Re: User Agents Do Not Implement Absolute Length Units, Places Responsive Design in Jeopardy

On 2011/10/27 22:27 (GMT+1300) Robert O'Callahan composed:

>>  Perhaps size detection should be based on the angle subtended at the eye?
>>  That's what we are basing other stuff on.  I think the linear size is much
>>  less relevant (and meaningless in some cases).

> Approximate angle subtended at the eye is what CSS "px" is for.

And, it's _not_ suitable for sizing text. It doesn't correlate to the 
visitor's preferred/default size, so randomly, typically negatively, impacts 
legibility, accessibility and usability.

Likewise, its use for sizing text containers is also inappropriate, since 
line lengths in words vary according to text size and become too long or 
short according to the actual appropriate size in the rendering UA.

Used for sizing text px is totally rude, since it absolutely disregards UA 
defaults - just like absolute units do.

Truly responsive design is necessarily medium/ex/em/rem/100%-based. It can't 
be px- or absolute-based.
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Received on Thursday, 27 October 2011 13:35:31 UTC