Selecting font family (was Re: fixed width Vs relative sizing)

On a related topic.

If an author specifies a font family using CSS, I understand that it is not
possible for an end user to change the font easily - the user must have a
local CSS file available (which I suspect not many do) and know how to
choose it.

Does specification of a font family cause accessibility problems?

Should font families (e.g. Times, Arial, etc) be omitted from CSS (as I have
heard suggested)?  Or would this be unacceptable for those concerned about
the design, and possibly case accessibility problems for users who don't
know how to change the default settings?

Or am I mistaken in how CSS values can be changed?

ta

Brian
--------------------------------------------------------------
Brian Kelly
UKOLN
University of Bath
BATH
BA2 7AY
Email: B.Kelly@ukoln.ac.uk
Phone: (+44) 1225 323943
----- Original Message -----
From: "Charles McCathieNevile" <charles@w3.org>
To: <sifyalok@sify.com>
Cc: "WAI Mailing list" <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 02, 2000 2:03 PM
Subject: Re: fixed width Vs relative sizing


> As you say, using the available space is also helpful. On a 1600x1200
> browser, it is possible to use a large font, and take the available
> space. But again, with a fixed width layout, this may only appear in half
the
> screen, which is a big waste.
>
> In fact, the most common way of doing fixed widths is to have tables for
> column layout. This is not ideal anyway, but if it is going to be used
then
> tables are pretty good at reflowing content in most browsers that support
> them.
>
> Cheers (and I think you should revalue it to a few more cents ;-)
>
> Charles
>
> On 2 Nov 2000 sifyalok@sify.com wrote:
>
>   Though I do not agree to the fact so much, but
>   one reason is that in lower resolutions than what
>   the site has been designed for, fixed size will
>   give horizontal scrolling.
>
>   Another reason could be greater use of available
>   space at any resolution.
>
>   However,
>   Working in percentage mode, might increase blank
>   spaces, and disrupt the layout as well, thus
>   affecting accessability in a different way
>
>   I believe that one has to focus on audience and
>   then take such decisions. Generalizing, is
>   probably not the right thing here.
>
>   just my 2 cents..
>
>   Cheers
>   alokjain
>   Cognitive Consulatnt
>   Satyam Infoway Ltd.
>   India
>
>
>
>
>   Quoting Anthony Quinn <anthony@frontend.com>:
>
>   > Hi All,
>   >
>   > I\'m new to this group and was wondering if
>   anyone can explain (in non
>   > technical lingo please) why fixed width sizing
>   of web pages is a bad thing
>   > for accessibility.
>   >
>   > thanks in advance,
>   >
>   > Anthony
>   >
>   >
>   __________________________________________________
>   _____
>   >
>   >  Anthony Quinn                     UI Design
>   Manager
>   >
>   >    Frontend ~ Usability Engineering & Interface
>   Design
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>   Ireland
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>   >           Visit our Usability InfoCentre at:
>   >
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>
> --
> Charles McCathieNevile    mailto:charles@w3.org    phone: +61 (0) 409 134
136
> W3C Web Accessibility Initiative
http://www.w3.org/WAI
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>

Received on Thursday, 2 November 2000 10:30:17 UTC