Tim Griffiths Illustration and Digital Design

November 2004

search engine and usability

Need to check if your website is optmised for search engines? Is it approachable by all? Have you assessed the 'hidden' labelling within the HTML code making up your pages - alternate text for images, so called 'meta' information in the header portion of a web page that describes its contents. Some of this hidden labelling could be missing, or incomplete - such labels are often used when indexing a web page, but also enhance usability with regards specialist browsers for disabled users.

Visually-impaired users can utilise the JAWS screen reader that integrates with Internet Explorer on Windows. JAWS uses an advanced text-to-speech synthesizer to read web pages aloud. Also available, are text-to-braille convertors that work with text-only browsers, such as Lynx, to create output that can be 'read'.

Those who are hand-impaired can barely use a mouse at all, and navigates with arrow keys, the tab key, and keyboard shortcuts.

HTML can have additional accessibility code added to make images links and navigation easier to access with the above technologies. Much of this has economic, as well as ethical advantage, as search engines often use such text, as well as content to rank a website.

This is of particular relevance as the UK is now covered by accessibility laws similar to that of the US. As from 1st October 2004, companies should have enabled access to their buildings etc.., but websites are also covered by the legislation. For more information the site www.alistapart.com has a very good summary at http://www.alistapart.com/articles/accessuk/

Also, an illustration brochure is available in PDF for download, TGIADD Illustration (650kb).

Contact us to see what we can do for you, whether it is illustration, general graphic design or related to your web site.

To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please email info@tgiadd.co.uk, with ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject field.

	Tim Griffiths Illustration and Digital Design November 2004
	search engine and usability Need to check if your website is optmised for search engines? Is it approachable by all? Have you assessed the 'hidden' labelling within the HTML code making up your pages - alternate text for images, so called 'meta' information in the header portion of a web page that describes its contents. Some of this hidden labelling could be missing, or incomplete - such labels are often used when indexing a web page, but also enhance usability with regards specialist browsers for disabled users. Visually-impaired users can utilise the JAWS screen reader that integrates with Internet Explorer on Windows. JAWS uses an advanced text-to-speech synthesizer to read web pages aloud. Also available, are text-to-braille convertors that work with text-only browsers, such as Lynx, to create output that can be 'read'. Those who are hand-impaired can barely use a mouse at all, and navigates with arrow keys, the tab key, and keyboard shortcuts. HTML can have additional accessibility code added to make images links and navigation easier to access with the above technologies. Much of this has economic, as well as ethical advantage, as search engines often use such text, as well as content to rank a website. This is of particular relevance as the UK is now covered by accessibility laws similar to that of the US. As from 1st October 2004, companies should have enabled access to their buildings etc.., but websites are also covered by the legislation. For more information the site www.alistapart.com has a very good summary at http://www.alistapart.com/articles/accessuk/
	Also, an illustration brochure is available in PDF for download, TGIADD Illustration (650kb).


	Contact us to see what we can do for you, whether it is illustration, general graphic design or related to your web site. To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please email info@tgiadd.co.uk, with ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject field.