Re: Technical Factors: Different Devices

Thank you Matt!  You neatly restated the problem I was trying to express 
and clearly suggested the direction we should take to highlight it as a 
benefit.

Chuck


Starling Access Services
"Access A World Of Possibility"

At 2003-06-03 14:50, Matt May wrote:
>On Tuesday, June 3, 2003, at 01:00  AM, Alan Chuter wrote:
>>I think that some sites will have to have multiple versions for different 
>>device profiles, but what we should claim is that each of these versions 
>>will be usable with all user agents and devices within that profile.
>
>It appears that this discussion brushes against the difference between 
>"usable" and "capable of being used." While the former is subjective and 
>squishy, the latter can be claimed by standards-conformant sites on all 
>devices. The value of browsing a 2-megabyte file over a 9.6kbps connection 
>through a four-line phone display notwithstanding.
>
>If sites are designed in a uniform fashion, and in a 
>transformation-capable language such as XHTML, the case could be made that 
>adhering to a common style (e.g., valid code, sections marked up with 
><h*>, alt text) affords the author the ability to transform the existing 
>files in place for use by mobile or smaller displays using XSLT.
>
>I do tend to think most of the descriptions I've seen of this benefit are 
>a bit overoptimistic or lacking in detail. You don't get this for free 
>unless you plan for it. But relative to the jaw-dropping sums companies 
>are happy to charge sites for screen-scraping services, it may sell some 
>people, or at least get them thinking more about their designs. And that 
>dovetails well with the Quality Assurance activity and their documents on 
>designing for standards.
>
>-
>m