RE: A PROPOSAL TO SPLIT THE WCAG IN THREE. Please read this. I'm serious.

Folks,

         Took Chas idea of separating the guidelines into those related to 
content and those related to coding, and ended up with three groups .... 
those that are purely content - all decisions would be out of the hands of 
the coder (unless the content designer and coder were the same person), 
those that require a action and/or decision by the content designer and 
action by the coder, and those that (seem to me) to be purely the bailiwick 
of the coder.

They are rough, and there could be legitimate disagreement on category 
placement, but I think this suggest that separating content and coding 
wouldn't be easily done ....

Content: The decision will be made by the content provider, the coder has 
no responsibility
    * 2.6 Avoid causing the screen to flicker.
    * 3.3 Write as simple as possible yet appropriate for the site's content.
    * 3.4 Supplement text with non-text content.
    * 3.5 Annotate complex or unfamiliar information with summaries and 
definitions.
    * 4.1 Choose technologies that support the use of these guidelines.
    * 4.4 Design content so that when presentation effects are turned off 
or not supported the content is still usable.
Mixed: The decision is made by the content provider, the coder has to 
follow specs.
    * 1.1 Provide a text equivalent for all non-text content.
    * 1.2 Synchronize media equivalents with time-dependent presentations.
    * 1.3 Use markup or a data model to provide the logical structure of 
content.
    * 1.4 Identify the primary natural language of text and text 
equivalents and all changes in natural language.
    * 2.1 Handle input errors, such as misspellings.
    * 2.4 Either give the user control over how long they can interact with 
content that requires a timed response or give them as much time as possible.
    * 3.1 Use consistent presentation.
    * 3.2 Emphasize structure through presentation, positioning, and labels
Coding: The responsibility to do this rests principally with the coder.
    * 1.5 Separate content and structure from presentation.
    * 2.2 Provide consistent and predictable responses to user actions.
    * 2.3 Give users control of mechanisms that cause extreme changes in 
context.
    * 4.2 Use technologies according to specification.
    * 4.3 Design user interfaces compatible with assistive technology.
Please feel free to rip these categories to shreds.

                                         Anne



Anne Pemberton
apembert@erols.com

http://www.erols.com/stevepem
http://www.geocities.com/apembert45