Comments on site

 > Hi,
 >
 > As you can tell from my email address, I did attend MIT and am 
familiar with
 > technology.
 >
 > Can the actual content/wording of the W3C site be made more user 
friendly?
 >
 > It reads like a old-fashioned legal document. Hard to implement the
 > recommendations if a translator is needed to understand the content.
 >
 > Will there be a committee/task force to help convert the wording into 
plain
 > english?
 >
 > Vanessa


Hello, Vanessa.

Thanks for your mail.

One of the most challenging things we face at W3C is how to produce the 
technical standards that serve as the foundation of the Web, and to 
somehow make them accessible to everyone.

Physically, we meet the challenge through posting them on the Web site, 
and giving people the option to request print copies if they like, and 
don't have their own printer.

But the writing level of specifications, often written by engineers (not 
technical writers) for engineers, can place obstacles for many readers. 
And certainly the acronyms we use can be confusing to those not familiar 
with Web technologies.

Since you've taken the time to write, perhaps you can indicate some 
specific examples of what you find so problematic. The "whole site" may 
be a valid way to express frustration, but pointing out a page, and 
making suggestions will better help us understand what results you're 
seeking and how to yield them.

Best regards,

Janet


-- 


World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)

Janet Daly, Head of Communications
MIT/CSAIL NE43-342
200 Technology Square
Cambridge, MA 02139
USA

voice: +1.617.253.5884
fax:   +1.617.258.5999
http://www.w3.org/
janet@w3.org

Received on Tuesday, 14 October 2003 16:54:08 UTC