Posted by William Gill on 10/25/07 15:16

jodleren wrote:

>
> I am aware of the problem.
>
<snip>
> May I ask, what is your problem (glasses, bad sight...?), and how do
> you overcome it?

I hesitate to even venture into this discussion, but hopefully I can
lend some minor insight. First off, I will give the OP the benefit of
the doubt (as some here have and some have not) with regard to what
motivates such a question . Any person with a disability (sorry I don't
subscribe to the PC terminology) already endures some limitation as well
as suffering a significant amount or indignity. The latter is
frequently the product of "good intention" or people who "understand."
Quite frankly, they don't, and with the grace of God, they never truly
will. OP, you state you are aware of the problem. Maybe you are. For
example many of us, as we get older, have our eyesight diminish. Others
may never have been blessed with good eyesight, or even any eyesight to
begin with. Some may have perfect eyesight, but just have poor
equipment. Still others may even have state of the art equipment, but
like to view their monitor as they walk around with a phone attached to
their head. What does it matter? If you know the problem is one size
does not fit all, seek the solution by learning how to allow custom
sizing, not in trying to identify the reason. Is the problem with the
page (inflexible font sizing), or is it the visitor? How offensive is
it to ask "Why are you not just like me, since I am the barometer by
which "normal" is determined?"

There are many disabilities not as universally "understood" as ocular
deficiency. Unless you are involved in developing a cure, please don't
offend by asking.

So, if the problem is the page, and not the visitor, read the
references, both good and bad. See which you think allows the visitor
the most flexibility. My guess is it will impact more than the
selection of font sizing, it will influence your entire approach to
design. Strive to improve the page, not the visitor. Unless of course,
your intention is to exclude "inferior" visitors.

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