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Using CSS to create attractive, useable and accessible websites.

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Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) allow the clever web developer a great deal of control over their site. Not only does CSS save a lot of time in the long run when it comes to making site-wide changes, but they can also assist you to create an attractive and accessible site.
You do need to contend with the limitations of CSS: it won't always do what you think it will, and getting it to do the same thing in every browser is nigh-on impossible. However these limitations can be dealt with if you have patience and a little creativity.
Regarding visual appeal: with a simple and logical HTML structure, you can apply myriad and dramatic changes in style to the same page, just by altering the CSS; not changing one single character of your HTML.
Regarding accessibility: laying out your HTML to work with CSS can make your pages infinitely more accessible to a range of impaired users, without disadvantaging the experience of the remainder of your audience: from creating 'standards complaint' code, to optimizing the content for screen-readers.


Keywords: Cascading Style Sheets, Accessibility, Useability, HTML
Stream: Web - XML/HTML/Javascript
Presentation Type: 30 minute Paper Presentation in English
Paper: Using CSS to create attractive, useable and accessible websites.


Amanda Jane Penrose

Web Developer, Amanda's Castle
Australia

Amanda has over 10 years experience in the Internet and Multimedia industry, including design, web publishing and content creation. She has worked on hundreds of websites, both personally and professionally. She spends a lot of her personal time on the computer. She belongs to many online communities and projects, and considers Photoshop to be much more fun than any computer game :-)

Ref: OS5P0047

 
 
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