The Importance of Web Standards and Accessibility

Last week in E-Business we had the blind lecturer Roisin come in and show us exactly how important it is for websites to follow standards in order for it to be accessible for all types of users. 

Roisin showed us how exactly she browses the web using a software programme called "SHARK".  This programme  allowed her to hear exactly what was being said on the web page, given of coarse there is alternative text used on everything.  We asked her to try and book a flight for Germany using the Ryan Air website, which she could easily due in a mere few minutes, thanks to the websites clean code.  It was very hard for us to understand exactly what was being read out due to the fast speed, but she thought it was rather slow, and would usually have it on a higher speed.

As I am in the midst of making my own website, I was sure to abide by all web standards.  I would hate the fact that someone wouldn't be able to easily navigate through my own web site just because I did not follow the standards to make it more accessible. 

After seeing how vital it is for the html code to be clean for not only the visually impaired, but for those with hearing problems as well as people with learning or cognitive problems, I now know I must abide by the following:

• Provide text alternatives for all visual information 
• Keep pages clear, concise and scannable 
• Use meaningful link text
• Ensure movements on screen can be turned off
• Provide captioning/text transcript for audio/video
• Careful use of colour; good colour contrast
• Stick to web standards

All I have to say is fair play to Roisin, she is truly a role model for all people.  Not only is she suffering from visual impairment, but she is a computers lecturer.  Many people with full use of their eyesight would not be able to do the job she does.

So what is NAMA?

I'm going to be completely honest, I have no idea what in the world NAMA is.  At first I was silly enough to think it was a country, but soon learned it was something related to the financial crisis. Snore ZzZz.... I know I have heard it all over the news and radio, but usually mentally tune out whenever anything about the depressing recession comes up.  I Googled it to see if I could at least get a definition so I could have something to write about for the purpose of this blog post.  From my research, I learn it is the National Asset Management Agency and was created in reaction to the Irish financial crisis and the deflation of the property bubble.  Not exactly my favourite topic of conversation....  


After reading some more I quickly got bored with all the facts and figures, and still had no idea what exactly NAMA is.  I am really sick of hearing all of this about the recession, and cannot wait until it is over and done with.  I must say I like the decrease in prices everywhere, but it's not worth all the depression and unemployment.  Hopefully it will be over soon, and if not I will be out of Ireland once I get my degree anyways!

Technology fast hmmm...

So last Thursday in E-Commerce, we were asked to think about giving up a piece of technology for 48 hours.  Immediately, without even knowing the rules or conditions, I shunned the idea. Colin told us to choose from:

• Cell Phone
• Internet
• E-Mail
• If we are really hard-core, all three.  

Still, I was not willing to give up anything, as all had a major part in my daily life.  By Monday afternoon we were meant to come to a conclusion on what we would give up; still my decision had still not swayed.  

My phone is literally glued to my right hand, and if it were not for free texts I don't know what I would do, because I would spend a bomb on credit! If I do not nearly instantly reply to a text or even if I miss a phone call, most my friends or my father would assume that I was dead, as I am never without my phone.  Colin asked if I could shut it off right in front of him and asked me to see how long I could keep it off.  I'm not going to lie, by the time I had walked from the classroom to the outside of the college, my phone was back on and I already had a text message waiting for me.  You would think as a text-aholic I would have the fanciest smart phone out there, but no, I am rocking a basic Nokia.  Believe me, I would love to own the latest phone out there, but as much as I love technology, I tend to repel it.  Since the start of this year alone I have gone through about 4 phones, not to mention my current one is only stuck together with the help of some sellotape! Do not even get me started on other pieces of technology I have repelled.  Lets just say in the last two years I am on laptop number 4 (edit: laptop number five as of the start of December!!!), internet dongle number 5, phone number 9, the list goes on...

As for refraining from using the internet, this was also completely out of the question.  Not only do I need it for the mountain of college work we have, I need it for contacting friends and all my family in Boston, and basically to keep me from going crazy from boredom.  If we had half decent channels on our TV in Rockfield I wouldn't rely on the internet as much, but our television is from the Stone Age and the only channel that comes in properly is in Irish.  My year abroad in Germany made me very reliant on the internet especially, because it became my source of communication with friends and family from home and even the friends in Germany with me with Skype and Facebook, my television, my translator, and basically my connection to the outside world since I spoke no German.

I nearly considered giving up access to e-mail for 48 hours, but didn’t find this to be too much of a challenge because e-mail would not be that important to me.  Like the internet, I need my e-mails for college work to stay in contact with lecturers and companies I have been e-mailing as part of one of our assignments. 

So I guess I failed the challenge, but I knew I was doomed from the very start.  I can honestly say I don’t know how people from older generations, such as my parents, survived without the technology there is today.  All I know is that if it weren't for the internet and mobile phones, I don't know how anything would get successfully done or how people would communicate!  It makes me laugh to look at my dad, who has just mastered the art of texting and does not even know where the power button is on any laptop or PC.  

Oh how the times have changed....

Back to reality

So it's my first week back in Dundalk after an amazing year away in Heilbronn, Germany with seven fellow classmates. Words can't even begin to describe how remarkable and life changing the experience was. It taught me so much about myself and I made some lifelong friends from every corner of the world. It really opened my eyes to different cultures and lifestyles. 

With a bottle of German beer costing about 20 cent and a bottle of wine at just over a euro, we were never short of a good time.  By the end of the year the bars and nightclubs in Heilbronn were begging for all the Irish to be gone as we were the wildest crowd of people the town had ever seen.  I have a million and one memories from the Erasmus year and would do it all again in a heartbeat!

Below is a video that captures what an amazing time I had abroad.. and the funny thing is, this is only pictures from the first semester!

Now it's back to reality and into our fourth and final year of college.  I've got a house in Rockfield with five of the girls so I'm sure we will continue the fun.  Yesterday was my birthday so tonight we will celebrate! So far the classes are really good and we have such a handy timetable.  Although our Erasmus year was more of a holiday than it was college, I still learnt a lot on the academic side, which will be of good use this year.  I really need to put my head down now into the books this year and make sure I come out of college with my degree.  But for now I won't worry too much about that, all I am going to worry about is making sure I have a good night tonight. :)