Tag Archives: design
Designing Accessible Websites – The Growing Importance and Needs
An accessible website is one that can be reached and used by all users, irrespective of any physical disability they might have or the manner in which they use the internet. This is a sufficiently important condition which has become a legal requirement for certain websites in many countries, especially the U.S., and typically government sites.
An accessible website has business significance because current figures indicate that disabled users constitute between 10% and 20% of the population of most countries. These numbers do not include those who are marginally challenged to whom an accessible website would provide a more rewarding internet experience. Another consideration is the average age of users which is steadily increasing in most countries. With advancing years a number of issues arise such as changes in vision and hearing and a steady decline in dexterity and memory. All told the number of internet users who would benefit from more accessible websites would stand at around 30% of the population, a figure that no business can afford to ignore. Let us consider some of the more common issues involved.
Visually Disabled Users
Visually disabled could range from color blind to completely blind. Partially blind users have difficulty in grasping images which do not carry a text description of what they contain. A visually impaired user who is unable to see the image cannot comprehend what it is, or what it is trying to convey. Color blind users are sometimes unable to distinguish design elements, as well as text, from the surrounding elements which might include background or page color, since the two colors may not contrast sufficiently. Problems could also arise with sites not designed to enable viewing through a screen reader, which is a web browser that reads text aloud from websites. Frequently an attractive website can be quite indistinct when heard through a screen reader.
Hearing impairments
An accessible website has to accommodate users with impaired hearing. Hearing impaired users are unable to grasp information and data which is audio communicated. A simple solution is to provide an image or text description in addition, as a backup.
Physical disabilities
It is difficult to a person not physically disabled to understand how a website can be accessed without using a mouse. The needs of such disabled users should be addressed with website input and navigation methods which make the site accessible and user friendly.
Cognitive and Neurological Disabilities
An overly complex design makes a website confusing to most normal users, much more those with cognitive and neurological disorders. Such sites are completely beyond the comprehension of such users. Simplicity is the key to an effective website, more so if it is to be accessible to the broadest possible spectrum of users including those with cognitive and neurological disorders.
Several groups worldwide are focused on highlighting accessibility issues. They provide help and guidance to those who want to design accessible websites. One concerned group is the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) which has published guidelines and standards for accessible websites.
Web Design Company Helps to Set Your Goals!
Nowadays having a website and promoting your products on the global market is becoming more frequent. The internet is giving many opportunities for business to promote products and services through it. It has become easy for an entrepreneur to reach out to their target audience easily through the medium of their website. However initiating a website is not enough when you are looking for quality visitors and more revenue.
For all this, you need to spend some money for designing and development of the website. If you are looking for great success in online world then getting a good web design company to your help is important. One thing that has to be kept in mind is that websites are your calling card therefore you need you need a website having professional look so that more visitors get attracted to your websites. In addition, browser compatibility is important this can only be achieved by hiring a web design company.
Often the web design company will work on the designing and development part of your website and can bring quality web based solutions for your online business. It is always better for you to clear all your requirements and budget before you opt for Web Design Company.
So choosing a company, which can provide you all web design services in your package with fulfilling your requirements? Here I show you may accomplish your task:
First, are you needed to know your objectives and establish few goals for designing a website? In goal, setting the company you will hire for the work will help you certainly. Before you opt for Website Design Company, you must analyze some questions like what is exact purpose of your website. Are you determined to sell products or services? What exactly you are expecting from your visitors? What are your prospects looking for in your website?
Soon you find yourself at better situation where you can select deign company for your purpose. Most of the business small or large does not have in house expertise to design their websites themselves and need to contract work out to the external design company. Importance of the professionally designed site is essential. The poorly designed or outdated website will have the negative impact on the companys brand as well as drive the customers far away to the competitors. The companys website is a way product and services can be seen by customers and also a way to get in touch with prospects.
There is not any shortage of web design firms in the market and the level of services that are offered differ from one company to other. No matter whether your website is designed independently or by a firm, you may have to consider some issues prior to make the right decision. Achieving the goal set by you or desired by you is only possible if you consider the things discussed.
Designing Accessible Websites – The Growing Importance and Needs
An accessible website is one that can be reached and used by all users, irrespective of any physical disability they might have or the manner in which they use the internet. This is a sufficiently important condition which has become a legal requirement for certain websites in many countries, especially the U.S., and typically government sites.
An accessible website has business significance because current figures indicate that disabled users constitute between 10% and 20% of the population of most countries. These numbers do not include those who are marginally challenged to whom an accessible website would provide a more rewarding internet experience. Another consideration is the average age of users which is steadily increasing in most countries. With advancing years a number of issues arise such as changes in vision and hearing and a steady decline in dexterity and memory. All told the number of internet users who would benefit from more accessible websites would stand at around 30% of the population, a figure that no business can afford to ignore. Let us consider some of the more common issues involved.
Visually Disabled Users
Visually disabled could range from color blind to completely blind. Partially blind users have difficulty in grasping images which do not carry a text description of what they contain. A visually impaired user who is unable to see the image cannot comprehend what it is, or what it is trying to convey. Color blind users are sometimes unable to distinguish design elements, as well as text, from the surrounding elements which might include background or page color, since the two colors may not contrast sufficiently. Problems could also arise with sites not designed to enable viewing through a screen reader, which is a web browser that reads text aloud from websites. Frequently an attractive website can be quite indistinct when heard through a screen reader.
Hearing impairments
An accessible website has to accommodate users with impaired hearing. Hearing impaired users are unable to grasp information and data which is audio communicated. A simple solution is to provide an image or text description in addition, as a backup.
Physical disabilities
It is difficult to a person not physically disabled to understand how a website can be accessed without using a mouse. The needs of such disabled users should be addressed with website input and navigation methods which make the site accessible and user friendly.
Cognitive and Neurological Disabilities
An overly complex design makes a website confusing to most normal users, much more those with cognitive and neurological disorders. Such sites are completely beyond the comprehension of such users. Simplicity is the key to an effective website, more so if it is to be accessible to the broadest possible spectrum of users including those with cognitive and neurological disorders.
Several groups worldwide are focused on highlighting accessibility issues. They provide help and guidance to those who want to design accessible websites. One concerned group is the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) which has published guidelines and standards for accessible websites.