Message-ID: <Pine.HPP.3.95.981004101102.19451A-100000@ccshst01> Date: Sun, 4 Oct 1998 10:47:28 -0400 From: Don Richardson <mailto:drichard@uoguelph.ca> Subject: Re: IDN Applauds the Use Of Lotus Notes Technology As World Bank To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
Chris,I'm a big Bobby fan too - http://www.cast.org/bobby/
Not only does the web page analyzer deal with disability related web browsing issues, but it also provides a picture of a web site from the p.o.v. of people with slow modem connections or text based browsers (or email-web gateways).
The point my message is that when designing web pages we must consider the needs of users. "Intuitive" design is important and development oriented web site designers also need to give special consideration to users with slow modem speeds and those who access the web using disability software tools. It is also very important to make strong efforts for multi-lingual capability. Most development web sites are English only, including the World Bank and IDN. By comparison, FAO has done a good job of creating its site for Arabic, French, English and Spanish (http://www.fao.org).
To simplify Georges' analysis using the Bobby web page analyzer:
1) The World Bank site clocks in on Bobby with a download time of about 11 seconds based on a 28.8 modem speed. Many of the graphics do not contain text descriptions underneath. There are a couple of browser compatibility problems. A lot of work has to be done in order for the site to get a "Bobby Approved" recommendation.
By comparison:
2) The IDN site clocks in at about 18 seconds, with minor errors and gets a "Bobby Approved" entitlement.
3) The CIDA website clocks in at about 16 seconds, with minor errors and gets a "Bobby Approved" entitlement.
4) The Devmedia site (http://www.devmedia.org) clocks in at about 2 seconds, with minor errors and gets a "Bobby Approved" entitlement.
Note that the Devmedia site was designed from a Bobby, slow modem speed and text browser p.o.v. Big difference between a 2 second download time and a 16 second download time. Imagine the time lag for the Bank, or CIDA sites for someone in northern Canada or sub-saharan Africa coming in on a 9600 Baud modem. Lots of time to click on a site and make a cup of coffee while it downloads.
Bottom line: Bobby is a terrific resource and we should all make more use of it.
Cheers, Don Richardson