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From: Daniel Champion
Date: Jan 10, 2006 5:00PM

Penny wrote:

> Patrick wrote:
>> Don't get me wrong, they're not a deadly sin of accessibility, but
>> they're unnecessary IMHO and perpetuate user ignorance of their user
>> agents' built-in features.

> I agree that many people are unaware of what their browser can do (many
> don't even know the word 'browser' - it's IE). But some of us do know
> yet still prefer/find it easier to do things a different way: should we
> be discriminated against just because our brains work differently?

> if it assists other users isn't it a matter of
> weighing up pros and cons?

I agree Penny, another example being text-size widgets. Some users don't
know how to change the text size in their browser and benefit from a
visible control. While I can and do provide users with some help and
guidance on our accessibility pages, my primary goal is to deliver the
information the user was looking for, not to educate them in how to use
their browser. That sometimes means duplicating a browser function from
time to time...

Patrick's view is understandable, but I think pragmatism sometimes demands
that we accommodate user ignorance, not overlook it.

Dan.
--
Daniel Champion - Web Dev Mgr - Clackmannanshire Council
e: <EMAIL REMOVED> t: 01259 452258
f: 01259 452265 w: http://www.clacksweb.org.uk




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