Re: [OT] flash n stuff

[Mark Baker <mark@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Arclight <arclight@datahaven.de> writes
>You can do that, but don't "bother" me with "I can't fully use your site".
>
Designing a site that requires certain add-ins or browser configurations
is a self-perpetuating myth. Users who can't access all the fancy bells
and whistles vote with their feet and don't visit again. You soon find
that the only visitors you get are running systems that conform with the
required 'standard' because no-one else can see the content, or it looks
crap. Of course, then the stats 'prove' that most users are running
boxes with the configuration that you design for.

Then you're also limiting access to those with disabilities. I know at
least two blind gamers who're dependent on straight HTML text content to
read web pages. Legislation now determines that off-line shops and
restaurants make provision for the disabled. Common courtesy says that
we should make the same allowance with online services, web-pages, etc.

Fancy graphics are all very well for those with 'majority' platforms,
but there's plenty of elements that users disable in their browsers with
valid reason. Sites that depend on Javascript, for example, deserve
every criticism for insisting that users enable a security loophole in
their browser. I've not heard of any problems yet with Flash, but...

My own pages aren't the best they could be; but I'm taking steps now to
change that. Getting rid of frames, etc.

ObME: Internet terrorists have unleashed a new Flash virus on a very
popular web site on GenNet that has spread like wildfire. The
traditional anti-virus companies aren't yet aware of it because it's
lying dormant until a trigger is released. A blind computer-savvy user
hasn't been affected because he doesn't have Flash enabled, but has
noticed strange code being downloaded through his braille interface. He
questioned the webmaster at that site about what he's observed, and
suddenly there was an attempt on his life. Now he's employed BE/BE to
discover why.

-- 
Mark Baker
http://www.lange.demon.co.uk/Millenniums_End/ME_Index.html
and visit http://www.the-isg.co.uk/ for the ME London Sourcebook