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3% use IE9 and 14% have a disability. Why do we only cater for the former?

fionatg.com

31–40 of 250 posts

Re: 3% use IE9 and 14% have a disability. Why do we only cater for the former?

#31
post #2

Probably because those 3% are homogeneous, while the 9% decompose into lots and lots of categories, all with specific needs, and all much smaller than 9%.

That's a good point, but personally I'd rather cater to the people who don't have a choice in their capabilities rather than those purposely remain ignorant.

Re: 3% use IE9 and 14% have a disability. Why do we only cater for the former?

#33

Where are those numbers from? 3% seems really low. I would guess the IE8 (being the highest version that can run on XP) population is much higher then that, but IE9 was chosen to make the number look better.

Our stats show 2.3% IE8 users. We handle sites for major, general-market brands, so it's not skewed as it would be on a tech startup or something.

Re: 3% use IE9 and 14% have a disability. Why do we only cater for the former?

#34
post #28
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This happens in the real world too, aka the sidewalk effect. The cutouts in the sidewalk for wheelchairs are now used by everyone else too for their: strollers, bikes, shopping carts, and anyone else who doesn't want to raise their foot an extra couple of inches.

OTOH I've seen pedestrians almost-hit by an out-of-control car that would have been stopped by a proper kerb but instead hit one of those ramps.

I've seen multiple bicyclists almost hit by in-controls cars because they couldn't ride safely on the sidewalks without those ramps.

(Yes, riding on sidewalks is technically illegal. There are many places where it's much much safer and there are no pedestrians to bother.)

Re: 3% use IE9 and 14% have a disability. Why do we only cater for the former?

#35
post #4

I don't know that I agree that looking at this from a market share perspective is useful. If only 1% of your audience uses screen readers, should you use that fact to decide it's not worth supporting them?

What other metrics would you propose to use? (genuinely curious)

Yes, it's a tough decision what to support. My point is that the percentages of disabled users are often far below what would make financial sense to support, but often there is a need or legal requirement to support them regardless.

Re: 3% use IE9 and 14% have a disability. Why do we only cater for the former?

#36
post #28
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This happens in the real world too, aka the sidewalk effect. The cutouts in the sidewalk for wheelchairs are now used by everyone else too for their: strollers, bikes, shopping carts, and anyone else who doesn't want to raise their foot an extra couple of inches.

OTOH I've seen pedestrians almost-hit by an out-of-control car that would have been stopped by a proper kerb but instead hit one of those ramps.

I have seen thousands of wheelchair users. I have never seen a car that i) would have been stopped by a kerb and ii) would not have been stopped by a ramp.

Your point illustrates the subject line nicely. Very many people have a disability, yet you're suggesting very rare benefits of keeping kerbs that hamper people with disabilities.

Re: 3% use IE9 and 14% have a disability. Why do we only cater for the former?

#37
post #28
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This happens in the real world too, aka the sidewalk effect. The cutouts in the sidewalk for wheelchairs are now used by everyone else too for their: strollers, bikes, shopping carts, and anyone else who doesn't want to raise their foot an extra couple of inches.

OTOH I've seen pedestrians almost-hit by an out-of-control car that would have been stopped by a proper kerb but instead hit one of those ramps.

Bear in mind that, if that really happens, it is a much, much less frequent occurrence than people being aided by the dropped kerbs and not stumbling/falling with pushchairs, wheelchairs or unsteady feet when mounting full height curbs . The proper fix for that also isn't making kerbs full height again.

Re: 3% use IE9 and 14% have a disability. Why do we only cater for the former?

#38
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What other metrics would you propose to use? (genuinely curious)

Yes, it's a tough decision what to support. My point is that the percentages of disabled users are often far below what would make financial sense to support, but often there is a need or legal requirement to support them regardless.

Perhaps the numbers are low because usage is so hard?

Re: 3% use IE9 and 14% have a disability. Why do we only cater for the former?

#39

Well to be honest I can test my code in IE9 to see if it works. But I have no idea how a disabled person is experiencing my website, I do put all the "alt" attributes etc...but it's hard to imagine it.

Yes, that's a real issue. I've had to add JAWS Screen Reader support to an app, and even after you shell out for the thousand dollar license, it's very difficult for a casual user to use it in the same way that an actual blind user does. Ideally you test with an actual impaired user, but they have real jobs and don't want to spend all their time testing your apps.

Re: 3% use IE9 and 14% have a disability. Why do we only cater for the former?

#40
post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

OTOH I've seen pedestrians almost-hit by an out-of-control car that would have been stopped by a proper kerb but instead hit one of those ramps.

I've seen multiple bicyclists almost hit by in-controls cars because they couldn't ride safely on the sidewalks without those ramps. (Yes, riding on sidewalks is technically illegal. There are many places where it's much much safer and there are no pedestrians to bother.)

> Yes, riding on sidewalks is technically illegal.

That differs by jurisdiction; in many places it's completely legal.

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