HTML Writers Guild Newsletter
Volume 5 Number 8, 8 May 1999
http://www.hwg.org/
editor@hwg.org
Table of Contents
1. W3C News: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Released!
2. HWG Sponsors Human Communications Project (www.hcp2000.org)
3. Effective Business Writing for the Web and other Online Courses
4. AWARE Center Bulletin: HWG to Create Assistive Web Technology Lab
5. Guild Town Hall Meeting: Thursday, 27 May 6:30 p.m. PDT
6. "Why'd I Get This?" Read the HWG-News FAQ!
This issue of HWG-News is sponsored by:
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1. W3C News: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Released!
(Kynn Bartlett, AWARE Center Director, aware@hwg.org)
[Adapted from the W3C's Press Release]
The World Wide Web Consortium announced the release of the "Web Content
Accessibility Guidelines 1.0" specification as a W3C Recommendation on
Wednesday, the 5th of March. As a W3C Recommendation, the specification
is stable, contributes to the universality of the Web, and has been
reviewed by the W3C Membership who recommend it as the means for making
Web sites accessible. W3C encourages information providers to raise
their level of accessibility using this Recommendation.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines establish stable principles for
accessible design, such as the need to provide equivalent alternatives
for auditory and visual information. Each guideline has associated
"checkpoints" explaining how these accessibility principles apply to
specific features of sites. For example, providing alternative text for
images ensures that information is available to a person who cannot see
images. Providing captions for audio files makes information available
to someone who cannot hear audio.
The guidelines are designed to be forward-compatible with evolving Web
technologies, yet enable sites to degrade gracefully when confronted
with legacy browsers. Specifics on how to implement the checkpoints with
the latest versions of mark-up or presentation languages such as HTML,
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), or SMIL (Synchronized Multimedia
Integration Language) are described in a parallel "Techniques" document,
to be updated periodically.
"Understanding the principles of accessible Web authoring is crucial
for mastering the potential of the Web; interoperability and platform-
independence are the Web's cornerstones," explains Kynn Bartlett,
Director of the HTML Writers Guild's AWARE Center. "Application of the
WCAG not only produces accessible pages, but overall better pages as
well. The HTML Writers Guild is committed to promoting and teaching
these guidelines among our membership; we urge all Web authors to study
and learn from the W3C's work and produce a World Wide Web that can
truly be used by everyone."
For more information on the WCAG, please see the following URLs:
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0
http://www.w3.org/TR/1999/WAI-WEBCONTENT-19990505
The Full Text of the W3C Press Release
http://www.w3.org/1999/05/WCAG-RECPressRelease
Fact Sheet (20 FAQs) for the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
http://www.w3.org/1999/05/WCAG-REC-fact.html
The HWG's Accessible Web Authoring Resources and Education Center
http://aware.hwg.org/
2. HWG Sponsors Human Communications Project (www.hcp2000.org)
(Fred Barnett, HCP Lead Web Designer, fred@hcp2000.org)
The HTML Writers Guild's Accessible Web Authoring Resources and
Education (AWARE) Center is pleased to announce a new international
collaborative project to focus on the use of assistive technology
on the web.
The HUMAN COMMUNICATIONS PROJECT (HCP) is the brainchild of Martin
Bayne, "Mr. Long-Term Care" and chairman of the National Long-Term
Care Policy Institute. The HCP will serve as a permanent Internet-
based resource for the integration of assistive computer technology for
the disabled and the elderly, two groups that have historically used
the Internet specifically for communication, as opposed to commerce
and other uses. These two groups also have unique limitations, which
often make the use of a computer more difficult than for the young
and/or able-bodied.
HCP will use an "open-development, dynamic, real-time" approach to
knowledge. An international team of web designers will document and
archive the entire assembly of the site, with the site's "scaffolding"
in full view of the Internet community at all times. This allows
future generations of web designers to examine every phase of decision
making and construction. The HCP will therefore stand as a living
example of accessible web authoring practices.
The HTML Writers Guild is taking an active interest in the Human
Communications Project, with AWARE Center Director Kynn Bartlett
serving as founding co-Chair of the project with Martin Bayne, and
HWG Governing Board member Fred Barnett providing leadership to the
web development team.
Members of the Guild who wish to participate in the HCP are invited
to do so. HWG members with disabilities are especially encouraged to
become involved as one goal of the project is to demonstrate that when
it comes to web development, a disability need not be disabling! The
Human Communications Project website has just been launched and is
available at:
http://www.hcp2000.org/
In keeping with the "open process" theory, the site is still very
much under development, and we are looking for web designers, authors,
and other supporters. If you are interested in working on the HCP,
please contact web project lead Fred Barnett at fred@hcp2000.org or
(225-675-8515). Press questions and administrative inquiries can be
directed to Martin Bayne at mkb@hcp2000.org or (518) 383-5989; or
Kynn Bartlett at kynn@hcp2000.org or (714) 526-4963.
