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Member since:
2005-11-16
Hi,
And that is probably where the problem starts. It doesn't magically solve the problem, but does lure web developers into thinking "semantics" is "good enough".
Providing facilities to allow blind people to use a web site isn't really an option. Typically there's legal obligations (various equal rights laws in different countries). Most web developers just couldn't be bothered doing extra work for a relatively small amount of potential users. Instead they create "visual user only" web sites then fail to provide a stylesheet for aural users; and pretend that using semantic markup is "enough".
Basically, "semantic markup" is used as a scapegoat, so web developers can continue doing nothing for blind users despite legal obligations.
Note: Before when I said I hadn't heard of Aural Stylesheets, what I really meant was that I've done several web development modules (all of them that were offered) as part of a CS degree, and hadn't heard of Aural Stylesheets. The university completely skipped over the entire issue. I'm hoping galvanash will reply to this too - he's been doing web development since 1996 or so, and I'd be willing to bet that in those 15 years he's never created an aural stylesheet or tested any of his web sites with a screen reader.
Now consider what would happen if there was an Aural Markup Language (AUML?); and if web developers couldn't rely on the "semantics" scapegoat. Web developers would be forced (by legal obligations) to actually design sites for blind users; and if that happened a lot of people (not just blind people) would use it (it'd be perfect for things like smartphones - imagine browsing OSNews via. headphones while you're out jogging).
- Brendan