Episode 47: Views from the Coop EXTRA – A Review of Jumpchart
November 5, 2007
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A couple of weeks ago, my Mac Chik buddy, Allison, over at the NosillaCast, asked me if I would review a new online service for web developers called Jumpchart that helps us websters more easily plan the websites we do for our clients (like I need any planning help…YES! ). Needless to say, I JUMPED at the chance and couldn’t wait to get CHARTED (I know, bad pun…I just couldn’t help myself). I used the service and recorded a review for Allison to post as part of her regular podcast. She posted it this past weekend. I’m posting my review here on the Views from the Coop blog but I encourage you to check out the entire NosillaCast. I love to listen to Allison! She really does cover both Mac and PC. Being a MAC user herself, she’s little bit biased toward cool tekkie stuff for the Mac but she does make an effort to include us PC folks. I’ve learned about and used several tools I learned about on her podcast. Allison includes the text of my review in her shownotes, so I won’t repeat them here. Just mosey on over to the NosillaCast and check out Episode #119, Car Waxing Tutorial, Jumpchart, Leopard Wk 2.
Yoo Hoo…Odeo! Looky Here! (odeo/36979491b3e1237e)
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November 8th, 2007 at 10:33 am
Hello, Page. Your review of JumpChart on NosillaCast was excellent!
JumpChart seems like the perfect way to add appropriate accessibility concerns in the early planning stages. Does JumpChart support accessibility checking? How do you incorporate accessibility into your website creation?
From my perspective as visually impaired, using a screen reader, my wish list is:
1) Navigation bars to the right and bottom or a direct jump to the main content of each page
2) Page divisions labeled with headings to scan the content on first visit and return to find the important parts to read (i.e. listen to)
3) Duh, no “click here” link labels but nice long names that also warn of non-html linked objects, e.g. PDF, Flash, …
4) All websites tested without screens – set up a screen reader, via a remote wireless keyboard from somewhere the screen is not visible, and evaluate the website like a blind person, noting the amount of tabbing and moving among links and headings. By the way, a new free, open source screen reader is available, nvda from nvaccess.org
I hope JumpChart is a way to make accessibility easier for all of us – you designers, your clients, search engine robots, and us visually impaired users.
November 8th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Thanks for your comment, Susan. I’m still playing with Jumpchart and I appreciate your mentioning accessibility. Like TOO MANY web designers out there, I don’t pay as much attention to accessibility as I should. I tend to forget that there are a number of web visitors out there who don’t have the same ability to see, hear or even move well enough to be able to enjoy the surfing experience like I do. I hope you take the time to listen to the interview I did with Glenda Watson-Hyatt, the author of “I’ll Do It Myself”, her autobiography about living (and I do mean LIVING) with cerebral palsy. She’s quite an inspiration. You can hear the podcast at http://viewsfromthecoop.com/2007/views-from-the-coop-online-welcomes-glenda-watson-hyatt/
Thanks again for reminding me to pay closer attention to accessibility when I design future website, Susan!