To create content for a website most people sit at a desk with a large monitor, accessing the Internet through a Web browser.
But visitors to the site will be on all kinds of devices, operating systems, and browsers, some with only a keyboard, touch, a rotor or a pointer. Blind visitors cannot use mouse to navigate a website. Mobile phones, tablets and assistive technology, are just a few devices for accessing and interacting with the Web and the future holds many more unknowns.
At the very least, test your content on a small screen and adhere to accessibility requirements.
Standards
The device and browser companies, the programmers and designers, and the content writers all need to agree to a set of rules and standards so that we can be confident our websites will display and function as expected with all the different devices. The Web Standards Project is the leader in fighting for the standards used on the Web.
Responsive
We build websites using standards based best practices to deliver flexible page layouts that are, as much as possible, consistently perceivable, operable, understandable and robust across devices.
Ways content creators can help:
- Create structured, hierarchical and organized content.
- Avoid common code mistakes that may present okay on a large screen but cause issues on small screens.
- Optimize the content and images so they will load quickly no matter what your visitor’s connection speed.
- Do not link to downloads without letting the visitor know in advance, or they may be charged for extra data on their cellular plan.
- Take care when putting text into images. As the image shrinks to fit the small screen the text may not be legible.
- Consider Word Wrapping as it changes with the screen size
- Write context relevant links.
- Adhere to the requirements of the American’s with Disabilities Act.
- Provide options for access.
- Interactive elements, such as links, should be large enough for reliable interaction on touch screens. Make sure adjacent clickable elements have a target to touch with a width and height of at least 48dp. See Google’s “Material” system of guidelines, components, and tools that support the best practices of user interface design.
Provide Options for Access
It is highly recommended that you provide alternate access options for content whenever possible. Particularly if the content is available in an alternate format or location. For example, if you’re embedding from YouTube, provide a direct link to the video on YouTube. Also include contact information for the visitor to request assistance if s/he is unable to access the video.
Technology is always changing and what works today may not work tomorrow. Code could become obsolete, a browser update could break your content or a new device may not handle the content as expected. Don’t rely too heavily on one delivery system if alternates are available.
Learn More
Not convinced that a blind user will use a touch screen? Check out Nielsen Norman Group’s article Screen Readers on Touch Devices. Learn more about the connection of responsiveness and accessibility. Take the oath to be future friendly. Dive in deep with Brad Frost’s This is Responsive resources list.