Mitch11's Celebration Blog

Last week I attended the W3C symposium on Text Customization for Readability . That's a mouthful... We explored ways that a reader can change the way text looks, to make it easier to read. If you have low vision, how do you read online? David Sloan says people like himself with low vision can have great difficulty reading text with subpixel rendering , e.g. ClearType which is no longer configurable in Internet Explorer 9. Eileen Rivera enlarges text significantly in order to read it. Her wish list item is to allow all text to wrap so she does not have to scroll horizontally. She added that content authors should watch the "gymnastics" that low vision readers go through, which should inspire content authors to work on improving the experience. Suzette is dealing with the effects of cataract surgery. For her, increased font size is necessary, but makes it difficult to skim. Increased line spacing makes reading more comfortable for her. Anthony Lee says web browers ne...

2024 Update: I no longer think it's a good idea to detect assistive technology usage, even for an ostensibly good cause. The slippery slope is too morally hazardous. —Mitchell If you use a screen reader, please fill out the 2012 WebAIM Screen Reader User Survey . The survey closes on May 25. Sharing for the accessibility nerds out there... At the end of the survey, I added these comments... Let's see if I get a response! When you report the results, I would be curious to know how you solicited people to fill in this survey. Was it just through the WebAIM email list, or did you take steps to get some kind of broad cross-section of users worldwide? In you report, will you analyze possible effects of selection bias in the results? I'm not complaining (all questionnaires have some selection bias) but I would like to hear your perspective on how much the respondents represent the whole world of web users. Also, in a future survey, it would be interesting to use Adobe Flash...

This Contra Costa Times article was the first time I have heard of a "Walmart Grocery" store. http://www.contracostatimes.com/breaking-news/ci_20487002/richmond-plans-vacant-grocery-raise-neighboring-concerns A chain store wouldn't be my first choice for our neighborhood, but on the other hand it does seem to be a real grocery store... We need more information. At the Planning Commission meeting we can scrutinize the proposal, demand transparency, and speak out on the issues we care about. Our attendance could really make a difference! The same story played out with a Walmart Grocery in Austin, Texas. As a result of citizen pressure, the over-large plan was modified, but not cancelled... http://austin.ynn.com/content/top_stories/284412/locals-warming-up-to-northcross-walmart The Planning Commission will meet May 3, 6:30pm, in Richmond City Hall, 450 Civic Center Plaza. Cross streets are 25th and Barrett. It is appropriate for both Richmond and El Cerrito residents to atte...

When I was a kid, we sometimes went to the Unitarian church in Yakima. I don't remember it very much, but there was a church hall, and a sermon, and songs I think. It felt good to go and listen. I laugh now when I hear Garrison Keillor's caricature of Unitarians as vague and noncommittal. He's absolutely right, but I would say it another way. The Unitarians I know are highly committed: they are committed to questioning everything, committed to seeking. So that's me in a nutshell - one part of me. I attended York School , a private Episcopal high school in Monterey. I needed and appreciated the rich connectedness at York: connections between people, the tapestries of ideas. At the time if you asked me whether I believed in God, I would say that I always get a glimpse of God through music. This is where I became a singer. We held occasional services in the chapel, but there were no efforts to convert the diverse student body to any religion. Now when I look back, I realiz...