by SarahHorton (Author)
In just over a decade, the Web has evolved from an experimental tool for a limited community of technically inclined people into a day-to-day necessity for millions upon millions of users. Today's Web designers must consider not only the content needs of the sites they create, but also the wide range of additional needs their users may have: for example, those with physical or cognitive disabilities, those with slow modems or small screens, and those with limited education or familiarity with the Web. Bestselling author Sarah Horton argues that simply meeting the official standards and guidelines for Web accessibility is not enough. Her goal is universal usability, and in Access by Design: A Guide to Universal Usability for Web Designers, Sarah describes a design methodology that addresses accessibility requirements but then goes beyond. As a result, designers learn how to optimize page designs to work more effectively for more users, disabled or not. Working through each of the main functional features of Web sites, she provides clear principles for using HTML and CSS to deal with elements such as text, forms, images, and tables, illustrating each with an example drawn from the real world. Through these guidelines, Sarah makes a convincing case that good design principles benefit all users of the Web.
In this book you will find:
* Clear principles for using HTML and CSS to design functional and accessible Web sites
* Best practices for each of the main elements of Web pages-text, forms, images, tables, frames, , links, interactivity, and page layout
* Seasoned advice for using style sheets that provide flexibility to both designer and user without compromising usability
* illustrations of actual Web sites, from which designers can model their own pages
* Instructions for providing keyboard accessibility, flexible layouts, and user-controlled environments
* Practical tips on markup, and resources
Format: Paperback
Pages: 288
Edition: 1
Publisher: New Riders
Published: 12 Jul 2005
ISBN 10: 032131140X
ISBN 13: 9780321311405
Book Overview: As sites continue to grow more complex, many designers lose sight of the Web's primary function-to provide access. This guide reminds them by demonstrating precisely how to create sites in which any user-those with accessibility needs or not--can access every element, whether they have an outdated search engine, slow modem, small device, and so on. Under the guidance of veteran Web designerSarah Horton, readers will soon be designing sites that not only work but work well, work for everyone, and work under any condition. No more images that take forever to load. No more design elements that hinder access and challenge the user's patience. Sarah tackles each of these issues and presents clear guidelines for creating each primary Web element (text, images, tables, lists, forms, and so on), showing designers what's involved in building the underlying structure (navigation, user control, keyboard accessibility) that makes sites accessible to everyone. Throughout the book, readers learn to make problem sites into working sites through a series of real-world site makeovers and pointers on how it is done.