Friday, April 5, 2002

Accessibility of graphics. We all know we need ALT tags for images. But complex graphics may require more than a simple description. On the web accessibility mailing list, I ran across an excellent example of how to construct an accessible text version of a complex graphic: Organizational chart, graphical version Organizational chart, text version The same concept works on very complex data tables. Screen readers can render properly-constructed data tables, but it still may be worthwhile to construct a separate page to help readers with spatial or cognitive impairments. The W3 uses this technique on their Benefits of Accessible Web Design page: table of accessibility benefits linearized version of the same information [diveintomark] 4:42:37 PM

Valenti, annotated edition. CNET: Interview with Jack Valenti. LawMeme: Interview with Jack Valenti, annotated. [diveintomark] 4:40:33 PM

How to stop telemarketers and direct mailers. I suppose now would be as good a time as any to mention JunkBusters.com, which has several resources you can use to protect your own privacy. As you may have figured out by now, no one will protect your privacy for you; you have to do it yourself. JunkBusters merely shows you how to help yourself; the hard part is up to you. Note that most of this information is U.S.-specific; readers outside the U.S. will have to look elsewhere. (Anyone know where? Email me.) the anti-telemarketers script, which is guaranteed (by U.S. federal law) to stop telemarketers from calling you the JunkBusters declare forms, which allow you to print out the correct forms (and lists the correct mailing addresses to send them) to stop direct marketers from mailing you things and selling your name and address other information on how companies sell your personal information Months go by and I don't get any telemarketing calls. None, as in zero. I used the anti-telemarketing script twice when I first moved into my house last summer. Even though you allegedly need to tell each telemarketing firm to put you on their "do-not-call" list, I'm guessing they must all talk to each other. After months of being forced to give out my home phone number to a variety of agencies (including the DMV, which is notorious for selling personal information), nobody uses mine to bother me. Guess they got the message. [diveintomark] 4:37:26 PM

© Copyright 2003 Michael Alderete.