Social Networking

In this blog I have talked about Accessible Twitter several times. In one of the posts, I have examined if mainstream sites or accessible solutions should be used, where I used Accessible Twitter as an example. After writing this post, I have contacted Dennis Lembree to shar his views. Read why and how Dennis decided to create Accessible Twitter.

Recently I wrote about Accessible Twitter and an accessible CAPTCHA solution. Both solutions were developed because a mainstream application is not accessible for people with disabilities, so people stepped up to come up with a quick solution. In case of Twitter, a site was developed to provide people with disabilities with a more accessible browsing experience. In case of the CAPTCHA, a solution was developed because many web sites offer an image verification system which is not accessible. The question is if it is a good idea to approach accessibility from the back door with such solutions.

Social-networking websites and those based on user-generated content are “effectively locking out” disabled users, charities have said.

In the UK there are estimated to be 1.6 million registered blind people, 1.5 million with cognitive difficulties and six million that have dyslexia.

At the University of Wisconsin, Adam Wilson tested an application which allows people to control Twitter with their brain signals. The user just needs to think of the letter and it is typed into Twitter. Adam Wilson put together pieces of technology which existed individually, and yet, it is a great invention for many reasons.

Have you ever tried to imagine what it would be like to use Facebook as a blind person? If not, try to do so. It's not the easiest thing in the world is it?

Well, Facebook has been working with the American Foundation for the Blind to make it easier. A couple years ago, the AFB approached Facebook about making the social network more accessible to the blind and visually impaired.

It has been a heated debate how to make sure that only humans can register on web pages, without permitting automated systems to do the same. A solution, called CAPTCHA was developed, but often times it is not accessible. If you are not familiar with this problem, read my article about it. There are many great solutions, I just came across one which I would like to share.

These days we hear a lot about the accessibility of social networking sites. Some seem to be very accessible, like LinkedIn, some are making progress these days, like Facebook, and others are just not too usable for people with disabilities at all.

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is to increase its work in the social networking sphere by investing more resources into the development of industry guidelines and payments protocols, and undertaking greater outreach on accessibility and mobility matters.

In a new report summarising the organisation's recent Workshop on the Future of Social Networking, the W3C argued that the lack of a micropayments protocol could be holding back some networks from creating sustainable business models.

What's necessary for some, is good for all. Creating accessible web sites does not only help people with disabilities, but also enhances a site's search engine optimization techniques. This article will provide examples on how accessible solutions can enhance SEO.