To be honest, in nearly two-years of designing and developing Web sites, I've never thought of using nor been requested to use a text-resizer widget. I'm unsure if that is a good thing or not, but personally, I find it astonishing, and perhaps telling, that it has never come to mind, especially as someone who prides himself on following Web standard and accessibility guidelines.
Which suddenly reminds me: in the countless articles discussing these principles, from ALA to WaSP, I've personally never encountered one discussing or recommending the use of such a resizing scheme. Take that for what it's worth. I've read through everyone's comments and am convinced that their are compelling arguments on both sides. In the interest of taking a stance, I recommend against the use of a text-resizer widget. I remain unconvinced that designing them into every site and instructing users as to their functionality, which is surely not always obvious, is any easier or wiser than instructing how to use a browser and/or working with browser developers to make the program's built-in functionality more apparent and accessible. A visually accessible site begins with the design (read: good typography principles and testing the site on multiple platforms, browsers, screen-resolutions, and users). Then, write HTML and CSS so that resizing is possible, if such functionality is deemed necessary. Lastly, follow the suggestion of a previously linked article: provide instruction to un-savvy users as to how their browser operates. I think this is still open to discussion, but from my experience, this is my current opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=29797 ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
