E-mail List Archives

Search E-mail List Archives for

Number of posts in this thread: 1 (In chronological order)

From: Lisa Halabi
Date: Thu, Jun 28 2001 3:49PM
Subject: justvanilla.com
No previous message | No next message

An interesting (UK) site recently launched below...(I have no connection
with it whatsoever).
http://www.justvanilla.com/cgibin/start/tpc/index.html
PRESS INFORMATION
> > 16th June 2001-For Immediate release
> > New and innovative web service to improve social inclusion for all users
> > of the www.
> >
> > JustVanilla Ltd. announces a new web service with unparalleled usability
> > and accessibility features. Now, Internet users can have a web based,
> > rather than a browser based, ability to personalise the way in which web
> > content appears on their screens. For the first time users can store
their
> > preferences on the web creating freedom of movement. As a result, the
www
> > can be made easier to use, faster, more inclusive and highly portable.
The
> > design aim, which focussed on simplicity, usability and ease of access,
> > will now allow new users of all ages and lifestyles to be able to access
> > and use the www. The availability of this new service is one of the
> > greatest practical contributions to the issues of social inclusion and
> > reduction of the 'digital divide'.
> >
> > Amongst the many that will benefit from the new service are:
> >
> > =B7 Those who use the Internet every day for work including teleworkers,
> > students, school pupils, businesses, journalists and researchers.
> >
> > =B7 People whose use of the Internet is restricted by social disadvantage
> > simply by outdated, or in many cases not having access to a computer.
> >
> > =B7 Those with disabilities such as visual impairment, dyslexia, learning
> > difficulties and reduced mobility.
> >
> > =B7 Carers, parents and professional support staff of people with
> > disabilities.
> >
> > =B7 People and businesses located in remote rural areas with poor
> > infrastructure and slow telecommunications services.
> >
> > =B7 The many elderly and other users to whom new technologies can seem
> > intimidating.
> >
> > There are over thirty (30) accessibility features incorporated into the
> > service providing a choice of billions of combinations that may be
> > configured to meet the diverse requirements of Internet users. For
> > instance, over 40 colours (specially selected to provide a good range of
> > contrasts for those with colour vision impairment) can be applied to
> > screen background, text and hyperlinks in any combination. Font type can
> > be varied and size increased/decreased dynamically on screen. Extra
> > spacing can be inserted between words or even between individual letters
> > within words. Paragraphs can be indented, all text transformed into
> > capitals, and underlining removed from hyperlinks, which can also be
made
> > to glow. A narrow page option can be set, 'pop up' windows disabled, and
> > flashing text and animations removed. All these and many more features
> > give the user the power to control and adapt the appearance of any
> > information delivered to them. Once set, these preferences are
maintained
> > for future use whilst browsing the JustVanilla site. Furthermore, they
can
> > then be applied to the contents of the entire Internet.
> >
> > The power of the JustVanilla service is further enhanced by an 'access
> > gateway' which can optionally strip out graphics from any website,
> > disable/enable frames, tables, scripts, and more. Virtually the entire
> > contents of any web site can be delivered in text format at high speed
> > with all the users preferences maintained. This 'access gateway',
although
> > designed specifically for blind and visually impaired users to
disentangle
> > complex web designs (which often prevent them from accessing and using
> > many websites) can also bring major benefits to other web users.
> >
> > Each JustVanilla user is allocated their own unique URL and four pages
> > containing 'default' bookmarks for home, work, learning and shopping
use.
> > These 'default' settings may be changed at any time to reflect their own
> > requirements and changing interests.
> >
> > A powerful Research Zone contains over 6000 important hyperlinks. The
Zone
> > supports new Internet users and focuses on sources of information and
> > tutorial support. Current affairs are a major focus and over 300 news
> > feeds are directly available. Searching the web is a major preoccupation
> > often denied to people with disabilities. With JustVanilla, access to
'the
> > Open Directory' is provided with results being returned in the user's
> > preferences. The popular Google search engine and Xrefer, the powerful
> > information cross referencing product, are also provided and can deliver
> > results in the user's preferences through the 'access gateway'. Once
> > located any website can be viewed in the user preferences by going
through
> > the 'access gateway'
> >
> > The site also provides a comprehensive set of 'community features' such
as
> > web-based email, chat rooms, forum, classified advertisements,
tutorials,
> > and technical support. All these can be delivered according to the
user's
> > preferences. The designers believe that this will enable many to
> > participate for the first time in a truly open and equal environment
> > irrespective of their personal circumstances.
> >
> > Many people with a disability suffer considerably from reduced freedom
of
> > movement. Portability has therefore featured prominently in the
designers'
> > minds. Because the JustVanilla service is web based the user's settings
> > are always available to them wherever and whenever they access and use
the
> > Internet e.g. from public libraries, Internet cafes and kiosks.
> >
> > Privacy and security also have played a significant part in the
> > development of the site; i.e. cookies are not used, and may not be
served
> > by third parties from our site. Access to chat and forums is available
> > only to registered users under their actual registered user name for
which
> > we hold the physical address.
> >
> > The JustVanilla site has taken two years to develop. Throughout that
time
> > constant assessments have been carried out against the W3C accessibility
> > guidelines and the site is 'Bobby' approved. The JustVanilla design does
> > not slavishly follow standards, many of which are sadly not matched by
> > browsers, but follows a strictly pragmatic solution. The site is very
> > accessible even to old browsers because features such as cookies, Java,
> > JavaScript, Flash, plug-ins etc, are not used.
> >
> > The site contains no banner adverts and is available on an individual
> > subscription basis. The Annual Subscription is =A319.95 and there is a
once
> > only =A320.00 set up fee. International subscribers will pay the same
rates
> > in their local currencies. In addition to revenue from subscriptions,
> > areas on the site are being offered for corporate sponsorship and a
> > shopping mall is planned for people with disabilities, which will be a
> > further source of revenue.
> >
> >
> >
> > The address of the site is http://www.justvanilla.com and it will open
to
> > the public from 1300 hrs GMT on Monday 25th June 2001.
> >
> > -Ends-
> >
>

Lisa Halabi
Senior Usability Consultant
Usability by Design Ltd. London
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
http://www.UsabilityByDesign.com
Office: +44 (0)20 8938 6755
Mobile: +44 (0)7956 280 447
Fax: +44 (0)7092 080 153
[Opinions expressed are my own, not necessarily those of my employer]
--------------
This email message and any attachments may contain confidential information
and are sent for the personal attention of the addressee(s) only. If it has
been received in error, unauthorised recipients are requested to contact the
sender immediately and not to disclose or make use of the information.
All recipients of this email are responsible for virus checking any possible
attachments.