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Thread: Accessible versions of academic journal articles

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From: Steven C. Perkins
Date: Wed, Jun 23 2004 2:16PM
Subject: Accessible versions of academic journal articles
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Hello:

I have a set of academic journal articles that I have placed on the
web. Most of these have been up for 5 years or more. I have added
content, but I have not redone the HTML or CSS in the pages.

Much of the look is amateurish and not very appealing, i.e., colors and
styling on the header elements. I'd like to have someone look at the sites
from an accessibility view point. The first one is here:

http://intelligent-internet.info/law/ipr2.html

This is one 126K page with an intro section; a Moreover News feed section;
a Table of Contents; and then the content, which is a discussion and set of
bibliographies. I can break up the web presentation and have a separate
print version.

I have included some CSS to allow for what I thought was a good looking
printed page. I am now questioning that use of the CSS since various user
settings, combined with the CSS, could make for a bad looking printed
page. And I am substituting my view for that of the web user. I am
wondering if it might be better to provide a link to a PDF for a printed
copy in a journal format.

Which leads to another question, should I be using a different set of
markup, i.e., XML/XSLT instead? The Uni of Montreal has developed a law
journal DTD. The National Lib of Medicine has one also. Is there
something else?

How does the page work in a screen reader? Is it useable?

Any and all constructive criticism is welcome.

Thanks,

Steven C. Perkins

From: Steven C. Perkins
Date: Wed, Jun 23 2004 2:16PM
Subject: Accessible versions of academic journal articles
← Previous message | No next message

Hello:

I have a set of academic journal articles that I have placed on the
web. Most of these have been up for 5 years or more. I have added
content, but I have not redone the HTML or CSS in the pages.

Much of the look is amateurish and not very appealing, i.e., colors and
styling on the header elements. I'd like to have someone look at the sites
from an accessibility view point. The first one is here:

http://intelligent-internet.info/law/ipr2.html

This is one 126K page with an intro section; a Moreover News feed section;
a Table of Contents; and then the content, which is a discussion and set of
bibliographies. I can break up the web presentation and have a separate
print version.

I have included some CSS to allow for what I thought was a good looking
printed page. I am now questioning that use of the CSS since various user
settings, combined with the CSS, could make for a bad looking printed
page. And I am substituting my view for that of the web user. I am
wondering if it might be better to provide a link to a PDF for a printed
copy in a journal format.

Which leads to another question, should I be using a different set of
markup, i.e., XML/XSLT instead? The Uni of Montreal has developed a law
journal DTD. The National Lib of Medicine has one also. Is there
something else?

How does the page work in a screen reader? Is it useable?

Any and all constructive criticism is welcome.

Thanks,

Steven C. Perkins