- From: ATutor <info@atutor.ca>
- Date: Wed, 05 May 2004 09:10:42 -0400
- To: David Harris <david.harris@tcat.ac.uk>, w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
David Choosing standardized icons was one of the issues we faced when building ATutor. Though we found a few that seem relatively standard, such as a house for a home icon, and a magnifying glass for a search tool, many of the icons we used were picked because there was no better choice. One thing to keep in mind is that users learn to make the association between icons and the tools they represent relatively quick,despite the lack of standardization for these visual representations outside the application. While I think a small set of icons can be standardized, in a complex application like ATutor, there are many tools that will not be found on most sites, so representing them graphically in a standard way would be difficult. How to represent a course enrollment utility for example? ATutor was built for the primary purpose of accomodating students with learning difficulties. It uses a variety of strategies for presenting the interface as well as structuring the content. It's also fully accessible, and free. There's a demo and a download at: http://www.atutor.ca greg David Harris wrote: > > I'm looking at making accessible an educational website for an FE > college and while looking at inclusiveness of people with learning > difficulties, Something struck me. I think, maybe a potential > standardisation missing which may help many people. > > What I'm interested in is the use of icons on web pages as the main > meaning representation for links (see Jonathan Chetwynd's web site at > http://www.peepo.com for example). > > Is there any development of a global standard for meanings of icons / > pictograms so that meanings become standard like text? > > I ask this because the constant replies I get, is to work with > students to invent our own - this is reasonable for our Intranet where > support is easily given but potential future students (our web sites > target audience) may not perceive them with the same meaning, which > could cause confusion. > > These could be developed in the same way different people require (and > can choose) use of different fonts (for languages / families locales). > They could also be defined WAI? > > I'd be interested to hear comments on this. > > Dave Harris > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > This email is confidential and intended solely for the use of the > individual > to whom it is addressed. Any views or opinions presented are solely > those > of the author and do not necessarily represent those of > Telford College of Arts & Technology. If you are not the intended > recipient, > be advised that you have received this email in error and that any use, > dissemination, forwarding, printing, or copying of this email is strictly > prohibited. > If you have received this email in error please notify the > Telford College of Arts & Technology I.T. Helpdesk > by telephone on 44 (0)1952 642284. > > Any files attached to this e-mail will have been checked with virus > software > before transmission. However, you should carry out your own virus check > before opening any attachment. Telford College of Arts & Technology > accepts > no liability for any loss or damage, which may be caused by software > viruses. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > >
Received on Wednesday, 5 May 2004 09:09:53 UTC