WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: browser zoom VS text zoom

for

From: Cameron Cundiff
Date: Nov 30, 2013 8:59AM

Alastair, a simple demo might be helpful. I'm also curious how it impacts touch screens.

> On Nov 30, 2013, at 10:03 AM, Alastair Campbell < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>
> Hi Steve,
>
> But assuming sites are not well designed, isn't text-sizing better than
> zoom?
>
> I realise there is a huge range of ways to design badly for re-sizing, and
> most don't do it well. However, by accident (usually) responsive sites are
> designed well for zoom.
>
> Perhaps a way of maintaining the choice would be for the browser to leave
> the control, but default to zoom when on a responsive site (one declaring
> the viewport=device-width). If the user still decides to switch back to
> text-only then save the choice for that site.
>
> Without a switch of default (or a huge education campaign) then many people
> will think that many sites are rubbish for re-sizing when actually they are
> great - if you zoom.
>
> -Alastair
>
>
> On Sat, Nov 30, 2013 at 1:22 AM, Steve Green < <EMAIL REMOVED>
>> wrote:
>
>> The problem with your suggestion is that it only works if every website in
>> the world is designed well. Non-responsive websites *should* accommodate
>> text resizing but we all know that a large proportion of them do not. If
>> users do not have the option to select zoom, those sites will not be usable.
>>
>> Steve Green
>>
>>