Comments on "Better Web Browsing" document

This is about the document "Better Web Browsing: Tips for Customizing 
Your Computer" [1].

Introduction: Could add something like "One of the benefits (joys?) of 
the Web over conventional media is its flexibility and you can adjust 
your computer to see or hear the Web the way that best suits you." Key 
terms being "benefits", "flexibility" and "suits you".

Under "Note". "...and do not support customization" could be easier to 
understand as a more direct "so some of the tips in this document might 
not work".

"Sometimes changing your web browser..." might be clearer as "Many 
people are unaware that they can choose among different Web browsers. 
Changing to a different web browser..." although this is mentioned in 
the next section.

"Consider contacting the website owners [2] if you are experiencing 
accessibility problems despite the approaches outlined in this 
document." might be better swapped around to say "If you are still 
experiencing accessibility problems despite the approaches outlined in 
this document consider contacting the website owners."

"The document How People with Disabilities Use the Web [3] provides 
further information about..." could perhaps be rephrased to include the 
reader of this document "about how other people with difficulties use 
alternative web browsing strategies,...".

On another tack, interestingly, the "How PWD" document isn't (I think) 
written for end-users to find information about "other people with 
problems like mine", which might be an interesting audience for it.

It might be a good idea to help people find out what operating system 
and what browser they are using. Even explain he difference between Web 
browser and operating system, especially that the browser is a separate 
component.

Maybe people ought to be warned about add-on or extension bloat. If they 
install more than one add-on or make more than one change, they should 
keep a record of it. Sometimes pop-up or script blockers can make life 
worse if users are not aware of what's happening, making things much 
worse (I speak from personal experience).

Under "Animation and Pop-Up Window Blockers" perhaps link to an 
explanation of "sometimes hazardous" which will be baffling to most people.

In general, it would be best to explain the problem first. Some of the 
sections start with a problem statement, for example, "Reading 
Assistance: Long text is often difficult to read and understand..." but 
others, for example under "Animation and Pop-Up Window Blockers" start 
with the solution and then explain the problem ("Most web browsers 
provide options to control potentially distracting content such as 
pop-up windows or animations."). It would be clearer to start with an 
explanation of the problem, for example ("Content such as animations and 
features like pop-up windows can be be potentially distracting and most 
web browsers provide options to control them.").

regards,

Alan


[1] http://www.w3.org/WAI/EO/Drafts/adaptive/strategies.html
[2] http://www.w3.org/WAI/EO/Drafts/responding/
[3] http://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/people-use-web

-- 
Alan Chuter
Consultor
Departamento de Accesibilidad y Experiencia de Usuario
Dirección de Tecnologías Accesibles
Technosite, Grupo Fundosa
Tfno.: 91 121 0330
Fax: 91 375 70 51
E-mail: achuter@technosite.es

Received on Wednesday, 17 February 2010 11:22:57 UTC