Re: Proposal for 4.2, Ensure that user interfaces are accessible

<baseline definition proposal from Loretta>
The minimum set of technologies that must be supported by user agents
in order to access all information and functionality of the Web
content. Developers must ensure that all information and functionality
comprising the Web content conforms to WCAG assuming user agents
support only this minimum set of technologies. Developers may also
choose to use technologies that are not in the minimum set provided
that the following are true:

      The Web content is still accessible using user agents
that only support the technologies that are in the minimum set
(i.e. the use of technologies that are not in the minimum set does not
"break" access to the Web content by user agents that don't support
them.)

      All content and functionality must be available using only
the baseline technologies.
</baseline>
<new proposal with some additions from Joe Clark's post>
The minimum set of technologies that must be supported by user agents so 
that people can use and gain access to all the information and functions 
of the Web content.  Developers must ensure that all information and 
functionality comprising the Web content conforms to WCAG when accessed 
via user agents that support this defined minimum set of technologies. 
Developers may also choose to use technologies that are not in the defined 
minimum set provided that the following are true:

        The Web content is still accessible using user agents that only 
support the technologies defined in the minimum set (i.e. the use of 
technologies that are not specified in the minimum set does not "break" 
access to the Web content by user agents that do not support them).

</ proposal>
I removed the last sentence from the proposal because I don't think that 
it is part of the definition of baseline.  My other changes are subtle.  I 
know this is a definition for the concept of baseline but I don't want 
people to assume that WCAG is going to specify that baseline.  Every time 
I read this I immediately think that the Web content must run with 
JavaScript turned off because "minimum" to me implies text only.  I know 
that isn't the intent so, I have added the word "defined" to modify the 
word "minimum".   My intent is to enforce that baseline is something that 
must be defined.   Perhaps I have over used the word, and someone with 
more word smithing abilities can improve.  The second sentence seems a bit 
long winded - Joe took a stab at reorganizing in an earlier post.

Becky Gibson
Web Accessibility Architect
                                                       
IBM Emerging Internet Technologies
5 Technology Park Drive
Westford, MA 01886
Voice: 978 399-6101; t/l 333-6101
Email: gibsonb@us.ibm.com

Received on Thursday, 28 April 2005 11:26:55 UTC