Tag: Usability

Witness the evolution

A little while back I referred to another project that I’ve been consumed with. In addition to my volunteer role at the Inclusive Design Research Centre (IDRC). On the 5th of this month, the 15th anniversary of my accident, I officially launched Abledaccess. And as promised (damn, was it really in February?), I’m announcing it here today.

Honestly the rough idea for this project, well it’s original intent at least, has been fermenting in my head for quite sometime (since October of last year?). But the perfect opportunity to have it grow before it had even begun presented itself in January, so I pounced on it. This is all pretty exciting for me. Not only is this another forum for me to work from and write about, but it’s an amazing opportunity to be involved in the larger coding community. Meaning, in addition to it being a blog, where I’ll discuss accessibility and usability realities — or how I experience and see them — I’m also openly developing a WordPress blogging theme called FSSFive. Using various framework’s and component’s that the IDRC has developed, and continues (being a keyword, all this stuff is very much in flux, at the moment) to develop, to help internet users enjoy more equaled access to the net.

But keep in mind, it’s currently a rather simplistic representation of what a WordPress theme can be. I want to nail down the basics before I worry about presentation (read: how it looks). As I said it’s currently under development and will constantly be changing and improving. If you should ever feel so inclined, stop by and check me out either at Abledacess, or my Github repository.

Witness the evolution…

Stick that in your pipe and smoke it!

Just this past Wednesday, after a month or so of trying to coordinate a suitable time for both of us to meet, I was able to get into the city and visit a friend and check out what he is really busy working on.

My friend, Colin, has been working in the field of computer technology — mainly by helping to make various software applications, largely internet related, accessible — for years now. In fact, that is precisely why and how we met, over an entire decade ago! He was involved, as a student, with the folks who set me up with the means to use my first computer. University of Toronto’s ATRC (who are now at OCAD University as the Inclusive Design Research Centre).

It was the ATRC who outfitted me with the original gear I used to interact with a computer. Keep in mind, that was a time when I was differently abled, well differently abled than I am now, at least. Where my interactions were entirely facilitated through a head switch and an on screen keyboard. Much like I’ve written here before — well not so much the onscreen keyboard aspect, I’d rather foolishly forgotten, but I was delightfully reminded during said visit…

Continue reading Stick that in your pipe and smoke it!

The shape of things to come?

Technically, today begins the 7th calendar year of this website’s existence. Which is abundantly surreal, actually. And, as insignificant as that first sentence may be (read: is), I’m marking this anniversary by launching the site’s 3rd official re-design. Bam (that was a not so subtle hint to those who have stumbled on my words in a feed reader, say, to get on a modern web browser and see what I’m talking about)!

And so the current iteration of this blog, rather obviously, leaves the former behind. My point, while my former “skin” was extremely stale (I’d argue, if not right out of the gates, very soon after), it served me very well. Exceptionally well, in fact. Farewell my old friend. It’s been a blast! But, if I might be frank, it didn’t really meet with as many of the design objectives as I’d have liked (way more on that than is even remotely called for in a bit).

And now we have this effort. It entailed much more than a reshuffling for appearance’s sake. It was a complete re-development from the ground up. HTML, CSS, PHP, Javascript, plus some neat little WordPress optimization tricks (does this site seem a tad snappier?) thrown in, for good measure. Or, in other words, I ripped it all out, and started fresh.

With more, of everything, still to come…

Continue reading The shape of things to come?

What I Do Following Completion

Today an old friend sent me a question he had out of genuine curiosity. And a “disclaimer.” “Just curious. I hope you don’t mind the questions.” 

Well, my buddy, not only don’t I mind, I’m more than happy to answer anything you may be wondering. If people could learn anything from me which will, in turn provide some sort of insight, I will have served a purpose. 

It’s all good… Continue reading What I Do Following Completion