Very well written article that touches on some of the more important points about accessibility. I've seen the attitude that they mention in too many developers. What they don't realise is that for people with a visual or motor disability, a computer and the internet can make possible things that weren't earlier possible or make easier things that were hard.
If you'd fractured both legs or you're allergic to sunlight, would you prefer to get your milk at the local grocery store or to order it online and have it home delivered? If you had a visual disability and had to rely on audio cues, would you prefer a conversation in a crowded room full of people or IRC?
I don't know if toucscreen devices can replicate the kind of tactile feedback you get from a physical keyboard. I've heard of research in this area that uses tiny electric pulses or vibration, but I don't have a source to cite right now. It may be some way off, but just dismissing it by saying it's not necessary isn't the solution. We're all smart enough to figure it out if we first identify it as a problem.
Remember some of the first FORTRAN and COBOL programmers are in their 70s now. Arthritis and visual problems aren't that uncommon at that age. Will PHP, Python and Ruby programmers still be able to use a computer when they turn 70?
If you'd fractured both legs or you're allergic to sunlight, would you prefer to get your milk at the local grocery store or to order it online and have it home delivered? If you had a visual disability and had to rely on audio cues, would you prefer a conversation in a crowded room full of people or IRC?
I don't know if toucscreen devices can replicate the kind of tactile feedback you get from a physical keyboard. I've heard of research in this area that uses tiny electric pulses or vibration, but I don't have a source to cite right now. It may be some way off, but just dismissing it by saying it's not necessary isn't the solution. We're all smart enough to figure it out if we first identify it as a problem.
Remember some of the first FORTRAN and COBOL programmers are in their 70s now. Arthritis and visual problems aren't that uncommon at that age. Will PHP, Python and Ruby programmers still be able to use a computer when they turn 70?