[Irl-dean] Aesthetics of non-visual web experience

[Tim Culhane]

Hi Éamon

Being vice Chair of VICS I thought I'd chip in and perhaps  explain what is
meant by the  VICS objective  mentioned below.

Many people are under the misconception that if a site is to be accessible
for the visually impaired, then it must be a text only site with no bells
and whistles.  In short,  it should  look boring.

However, given the recent advances in screen reading technology it is
possible for a visually impaired person tonavigate a site which, at the same
time,  is visually aesthetically pleasing.

So,  I don't think that vics is really aiming for sites which are accessible
and aesthetically pleasing to the visually impaired, but rather  that
"normal websites" can be fully accessible.

Being totally blind, I personally don't give a fig what a website looks
like.  I think a site is cool if I can navigate it easily and quickly, I can
find things without having to jump through hoops to do so, and which
provides an accessible way of portraying all the visual elements (such as
pictures etc) which are available to sighted web users.

I suppose that you could argue that what I'm looking for  are practical
rather than aesthetic things,  but to be honest I visit a website to gain
information ...  Not to have a cultural experience.