Pet Peeve - not keeping the visually impaired in mind

[pmhoran]

I am like millions of others out there who has what is termed a minor visual impairment. Somedays I see fine ... some days I cannot focus 2 feet ahead of me. And I have troubles seeing web pages in certain colour combinations.

It used to be that almost every web site I went to I could use my browser to increase the font size and be able to read everything. These days though ... more and more sites specify what size the font is to be and it cannot be adjusted by the web browsers. So those whose sites are designed like that no doubt will have quite a few visitors and/or potential customers who, when they discover they cannot read the site will move on to another site to visit or a competitor whose site they can read. I know I do and I don't think I am that unique a personality.

Also colours of backgrounds & fonts. Black backgrounds seem real popular these days ... but with my eyes ... they are a total disaster. Rarely can I make out any of the print on a black page. Or putting light blue font on a dark blue or black background ... or red on black ... it just comes across as all black to most of us with vision problems. Or dark grey on a light grey background ... not quite as bad but ... not enough contrast to see it easily.

Suggested reading for those wishing to make their sites more accessible to the visually impaired ... in no particular order
http://www.websitetips.com/accessibility/
http://www.mardiros.net/accessible-web-design.html

There are more sites but these are a good start.

Thanks for listening/reading
Peter

 

[Equinox]

Peter, I'm sorry to hear about that and cant myself understand why someone would code their entire site in specified sizes...
Anyways, thanks for those links. As a web-designer, I found them quite informative.

I agree with you that Dark backgrounds are popular, but myself, do find them very attractive, if used correctly. Take a brief look at my own site, for example. Its a very dark site, but I find it quite easy to look at and appealing to most users.

Thank-you (however) for bringing your observations to the fore, because I might now have a different-toned site for use by people such as yourself.

Kind Regards,
Ben

 

[pmhoran]

Hi Ben ...

I had perused your site before but did take another look just now. Personally ... I do not have much a problem with your site. Yes the colours are dark ... but the fonts are large and if needs be I can use the browser to make the fonts larger if I have to without a problem.

Were you keeping the visually impaired in mind when you designed the site? If it wasn't planned ... it was a terrific stumble

If I had any suggestion that might improve one wee part of your site ... it would be with regards to your Username & Password boxes. I "tested" it sort of ... and could not read what I had typed in. Maybe a slightly lighter background and different font style for the box might be something to consider ... if you are so inclined

About 5 or 6 years ago there seemed to be a universal effort being made by the web design community to keep web pages "visually impaired friendly". Unfortunately ... I think that effort has fallen by the wayside.

Take care ... Happy Holidays
Peter

 

[Equinox]

Thank you for your input!! Much appreciated. The site wasn't designed with Visually impaired people in mind, but I appreciate the fact that you gave me that essential feedback about it.

The Client Login has been deactivated due to abuse and we will be changing the system, but your input will be taken into consideration in the future!!!

Enjoy your holidays aswell,
~Equinox

 

[pmhoran]

Well ... I am not the "be all to end all" authority on what is good for the visually impaired in general ... I can just tell you how I experience the sites.

Some visually impaired prefer bold black type on white ... that practically blinds me. I prefer dark brown on a lighter brown or pale yellow background ... but many have told me those colors bother their eyes. So I am not sure there will ever be "hard and fast" guidelines to accomodate all visually impaired all the time.

Colors aside ... I still think designers should endeavor not to assign specific sizes to their fonts ... and that would go further than anything else to accomodate those who don't see too well anymore Even red on black background (which I normally cannot see at all) if I can use the browser to increase the font size ... I normally can then not only see the type but also read it.

Just my 2 cents
Peter