Accessible web design UK

Accessible web design

Accessible web design refers to the creation of web pages that are accessible to all users, including users with disabilities. Accessible web design is built in aid of many disabled people including those who are visually impaired (poor eye sight, colour blindness), motor impaired (Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy) and hearing impaired (deaf).

Accessible web design UK

The UK passed a law called “The disability discrimination act” in 1992 making it illegal to discriminate those with disabilities. Although the law does not refer to Internet users and website accessibility, many larger companies are starting to use technology to cater for those with special needs.

With the advance of technology many new products have been created to assist disabled people. The different products available vary from speech recognition software for those who are motor impaired and have difficulties using a mouse, to software that can read web pages or selected parts of the page using synthesised speech.

The importance of accessible web design lays in the fact that a lot of these helpful products will not be fully effective unless the websites are designed to be accessible.

Why should you make your website accessible?

Using accessible web design London based companies and others around the UK have found that rewards outweigh the costs. Companies using accessible web design have the knowledge and comfort that they are providing useful alternatives for people with special requirements. They also have the added benefits of increasing their potential customer base, as customers with disabilities will be more receptive to companies that cater to their needs.

We have established the importance of accessible web design across the globe but the most important factor is how daily tasks we take for granted, can be carried out with relative ease giving the user peace of mind and independence. With the Internet being the most used information resource for people from all walks of life it has become necessary to provide people with disabilities the equal opportunities of accessing information and people at the touch of a button.

Fast becoming an integral part of building a website, accessible web design UK, and globally is a must for all website owners who wish to bridge the gap between web design and web functionality.

Typo3 CMS – Open Source Content Management Solution

When if comes to founding a new website, many companies are unhappy with the choices that they have to make. There are traditionally two choices, between paying a web designer to come in and construct your website – and then pay them again each time you need an update; and building your own site: dull, two-dimensional and more likely to drive custom away than bring it in. Obviously this is not a choice at all, but a pick between two equally unpleasant options.

Even more obviously, there has to be a better way. That way is the Content Management System. Using CMS puts the capability back into your own hands. The site is at beginning designed by a professional, then you have a package that you can use to amend and update you website without having to wait or risk losing business, as well as being able to update your site according to your marketing needs.

CMS allows you to alter your website directly, so that any mistakes, typos, for example, can be altered straight away. It works on a What You See Is What You Get system, so you know exactly what you are putting onto your site. A good CMS is secure, is built in layers, to ensure flexibility, is operating system platform independent, and is easy to extend with new features that maybe your website will require as your company will grow.

When you are considering the CMS which will help you build your business web site, there is a system which can give you the benefits, and that has a full support of developers all around the world that are ready to help you.

This software is called Typo3 Content Management System. TYPO3 is a free Open Source content management system for enterprise purposes on the web and in intranets. One of the main benefits of using the TYPO3 CMS solution is that it is ideal to use for small and large businesses alike, offering a professional and stylish format that is adaptable and flexible.

What makes the Typo3 Content Management Software system so popular is how easy it is to use: anyone who has typed words onto a screen can use it comfortably. Its stylish and businesslike format means that it keeps the look of a professional web design. TYPO3 CMS can be configured in way to achieve high search engine visibility so search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN will easily index your page, leading to more relevant traffic going to your site. No other form of online advertising can match the return on investment that search engine optimisation offers. The system also automatically updates links, so there is no more wasted time searching for ‘not available’ sites.

TYPO3 CMS produces a standards compliant XHTML code, and it fulfils other standards such as the WCAG 1.0 standard of creating accessible web sites for wide audience visitors even for people with disabilities. This system also guards against mistakes by preserving the integrity of the web design, and all changes can be simply reversed. The owner of the system can also set different limits for different members of staff, so that you can control who is allowed to access your administration part of CMS web site.