Standards-next: Content and Cognition

Content and Cognition Ian Pouncey

Content and Cognition • How we should use content • Using content in multiple forms • What to avoid

Consistency • Navigation • Fonts and font sizes • Interactive elements: links and buttons

Structure • Headings • Lists • White space • Clear differentiation between content types

Focus • Avoid • contrasting blocks of colour • unexpected sound • moving content • pop ups

Readability • Adequate text size and line height • Limited line length • Colour contrast • Short paragraphs

Transformability • Supports text re-sizing • Supports user styles • Works without images or styles • Provide an API or feed

Content • Spelling and grammar • Deﬁnitions of terms • One subject • Summarise

Let’s make something

Generated content • Content inserted with CSS. • Not read out by screen reader software. • Use only in cases where the content doesn’t make sense on an unstyled page.

Generated content <p class="instructions-search">You can search this site using the search form provided</p> .instructions-search:after { content: ", which is below and to the right of the logo."; }

Generated content

Images

Audio and video • To limit the amount of work required you can combine the audio with the visual. Start with an audible version, and then repeat with a visual demonstration. • Keep it simple - A plain backdrop, not too much movement, speak simply and clearly. • Play only on demand. Automatically playing audio visual content is distraction to many users, annoying to most others • Include HTML controls to start and stop your movie - ﬂash is still not universally accessible.

Distractions • Avoid busy backgrounds

Distractions

Tasks • Don’t assume that ‘simple’ tasks are easy • The same applies to ‘What colour is the sky’ type questions

Me • http://ianpouncey.com/ • @IanPouncey

Standards-next: Content and Cognition

by Ian Pouncey on Sep 21, 2009

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Standards-next: Content and Cognition — Presentation Transcript