Lost in Translation

There is a common assumption among those who do not work in a technical field that because an individual is qualified to do one type of technical work, they are qualified to do it all.

Everyone hears it at some point. The dreaded phrase “well you work on computers so you must know…”.

“So, you work on computers so you must know about web design.”

Or conversely:

“You build websites so how do I fix X on my computer?”

I’m not entirely sure how this mindset came about. When you think about it, do you go to a proctologist if you have skin problems? Of course not! You see the dermatologist.

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I was recently admitted to the Guild of Accessible Web Designers. This is a big deal for me, since accessibility has been a focus of mine from my earliest days learning web design. I was accepted after a review of my site, so I’m feeling rather proud of myself! This is just another step to demonstrate my commitment to accessibility.

Accessibility is a term that throws a lot of people at first. Even people who make websites, but may not be professional designers, don’t always realize what it is or the importance of it. Individuals at businesses and non-profits in charge of getting a site built are often surprised by the concept once they discover what it is.

So what is it?

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Since I’ve said it so often before, let me say again in my blog, right here in writing: Flash is not always your friend.

Yes, it is really great.

Sometimes.

As with all technology, just because it is really cool does not mean it is something that everyone should use every time.

Here’s why:

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Although I’ve been a web designer professionally for almost a decade, I was working on a college degree for far longer. That’s right, I learned this stuff before you could major in it. As a result, I decided to go for an e-business degree because I had no desire to sit through months of basic web design classes. Surprise! I already knew about 99% of the e-business material too.

But this meant I got to participate in some interesting classroom discussions and once again see how other people view the Internet.

In several classes there was confusion among students as to the difference between blogs, wikis and forums, what they did, and when to use them.

To add to the confusion, they each do have some similar functions. Yes, all 3 are web-based applications that allow people to communicate with each other. However, this doesn’t mean they are all ideal for the same needs or projects. (more…)

This handy little symbol is used to show that you can sign up to get a feed of the blog you are reading. In plain English: there is software out there (free) that you can get that will notify you when a new article is posted to this blog. Feeds are available on many sites, from news sites to personal blogs. Some retail sites use it to keep their customers notified of when new items arrive. Another term for this is RSS.

What is the benefit? Why do I want it?
Mainly, its a timesaver. You don’t have to hit every one of your favorite sites to see what, if anything, is new. At a glance you can see if there is anything interesting going on. Then you can read the article in your newsreader, or click the link in the reader to go to your favorite site and read the whole article.

How do you get these RSS feeds?
There are a variety of ways. (more…)