We thank the members of the Guild for the support that's already
been shown for this very important and worthy undertaking!
3. Effective Business Writing for the Web and other Online Courses
(Ann Navarro, Director of Online Classes, classes@hwg.org)
You've mastered HTML, style sheets, and even graphics -- but what about
the written word? Does the copy on your Web site sell your products
or services effectively? Not sure? Take our HWG Online Education
course: Business Writing Basics and improve your message!
Course B101 begins May 24, 1999 and runs for eight weeks until July
16. Registration is now open! The course synopsis is:
In a perfect world, Web developers have the support of other
specialists when building sites -- copywriters, graphic designers,
network administrators, and so on. In the real world, we all know
this rarely happens. Often, you'll get saddled with creating the
whole site, including writing the text content of the pages. This
course will help you feel more comfortable with that task. Through
an audience-centered approach to business writing, you'll improve
your ability to create grammatically correct, readable, informative
text. Using online readings and short, focused exercises, you'll
learn how to analyze your own writing and where to go to find
answers to writing questions. Perhaps most importantly, you'll
learn how to make your writing process a collaborative venture,
obtaining the investment and input of colleagues and site
stakeholders.
Additional courses open for enrollment in May and June include:
P101: BEGINNING PROGRAMMING WITH PERL
Dates: May 10, 1999 - June 18, 1999 (6 weeks)
Perl is one of the most useful programming languages in the
webmaster's toolbox -- learn it now!
MS101: ACTIVE SERVER PAGES FOR NON-PROGRAMMERS
Dates: May 17, 1999 - June 25, 1999 (6 weeks)
*** New Course! Create dynamic server-side programming in this
new course that will teach you the fundamentals of ASP! No
programming experience is necessary, only a willingness to learn!
H151: INTRODUCTION TO CASCADING STYLE SHEETS
Dates: May 24, 1999 - July 2, 1999 (6 weeks)
Learn how to use CSS to create vibrant, accessible pages with
detailed control over placement, presentation, and appearance.
D201: DESIGNING FOR UNIVERSAL ACCESSIBILITY WITH HTML 4.0
Dates: May 31, 1999 - July 9, 1999 (6 weeks)
This course will teach you everything you need to know about making
interoperable, platform-independent web sites that can be used by
anyone, regardless of disability, browser type, or other factors.
Take this class and become AWARE of web accessibility!
H301: WORKING WITH DYNAMIC HTML
Dates: June 7, 1999 - July 17, 1999 (6 weeks)
This course will allow you to blend your current talents in HTML,
Scripting, and CSS into what's commonly known as Dynamic HTML.
Go beyond the mouseover into engaging effects that can be viewed
by most of today's most popular browsers.
[Pre-requisites: HTML, Javascript, and CSS experience, such as HWG
Online Courses H101, P151, and H151.]
G201: CREATING WEB GRAPHICS WITH PAINT SHOP PRO
Dates: June 7, 1999 - July 16, 1999 (6 weeks)
*** New Course! Learn to create your own graphics for use on the
web! Explore color manipulation, filters, masks, textures and more.
COURSE FEES
For all courses, Full and Discounted members may register for $25,
Trial members for $50. Upgrade your membership before registering,
and save money! Payments may be made online via secure transaction;
all figures are in U.S. funds.
A certificate of completion is available for an additional $5;
the request needs to be made at the time of registration. Textbooks
(when required) are separate and may be purchased through the Guild's
online bookstore, The Bookmark. Books should be purchased before the
first week of class! In addition, students should have regular access
to the web and the ability to post completed assignments on a
public (non-Intranet) web server.
Sign up today through our online enrollment forms or get more
information at:
http://www.hwg.org/services/classes/
Make the most of your HWG membership -- enroll in an online course
today!
4. AWARE Center Bulletin: Guild to Create Assistive Web Technology Lab
(Kynn Bartlett, AWARE Center Director, aware@hwg.org)
The Governing Board of the HTML Writers Guild has voted to create an
Assistive Web Technology Laboratory at the Guild's Orange County,
California location, under the auspices of the HWG's Accessible Web
Authoring Resources and Education (AWARE) Center. The lab will consist
of demonstration hardware and software used to provide access to the
web for those with special needs.
