Comments on: Techie post, feel free to skip http://www.stevepugh.net/VTT/2006/02/18/techie-post-feel-free-to-skip/ "He talks to himself sometimes because he's the only one who understands what he's saying." Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:46:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Very True Things - Sneaky gits http://www.stevepugh.net/VTT/2006/02/18/techie-post-feel-free-to-skip/comment-page-1/#comment-3650 Very True Things - Sneaky gits Fri, 26 May 2006 19:05:14 +0000 http://www.stevepugh.net/VTT/?p=391#comment-3650 [...] So I noticed that I was getting link back from isolani to a post here on Very True Things about the shortcomings of a certain site checking tool. [...] [...] So I noticed that I was getting link back from isolani to a post here on Very True Things about the shortcomings of a certain site checking tool. [...]

]]> By: JackP http://www.stevepugh.net/VTT/2006/02/18/techie-post-feel-free-to-skip/comment-page-1/#comment-1418 JackP Tue, 28 Feb 2006 00:40:05 +0000 http://www.stevepugh.net/VTT/?p=391#comment-1418 Yes, that's the problem with any automated tester. As someone I know recently quoted "make sure you measure what you value for you will come to value what you measure". In other words, if the test ain't perfect, you'll be measured against the test, not against accessibility. There's any number of articles on the subject. If you're interested and haven't come across them before, drop me a line. TBH, I'm presuming this is all old news to you... Me, I work in the public sector and the name's quite common there. Assuming of course I successfully hacked your 128 bit encryption.. but you've got a fair point - would I have heard of them if we weren't published in a league table? Yes, that’s the problem with any automated tester. As someone I know recently quoted “make sure you measure what you value for you will come to value what you measure”. In other words, if the test ain’t perfect, you’ll be measured against the test, not against accessibility. There’s any number of articles on the subject. If you’re interested and haven’t come across them before, drop me a line. TBH, I’m presuming this is all old news to you…
Me, I work in the public sector and the name’s quite common there. Assuming of course I successfully hacked your 128 bit encryption.. but you’ve got a fair point – would I have heard of them if we weren’t published in a league table?

]]> By: Steve Pugh http://www.stevepugh.net/VTT/2006/02/18/techie-post-feel-free-to-skip/comment-page-1/#comment-1406 Steve Pugh Sat, 25 Feb 2006 19:54:09 +0000 http://www.stevepugh.net/VTT/?p=391#comment-1406 I'm not sure that they have raised the profile of accessibility much. Outside of the public and financial sectors that they target (and accessibility experts) no one has heard of them; and those sectors are amongst the leaders of applying accessibility anyway (though whether they apply it successfully is, of course, another matter). The temptation for an overworked web team is to create a site that passes the tests (the same criticism applies to Bobby, Cynthia Says, etc.) rather than one that is actually accessible. Eighteen months ago, whilst working on a major accessibility project for a key government department I had to change plans mid-project to improve the department's ranking on the league table, regardless of whether that actually improved accessibility or not. I’m not sure that they have raised the profile of accessibility much. Outside of the public and financial sectors that they target (and accessibility experts) no one has heard of them; and those sectors are amongst the leaders of applying accessibility anyway (though whether they apply it successfully is, of course, another matter).

The temptation for an overworked web team is to create a site that passes the tests (the same criticism applies to Bobby, Cynthia Says, etc.) rather than one that is actually accessible.

Eighteen months ago, whilst working on a major accessibility project for a key government department I had to change plans mid-project to improve the department’s ranking on the league table, regardless of whether that actually improved accessibility or not.

]]> By: JackP http://www.stevepugh.net/VTT/2006/02/18/techie-post-feel-free-to-skip/comment-page-1/#comment-1404 JackP Fri, 24 Feb 2006 22:24:50 +0000 http://www.stevepugh.net/VTT/?p=391#comment-1404 Yes... if that company are who I'm guessing they are (and let's face it, your encryption isn't exactly 128-bit), then you're not the only one to have queried them. Look them up on AccessifyForum.com, or search Isolani.co.uk. For starters. Having said that, they HAVE raised the profile of web accessibility considerably. Just trying be fair and balanced here... Yes… if that company are who I’m guessing they are (and let’s face it, your encryption isn’t exactly 128-bit), then you’re not the only one to have queried them. Look them up on AccessifyForum.com, or search Isolani.co.uk. For starters.
Having said that, they HAVE raised the profile of web accessibility considerably. Just trying be fair and balanced here…

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