|
|
Posted by Krusty on 10/27/03 11:36
""The Tactician" Luke Michaels" <benserwa@gmail.com> wrote...
> "The main reason for this is because you exclude some users. Mainly: those
> with disabilities and who need to use adaptive technology, such as Screen
> Readers. Also some people do not have access to flash enabled browsers and
> some just choose not to use them."
>
> You've made the first valid point in a really horrible way. Yes, some
> people don't have access to Flash, so if you want /everyone/ to be able to
> access your data you shouldn't use it. Yet, the big advertisers all use
> Flash, because it's a more dynamic and exciting medium. So obviously if
> you're targeting those demographics Flash is completely fine. And while
> Macromedia's 98% claim is pretty suspicious, Internet Explorer comes with
> a version of Flash now.
He's talking about 508 accessibility, and he's wrong.
Macromedia Flash is fully 508 compliant. It has been since version 6.
See the white paper:
http://www.macromedia.com/resources/accessibility/best_practices/bp_fp.html
Also the 98% penetration number isn't bunk. It's legit. Penetration is MUCH
higher the farther back in version you go. Version 7 has about a 91%
penetration and version 5 is actually higher than 98% in some countries
(Canada, Europe).
See the data:
http://www.macromedia.com/software/player_census/flashplayer/version_penetration.html
The short answer is, if you're creating pages for persons with hearing or
visual impairments, or even other accessibility issues, Flash is excellent.
There are few tools in the pure html arsenal that even come close.
And if you REALLY want to feel like a dinosaur, then just visit the Flash
platform page. Flash ain't the Flash everybody thinks it is.
http://www.macromedia.com/platform/
So, to answer your question authoritatively. No, there is no reason NOT to
use Flash. A lot of time, the bias against Flash is simply coming from
people who don't know how to use it properly.
Navigation:
[Reply to this message]
|