- From: Charles McCathieNevile <charles@w3.org>
- Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2001 07:17:54 -0500 (EST)
- To: WAI IG <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
For many people a browser that renders graphics is very important. But for some, a browser that renders only text is more useful. This might be ebcause graphics can provide unwelcome distraction - there are some disabilities that affects people's ability to concentrate enough to read text if there is too much graphical material, movement, or colour with it. There are some people who do not see the graphics anyway - many people who are using speech output systems, and most people using braille display, are doing it because they are blind, so the graphics is no use to them anyway.. If a text-based browser is otherwise more useful (faster, better interface, etc) then it makes sense to use one. In fact for certain features the text-based browsers provide better access to the information that is encoded in the page than the combination of a graphical browser and speech technology. But this changes all the time - there are new browsers available most weeks. For some people it is also a restriction of their device, or effectively required for speed. When I am not able to connect with a line faster than 9600 baud I tend not to be interested in downloading graphics content. I use lynx or links, both of which give a much better presentation for my needs than a graphics browser that has the graphics turned off. (And I attach all kinds of media players to them so I can choose which images to download easily, or which audio to listen to.) just my 2c worth Charles McCN Vadim Plessky asked, at http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/w3c-wai-ig/2001OctDec/1259 BTW: what are advantages if using text-based browser? I really do not understand that. Graphics environment has so many advantage over text so I am quite confused to hear this. -- Charles McCathieNevile http://www.w3.org/People/Charles phone: +61 409 134 136 W3C Web Accessibility Initiative http://www.w3.org/WAI fax: +1 617 258 5999 Location: 21 Mitchell street FOOTSCRAY Vic 3011, Australia (or W3C INRIA, Route des Lucioles, BP 93, 06902 Sophia Antipolis Cedex, France)
Received on Wednesday, 26 December 2001 07:17:54 UTC