Edit: I’m a total geek, I realize, for saying this but: CHRONUS DOWNED RAGNAROS! OMG CHRONUS YEAH YEAH YEAH.
I never realized how much two articles could make me look differently at my website. I have over 20 tabs open for the sole purpose of exploring the potential of my site, and in my stupor, I’ve already forgotten that I’m supposed to be reading those and writing this at the same time. In essence, it goes like this: Mike Davidson of Newsvine fame points out how fickle validators can be, in one, and my new idol Roger Johansson of 456 Berea Street explains the problems with accesskeys. So that brings me to wonder: is everything I’ve tried so far useless?
Not quite. Validation is still extremely important. CSS can still make pages load faster. Accessible design still reigns over content. Accesskeys, when used in moderation are beneficial. People who don’t have control over a mouse can still use key commands (usually numbers, since letters interfere with built in accesskeys) to visit the pages of your site. Always remember an accessible site is similar in all browsers, not exactly the same. Those three pixels between your text and the top of the page in IE? Not going to change the over-all display.
The myth that a validated page is an accessible page took me over a few years back. There I was flaunting pretty much a clean slate. Nothing more. Certainly, it had valid code, but I didn’t think of presentation then. It was just colors and text. Recently, in implementing all I did, I was waving around a piece of paper that essentially said, “Look at me! I’m sucking up to the Intarwebz ROFLZ.” Needless to say, I don’t revisit those times very happily.
I think, for those of you who are bored right now, I might as well conclude with this. I will never stop trying to learn and change, and if I ever finish reading those articles, you might see a changed Biscuitrat in your future.
If not, hey, go have a burrito. It’s a beautiful day.
Read 2 comments (Leave a comment?)
Victoria said:
The validator article was actually funny.
I don’t have the patience to validate.
Posted on June 23, 2006 6:48 PM; Permalink
Biscuitrat said:
Yeah, I don’t blame you. It’s crazy work extensive. But it’s definitely an ego-booster.
Posted on June 23, 2006 7:35 PM; Permalink