I bet you figured that since you have a website, it probably works fine on all devices. But have you checked? And where and how would you?

A knowledgeable web developer will try and create sites that are cross-platform. In other words: viewable and functional in most browsers. I say most, because we can not realistically test in every one in existence. At least, not if we want to do anything else with our time. And there are many that most people have never heard of beyond what I think of as The Big 5: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Opera and Safari.

All web browsers, because they are made by different companies and different people, interpret the code used to make a web page differently. The more fancy the site, the more we have to do to make the site cross-platform. A knowledgeable person will do their best to work the code so a site will function as much as possible, and look as good as possible, among lots of browsers. We also consider technology beyond your standard computer too, such as smart phones and iPads. We also think about your visitors who are blind and are using screen readers that tell them what is on the page.

Due to the way browsers are made and technology evolves, a web page may even be interpreted differently between different versions of the same browser too. For example, there is a difference in how we create sites for Internet Explorer 6 and Internet Explorer 8.

This is the difference between having a site done by a professional and having it done by a friend, child, or other person that does this as a hobby. Generally, the amateur has not learned that their code does not operate the same way in every system. They don’t know to test to make sure what they are creating is cross-platform. This is not bad per se. Not for a hobbyist site. But for your business, it could be disastrous. What happens if a sizable chunk of your audience is using a browser that your site is broken in?

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There is a push these days to make wider and wider web pages. After all, we’ve all got bigger monitors, right? We all use them at 1024 x 1280, right?

Well, maybe. Maybe, not.

As always, ask yourself, “Who is my target audience?”

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Due to a comment on the last post I wrote on the subject of accessibility, I realize there are some myths to be addressed on the subject.

Myth #1: Accessibility will cost more

Actually, it shouldn’t. A properly educated and trained designer will do this for you as they go. This shouldn’t be an extra. It should certainly not be something done after a site is created. To be fair, making a site, then fixing it for accessibility later could cost you some money. Just like having someone make a site who doesn’t know how to keep it search engine friendly, and then you pay again later for SEO. If you start out with a well-trained designer you can get it right the first time.

Myth #2: But I don’t want a second website!
There is also a common misconception that you will have one site, and a second “accessible” site. This is not and should not be the case. Ideally, you would have one very nice, accessible website. You shouldn’t have to pay for two. (Admittedly, if you insist on using certain non-accessible technologies, you will likely have to pay for a second site.)
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I was recently admitted to the Guild of Accessible Web Designers. This is a big deal for me, since accessibility has been a focus of mine from my earliest days learning web design. I was accepted after a review of my site, so I’m feeling rather proud of myself! This is just another step to demonstrate my commitment to accessibility.

Accessibility is a term that throws a lot of people at first. Even people who make websites, but may not be professional designers, don’t always realize what it is or the importance of it. Individuals at businesses and non-profits in charge of getting a site built are often surprised by the concept once they discover what it is.

So what is it?

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