 2006
This issue
Hello and welcome to the October edition of the Webcredible newsletter!
In this issue:
- Feature article: The future of web accessibility
- Top tip: Use sub-headings effectively
- Useful program: Browsercam
- Top link: Before and after demonstration
- New articles in September
- Webcredible news in September
Enjoy!
Feature article: The future of web accessibility
Accessibility is currently in a great state of change. New technologies (often utilising AJAX) are generating never-before seen accessibility issues requiring innovative accessibility solutions. On top of this, the second version of the W3C accessibility guidelines is soon to be officially released. So what does this mean for the future of accessibility? Read this month's feature article to find out...
Read this article in full at www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources/web-accessibility/future.shtml.
Top tip: Use sub-headings effectively
The use of sub-headings to break up content is absolutely crucial for both usability and accessibility. Web users can scan through sub-headings on any page to find what they're looking for more quickly and easily. Be sure to use sub-headings to their full effect by following some of these guidelines:
- Stand out from regular text In order for users to actually spot sub-headings, make sure they're at least two point sizes larger than regular text. You can also use a different colour to make them stand out further, either by changing the text colour or by using a background colour. Finally, ensure there's plenty of white space both above and below the heading.
- Used frequently There's no hard and fast rule about exactly how frequently sub-headings should be used, but as a general rule of thumb try to insert a sub-heading every 3 to 4 paragraphs. This is just a general guideline and shouldn't be stringently adhered to. It's far more important to insert a sub-heading when the content topic changes.
- Make sense out of context When scanning through a page, web users can utilise sub-headings to quickly hone in on the information they're after. If each sub-heading is descriptive of the content beneath it then users only need to look at the headings when scanning the page. Non-descript headings will force your site visitors to have to read the text underneath the heading to gain an idea of the content theme in that section.
Useful program: Browsercam
Want to quickly and easily check the appearance of your website on over 50 different browsers? Well, Browsercam could be just the thing your after. Simply type in a URL and the program will take screenshots of your site on all major (and many minor) browsers.
You can use this program at www.browsercam.com.
Top link: Before and after demonstration
The before and after demonstration, provided by the W3C, is an interesting example of two websites that appear to be identical. Look closer though, and you'll see that one is highly inaccessible whilst the other offers a pretty good level of accessibility. Explanations and reasoning behind the differences are provided.
Check out this site at www.w3.org/WAI/EO/2005/Demo.
New articles in September
Read this and many other articles at www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources.
Webcredible news in September
- Good to meet you all at ad:tech!
- Online travel sector usability report available
- Two new Webcredibles cartoons go live
- Accessibility seminar a resounding success
- Accessibility in 2006 seminar now sold out!
- New head of web development appointed
Read these news stories in full at www.webcredible.co.uk/about-us/latest-news.shtml.
We're recruiting!
Webcredible currently has two job vacancies, for a senior usability consultant and a usability consultant! If you want a hands-on role managing your own usability projects then read about our senior usability consultant and usability consultant vacancy.
Training courses
Courses continue to sell out well in advance! Our next training courses will take place in our training centre in Aldgate, London in October and November:
- Usability testing training - Monday 2nd October. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our usability testing training page.
- Writing for the web training - Tuesday 3rd October & Tuesday 7th November. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our writing for the web training page.
- Web usability training - Wednesday 4th October & Wednesday 8th November. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our web usability training page.
- Web accessibility training - Thursday 5th October & Thursday 9th November. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our web accessibility training page.
- Advanced CSS training - Friday 6th October & Friday 10th November. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our advanced CSS training page.
About Webcredible
Based in London, UK, Webcredible is a user experience consultancy. Tailor-made usability, accessibility & design solutions include:
- User-centered design
- Accessible web design
- CMS services
- Usability
- Accessibility
- Training
- Website review lite
Please contact us on 0870 242 6095 or info at webcredible.co.uk, or consult www.webcredible.co.uk for further information.