This webmaster takes accessibility issues very seriously, with a strong desire that no-one will be disadvantaged in
enjoying the content offered here. I am confident that most pages on this site comply with WCAG2 Level A standards,
as an absolute minimum. Most pages also comply with Level AA.
My aspiration is to strive to, where possible, the entire Timeline meeting top-level accessibility standards.
However because so many of the images of ephemera are text based, this will limit any level of success.
As seen below, on a randomly tested page both Level A and AA standards were fully met, with just 10 Level AAA points
missed, mostly as described above.
Balancing Functionality with Practicality
Rather than slavishly follow every guideline, my aim is to try and balance functionality with practicality across a
wide selection of Web browsers. Particular attention has been paid to ensure that modern Web browsers, especially those
already equipped with good accessibility features, are not hampered by code that interferes with their operation.
For example, there is no access-key listing for visitors to try and memorise. Other examples are shown lower down this
page. I believe that this approach keeps the Timeline simple to navigate. It also leaves control and choice of Web
browser where it belongs, with the visitor.
For keyboard users, many browsers feature, on regular presses of the [ Space Bar ], the ability
to scroll down each page and even onward to the next page when you reach the bottom.
One potential area of contention is my use of title attributes, especially on links. Rather than a visitor, of all
abilities, only seeing arcane filenames in links in obscure corners of their browser, I feel that it's important that a
proper description exists about every link. Indicating that a new browser window will be opened is a definite
accessibility need.
However, there's also the “usability” aspect that needs to be taken into account. Presenting key information
directly in a visitor's line of sight helps reassure them. With many accessibility validators there exists a soft
criticism of this approach, but for me, they don't make a strong enough argument for their removal.
Again, it's all a question of balance. If you have any accessibility concerns about the Timeline, do please
contact Peter from here.
Full-Text Transcripts
One major accessibility issue has to do with making visible the contents of some of the hundreds of images of daily
programmes and meal menus found on the Timeline. These are of course, mostly images of text. It simply is not feasible
or even necessary that all are fully transcribed.
A representative selection have been transcribed and can be found within the Compendium section of the
Glossary Index. Many pages carry links to “Port Information”
images. Most of these have also been transcribed, but not as separated entities. They provide the base information of
many Virtual Cruise pages.
For example, transcripts of the port information images for ports in the Mediterranean will be found within either or
both of the Virtual Spring and Summer cruises. It raises the questions: How much relevance do they have today? Are any
of these businesses still trading, all these years later?
Another candidate for transcription is the Passenger List. The added benefit being that the text can be indexed and
searched. All the transcribed lists can be found within the Passenger Lists Index of the Ephemera Folio. All the
crew lists that I have access to have also been
transcribed.
Links to full-text transcripts appearing on other pages have this
prefix placed beside them.
You can dynamically change how you view the Timeline at will. On the greater majority of pages a text options link
is placed in the header menu to access this feature. JavaScript does not need to be enabled in your browser and
no changes are made to its settings.
Opting to change your display will not make you lose your place either, because once the new display is selected, you
will automatically be taken back to the page where you were. However, until you are used to making display change
selections, I would urge you to carefully read the display setting descriptions and the known impacts section on
the display selections page.
A “text-only” option should be available from your own browser settings. In this mode the interactive
elements, like the movie quizzes, will not work as intended, with the answers being displayed beside the movie title.
Otherwise, the site is carefully designed to give a proper content flow.
Functional elements that will always require the enabling of JavaScript to work here have been annotated with
{JS }, either directly, or in a tooltip. JavaScript is
required only for filling in the crosswords and answering
the Caronia quizzes.
Javascript also helps with the functionality of opening larger graphics from thumbnails in pop-up windows and accessing
external sites in a new window. If it's not available, these functions will still operate, but will open new pages in
the same browser window.
Standards Policy
The Caronia Timeline satisfies searches under these categories of the Dewey Decimal Classification system…
In tandem with making the Caronia Timeline Web site accessible, it is my intention to use only those technologies which
ensure that W3C standards are fully complied with for its presentation.
Resources
If you are wondering what I've used to build and run the Caronia Timeline, these are listed
on the dedicated resources page.
