"Developing WordPress themes, templates and WordPress plugins"

Came across this article on the BBC Ouch site makes interesting reading: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/opinion/face_to_facebook.shtml

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As you will realise the primary aim of Squawk is to create awreness of accessibility on the internet and hopefully try to influence our readers to take accessibility seriously.

Most people think accessibility only relates to people who have a “disadvantage or deficiency, especially a physical or mental impairment that prevents or restricts normal achievement”.  But look at the phrase in more detail, read slowly and think about the first 3 words.

“Disadvantage or deficiency”

In my book this clearly defines accessibility

Based on the disadvantage or deficiency website owners can attract even more visitors and customers by thinking about their web-sites accessibility. In addition to those people who have a disadvantage or deficiency caused  by a  physical or mental impairment that prevents or restricts normal achievement there is a large group of people out there who are also suffering from accessibility issues.

According to 2008 figures from the UK Office for National Statistics.

• 70% of those aged 65 or over had never been online – a figure which dropped to a third for those aged between 55 and 64.
• 93% of those with a degree or higher level qualification has home internet access – a figure which drops to 56% of those who have don’t have formal qualifications.
• 29% of women have never used the internet, the same is only true for 20% of men.

When asked why they didn’t have the internet.

• 60% said they didn’t need it or want.
• 27% said the cost of equipment or internet access as too high
• 15% thought they didn’t have the requisite skills.

Two million more adults accessed the internet in 2008 than in 2007.

Lets look at the maths:

Based on the 2001 UK national census the UK population is about 58,789,194 (58 Million) , of which about 80% are termed as adult that’s about 46Million (OK -46.4M)

• People aged 65 and over formed 16 per cent of the population.
• Nearly 30 per cent of the adult population have no qualifications.
• Nearly 20 per cent of the adult population have a degree or higher qualification.
• The adult population is nearly a 50/50 split male and female.

So do the maths

• 50% of 46 is 23 (hey I’m good!) so  that means that
• 4.6 million males and 6.67 females have not used the internet – total 11.27Million adult people.

Based on the figures nearly 1.7 million think they don’t have the skills to access the internet.  Thats a lot of people – and that’s just in the United Kingdom – one of 195 official independent countries in the world (192 sit at the United nations).

Are these numbers not enough to stop and make you think about making web sites easy to access?

It is one of the reasons  why sites like Twitter – easy to use (but not accessible try the accessible twitter) – are popular and take off.

The internet is a massive place with millions and millions of users.  By December 31, 2008, 1.574 billion people were using the internet according to Internet World Statistics, as equipment and internet access becomes cheaper more and more people are going to be on line for the first time.

Sites which have good usability and accessibility will become more and more relevant

"Opportunitas tandem"

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Many thanks to http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Hl1/Help/DG_020463 for this, other useful information also available from them.

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I just have to give this another plug – accessible twitter – today (not over yet) 20% (yes 20%) of visitors to this blog used accessible twitter to get here.  Just goes to prove accessibility works

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Browsing the wonderful www today as usual I take time out to look at other blogs and associated web sites.  Today I came across a web design company (in the US run by “native English language speakers”  with an interesting portfolio (they seem to have a large – and I mean a large – number of Clients), well done.  They also have a blog; again well done.

But how come they have clients when:

• So few links on their web site actually work?
• The site and blog are written in an English that reads more like Spanglish or Greeklish – Gobbledegook is easier to understand.
• They pay no attention to accessibility
• They pay no attention to userbility

As far as their published prices (that link works!) – you buy online and pay upfront with no consultation etc.

The link text to get to their portfolio is “our portfolio look our last best design portfolio”

Well -  they don’t appear to actually have any clients! all the designs in the portfolio and their related URLs lead to page errors.  A bit more research and you find that all the designs are from the stock web design portfolios.

When you choose a web designer (and we are not one – we code web sites that’s what we do and there is a big difference!) please make sure they have a verifiable portfolio and that they consult with you first.  There are some great designers out there with good portfolios, good practice, great skills and who actually want to work with you to create a tangabile benefit to your company.

The site I refer to has a Package 2 initially it sounds good you get:

• Up to 20 web Pages with images.
• Custom Design (3 Layouts) to suit your business.
• Shopping Cart.
• Three level of categorization of the product through admin Panel
• Payment Gateway Integration. Either from a bank or Pay Pal or similar vendor.
• Content Management system for client to add, edit or delete the data
• Content Management system for client to add, edit or delete the Products.
• Bulk Up loader to upload multiple products with images on the website.
• Inventory system to know your sales, stock and delivery.
• Contact us form
• Flash Animation.
• Product search feature within the website.
• Administrative functions like order tracking, replacing products etc.
• Domain Name Registration and Hosting (Optional)
• SEO Compatible.
• Website submission to Search engines.

at a cost of $3,250.00

But don’t foget you pay upfront!

$3,250.00 is a very large amount of money to ‘pay up front’ for a standard stock template design that you can pay $50- $150 for from many sites.

Please, if you are looking for a web site design find a good designer or look at sites like 99designs.com a design competition site where you set up a competition for “real” designers to design your site – hey even people like Travelodge have used it (OK that was for a new logo for Canada).  You get the design in a PSD format for people like us to code.  Think about this a design competition (minimum prize $250 per page layout) plus coding – hey you could have “Package 2″ for less than $2000 – that’s a minimum saving of $1250 and you get to have a unique design to your specifications and one that will be a benefit for your company.

We work with a number of design companies and in conjunction with them now offer 24/7 support, try get that from a company that only sells templates (at sky high prices).

If you don’t like the idea of a competition i.e. 99designs then in the US we are working with Razolution who currently have offices in Albany (NY) and Atlanta shortly to open an office in Las Vagas (so they have good geograpical coverage).  In South Afirca we suggest Gypsy Cooper – actually Lyne – and her husband who can be contacted here lynecooper@gmail.com. Both have great portfolios, are very nice people to work with and will give you something you really want.

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