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Re: good example of contrast widget?

for

From: Shawn Henry
Date: Apr 9, 2007 10:30AM

> [in reply to various replies about text size switchers versus instructions, and browser support]

We debated which method to use when we redesigned the W3C WAI Web site <http://www.w3.org/WAI/>; a couple of years ago. We chose to provide instructions on how to change settings in browsers, rather than provide a "switcher" widget.

There is an expression that goes something like this: "Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a person to fish and you feed him for a life time."

At the top of all WAI Web pages is a link to "Change text size or colors"; it is in a gray bar that is visually separate from the site design. It links to a page <http://www.w3.org/WAI/changedesign>; that explains how to change settings in different browsers, and also answers: *"Why doesn't this work with some other Web sites?"*

Some points about this method:
* It teaches people how to change their settings, which will help them with other Web pages that are well designed. (A switcher only helps with the one Web site.)
* It explains why changing the settings doesn't always work, which will hopefully lead some people to encourage improvements in sites and browsers that aren't well designed.

If you have comments and suggestions for improvements to this page, we'd love to hear them; the footer has an e-mail address: "Feedback welcome to <EMAIL REMOVED> (a publicly archived list)."

Note that you are welcome to copy or link to <http://www.w3.org/WAI/changedesign>;.

~Shawn

Shawn Lawton Henry
W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
e-mail: <EMAIL REMOVED>
phone: +1.617.395.7664
about: http://www.w3.org/People/Shawn/