The web was built as a means to disseminate information.
Patrick is correct.
The web is not a visual medium. Some marketers, graphic artists and
designers may be shocked to learn that.
The web is an information medium. One way in which that information is
conveyed is visually, to user agents ("web browsers").
But that's not the only way. HTML is designed with a specific structure
that allows for semantic meaning and content to be conveyed independent
of a particular means of representation. In other words, HTML can be
interpreted in terms of visual display and appearance - but it doesn't
have to be.
When designers began designing only visual web pages during the
"browser wars" as Patrick mentioned, they began to miss the boat
skipping a lot of the true power of HTML, as it allows for far more
than simply laying out pretty images and colors next to each other.
Many web authors have had skewed mind sets in this respect, and only
built visual web pages. Don't get me wrong, nothing is wrong with
having a great visual representation. But be careful not to confuse the
display of a web page with the actual page itself.
This impacts visually impaired people. If your page is designed to be
simply a visual object, you'll lose this audience (and any number of
other non-visual browser agents), but if your page is structured around
sound principles of semantic markup and intelligent presentation, it
should be as usable for someone completely blind as for someone with
perfect vision.
Of course, users with visual impairments are not the only people with
special needs that need to be kept in mind. Other disabilities,
especially motor disabilities but including many others from lack of
hearing to cognitive disabilities, and likewise have restricted access
to websites. The goal should be to design in a way that includes
everyone-that's the power of the web.
Laura
___________________________________________
Laura L. Carlson
Information Technology Systems and Services
University of Minnesota Duluth
Duluth, MN, U.S.A. 55812-3009
http://www.d.umn.edu/goto/webdesign/
******************************************************
The discussion list for http://webstandardsgroup.org/
See http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm
for some hints on posting to the list & getting help
******************************************************
