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Thread: RE: webaim-forum-d Digest V2003 #52

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From: julian.rickards@ndm.gov.on.ca
Date: Fri, Mar 07 2003 6:06AM
Subject: RE: webaim-forum-d Digest V2003 #52
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Re: Use of ems for font sizing

The use of a relative sizing, for fonts as wells as tables and other
measured elements, is to allow those who have poor vision to be able to use
their browser to resize the text on the screen. If you use a fixed font size
such as points, no matter what setting they use on their browser, they
cannot change the size of the text. CNN.com is a good example of fixed size
fonts. An Opera user however, does not have this limitation - it will resize
fixed and relative sized fonts but not all users with low vision use Opera.

HTH,

Jules


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From: Leo Smith
Date: Fri, Mar 07 2003 2:50PM
Subject: RE: webaim-forum-d Digest V2003 #52 [fixed font sizes]
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>If you use a
> fixed font size such as points, no matter what setting they use on
> their browser, they cannot change the size of the text. CNN.com is a
> good example of fixed size fonts. An Opera user however, does not have
> this limitation - it will resize fixed and relative sized fonts but
> not all users with low vision use Opera.
>

Netscape 6, Netscape 7 and IE5/Mac also let you resize text that
is specified in absolute units of measure, such as pixels.

However relative sizes are, of course, always better.

Leo.

Leo Smith
Web Designer/Developer
USM Office of Publications and Marketing
University of Southern Maine
207-780-4774


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