Web feeds can save you so much time and energy.  With web feeds the latest news, stories and updates from your favourite sites come to you instead of you going to them,  it is very convenient.

I use Sage as my default web feed at the moment but when I am away from my pc I use the web-based service, Bloglines. I have used Bloglines for ages now as I find it really user friendly…however, Google Reader has recently caught my eye.

Google Reader has a really easy interface (as you would expect) with many features other web feeds can only dream about. Videos and images are integrated and it has an interested social aspect too whereby you can share and comment on content with your friends.  That’s really handy for projects and or just for catching up and interacting with friends.

It has a blog and news search engine which makes it very easy to subscribe to feeds. Great.

It’s been along time coming (it launched in Beta in 2006)  as Web feeds have been around for a while but Google really have made something very good, easy to use and integrated.

I may just start using it myslef

• Drag and drop
• Package tracking
• Mobile interface
• Fast loading
• All you subscriptions in one feed
• Wii version available
• Offline access with Google Gears

I have come across this very interesting article on Birmingham Post’s website today.  The article discusses the research results conducted by Ofcom. I will try to quote some of the points below.

As the the article claims, a new research from Ofcom reveals many people from ethnic minority groups lack confidence finding content online and are concerned about content delivered on digital communications.

Ofcom’s media literacy audit of UK adults from ethnic minority groups draws on quantitative research from the four largest ethnic minority groups in the UK: Indians, Pakistanis, Black Caribbeans and Black Africans.

Despite almost all adults from ethnic minority groups showing interest in internet functions, they are less confident about general use of the internet.

For example, they are less likely to say they are confident finding information online (69 - 83 per cent, compared to 91 per cent of the UK population as a whole). All four ethnic minority groups are also less likely than the UK population as a whole to shop or bank online (19 to 29 per cent, compared to 41 per cent).

For example, between 65 and 79 per cent of ethnic minority groups say that they use the internet to listen to or download music online, compared to 57 per cent of the UK population.

The full article can be found here.

We have launched yet another website today. Our client deals with natural personal care products and nutritional supplements formulated with one of the worlds greatest herbs- Black Seeds. The website is an e-commerce website and comes with the Content Management System to manage their products online.

You can visit the site here: www.sweetsunnah-uk.com.

Please don’t forget to leave your comments. Your feedback is much appreciated.  Thank You!!!

Designing sites in accordance with Web accessibility principles is necessary in order to enable access to all users. If your website is less usable or built incorrectly, you will lose website visitors and may even be breaking the law!

The Disability Discrimination Act of 1995 says it’s unlawful to exclude disabled people from the web, while companies have proved that making a website easier for a disabled person to use would improve the take up of products by as much as 300%.

In April 2009, the British Standards Institution will publish the first British Standard on web accessibility, but why is a British Standard necessary? There are in excess 10m disabled people in the UK with an annual spending power estimated to be around £80bn per annum.
Research by the Disability Rights Commission in 2004 found that a great amount of goodwill exists among web designers towards disabled people, yet less than 20% of UK websites actually meet the basic criteria for accessible design.

Implementing the guidelines laid out by the W3C into your website means:

• An increase in the amount of visitors who can use your website.
• Your website will last longer because more devices such as web browsers, mobile phones etc start to comply with the standards.
• Your website should be easier to read by search engines.
• Your website will be viewable on other Internet ready devices.
• Most importantly, if your website adheres to the WAI (website accessibility initiative) you will reach more customers

The WAI have said that “at least 10% of the population in most countries have disabilities” Why should your website not be seen by less capable web users? To make your website as ‘usable’ as possible means that you can maximise your website reach.

Click here to request a FREE evaluation of your website!

If you are unsure or have any concerns, feel free to call us on 0800 611 8108 and we’ll be happy answer any questions you may have.

So what is a web accessibility?

The number of people advocating web accessibility and standards-based design in general is increasing day by day.  “So what is the big fuss and why do I need to implement the web accessibility on my website”, customers may exclaim.

Web accessibility is a general practice of developing websites accessible to people that use a wide range of software & devices and not just standard Web browsers. This is especially important for people with disabilities such as visual impairment. In order to access the Web, some users require special software or devices (e.g. screen readers) in addition to a standard web browser, or a specially designed web browsers. In our opinion, designing for accessibility is also a sub-category of good design for usability and goes beyond just designing for people with physical or cognitive disabilities.

Accessibility is about making your site available to the widest possible audience regardless of what browser or device your visitors use, disability or connection speed they may have. Therefore, developing websites with accessibility in mind can also improve website’s usability . Good design can also deliver easier access for automated software programs that read website content, such as search engines.

One important aspect of accessibility is to let people access content in their preferred way. This can also benefit all users not just those with disabilities: for example, some users may wish to adjust text sizes because they are using a very small display on a mobile phone, or may need to use keystrokes to control their computer because they do not have a mouse or prefer not to use one.

The BIS Team are going to be blogging about Web Accessibility and Usability over the next week or so, we feel it is crucial part if any successful website.

Take a peek at our Free Website Evaluation service that assesses your website for accessibility, usability as well as Search Engine Optimisation. You can check it out here.

Enjoy!!!!