2007-06-07 : Accessibility:Definition
For Tim Berners Lee, the man credited with having invented the world wide web, accessibility boils down to the web being available as an information source whatever the user's personal situation, handicap, hardware, software, language, culture, geographic location or possible handicaps... and that the information recieved not be significantly changed via any of these incidental factors.
Though often considered only in its relation to disability ("The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect" TLB), the real force of accessibility is retained in the dual notions of
- access
- identity
That is, access to the essential information presented is not governed by which type of browser you are using, whether you are blind, or whether you are on a pda, etc. And the information, once accessed, is not significantly changed by the means or modes of access.
An accessible web application is thus:
- A universal service of highest quality, adaptable to a maximum of audients
- Useful (as in, "design for all")
Accessibility essentially becomes about optimising and fine tuning your online resources in order to maximise the catchment area of people interested in you and your products and services.