The purpose of the lab is to provide information to Guild members
about how to design and test their sites for accessibility via
these technologies. Education on the available assistive technology
will be provided, including training seminars, online tutorials and
references, and informative printed materials.
Members in the Southern California area will be able to, by appointment,
schedule time to use the Guild's facilities to become familiar with
assistive web technology and test their websites against system
configurations used by web surfers with disabilities. The facilities
will also assist in research and development efforts underway by the
AWARE Center, to produce valuable online resources that can be used
by all HWG members.
The Assistive Web Technology Lab is scheduled for a summer 1999 grand
opening. Initial funding for the lab will be provided by the HWG, and
future expansion will be funded by sponsoring corporations and
foundations who wish to support the AWARE Center activities. Companies
or individuals who are interesting in helping to outfit the AWTL can
write to the AWARE Center director at aware@hwg.org.
More information on the AWTL will be posted at the AWARE Center
homepage:
http://aware.hwg.org/
5. Guild Town Hall Meeting: Thursday, 27 May 6:30 p.m. PDT
(Leanne Phillips, Vice President of Member Education, vp-edu@hwg.org)
Each month, the Guild provides an opportunity for real-time discussion
and chatting via HWG Interactive. These monthly meetings are hosted by
members of the Governing Board (with most of them in attendance),
and give our members the chance to voice your views about the HWG.
The details for April's meeting are:
27 May Town Hall Meeting
Date: Thursday, 27 May 1999
Time: 6:30 p.m. PDT, 9:30 p.m. EDT, 01:30 (28 May) GMT
Server: HWG Interactive, http://interact.hwg.org/
IRC: irc.hwg.org, port 6667
Channel: #townhall
To connect, either go to the URL above and use the Java-based client
available via the web, or use your favorite IRC client and join channel
#townhall.
We look forward to meeting you there!
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -->
6. "Why'd I Get This?" Read the HWG-News FAQ!
(HWG-News Newsletter Editor, editor@hwg.org)
Some questions you may be asking:
Q: Why did I get this mail?
A: You received this newsletter because you are a member of the
HTML Writers Guild. This message came from hwg-news, the Guild's
mandatory mailing list for all members. If you need more information
about hwg-news, please see the List Charter at:
http://www.hwg.org/lists/hwg-news/index.html
Q. Why doesn't this newsletter talk about web design or HTML?
A. The newsletter is the Guild's administrative bulletin to the
membership. If you are interested in the topics of Web design
and HTML, then you might want to subscribe to some of our
discussion lists devoted to those topics. More information on
the Guild's offering of discussion lists can be found at:
http://www.hwg.org/lists/mailinglists.html
Q. How can I find out more about Guild activities?
A. The Guild has set up a one-way announcement list, HWG-Announce,
that carries bulletins of day-to-day Guild business. For details
on how to subscribe, please see:
http://www.hwg.org/lists/hwg-announce/
Q: How do I unsubscribe from hwg-news?
A: Since this is a required list in order to maintain your
Guild membership, unsubscribing is the same as resigning from
the HTML Writers Guild.
If you have your Member ID and password, to resign your membership
in the Guild and to unsubscribe to hwg-news, visit:
http://www.hwg.org/member/resign.html
Fill in the pertinent information, and submit it.
If you don't have a Member ID, or have forgotten your password, send
mail to:
newapps@hwg.org
with a Subject of: Resign membership
In the body of the message, provide the following information:
* Your email address(es)
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* The list of discussion lists you are on.
Please remember that unsubscribing to hwg-news automatically resigns
you from the Guild. If you have problems with unsubscribing,
please contact the Database Manager for help.
Q: Can my company advertise in the Guild's newsletter?
A: Yes; the Guild is offering sponsorship opportunities in HWG-News
on a limited basis. If you are interested in advertising your
web related product or service here, please send email to
advertising@hwg.org or call (714) 526-4963. Discounts are available
to Guild Business and Corporate members, as well as for multiple
placements. The Guild's newsletter reaches over 95,000 web authors
worldwide each month.
(Note: The Guild does not make our member database available for
third party use. We have a strong privacy policy and will not
release our members' personal information; our mailing list is
not for sale. Any questions regarding the Guild's advertising or
privacy policies can be directed to advertising@hwg.org.)
Q: What if I want to comment on this newsletter?
A: The HWG-News Mailing List is a "Read-Only" list -- please do not try
to reply to this message directly.
If you wish to contact the editor of this newsletter, you may do
so by sending email to editor@hwg.org. Each article begins with
the contact information for the author as well.
This issue was edited by Kynn Bartlett.
Copyright 1999, HTML Writers Guild, Inc., All Rights Reserved.
Published monthly via email and WWW.