Making the web more accessible
The internet plays a vital role in the lives of many people today. From education to employment and commerce to health care and recreation there are many aspects of our lives that are connected to the internet. The benefits of the internet cannot be undermined and the impact of the World Wide Web can be seen right in front of our eyes. For the past however long the internet has been running there has been a certain section of society that has been unable to make use of the internet, this is the disabled proportion of the population.
Web sites and software in the past did not offer people with disabilities the facility to navigate and communicate through the internet. This in turn isolated the people with disabilities and deprived them of the benefits that the internet has. Recently however attempts have been made to make the web more accessible to the disabled lot. There are a wide range of natural disabilities that may impair a person’s ability to navigate the web. Old age and injuries caused by accidents are also factors that can greatly restrict an individual’s access to the internet.
The importance of Web accessibility
Since the internet deals with so many important aspects of our life today and there is such a large population of the world that is stricken with disabilities the importance of making the web more accessible is fairly obvious. By enabling the huge mass of deprived disabled people to operate on the internet there will be a change in the social structure. Whereas previously the disabled lot was unable to participate actively in society a more accessible web will give them the opportunity to work constructively for the development of society.
Web accessibility means that websites and software will be designed in such a manner that disabled individuals with certain physical or mental restrictions will be able to use the internet just as easily as ordinary citizens. This will give them equal opportunities on the internet which is something that has always seemed impossible on a social level. The chance to participate in society plus the guaranteed equal opportunity will transform this bulk of underutilized people into a mass of productive individuals.
Today the web is being transformed. It now offers unprecedented access to information and opportunities of interaction to people suffering from many different kinds of disabilities. The accessibility barriers to print, visual and audio media can now be overcome with the improving web technology.
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- Eddie - 2010-02-01
setting up you emails using the above guide was the simplest thing I ever had to do on a PC thanks..more
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