Trademark 101 for the Web Professional

Trademark 101 for the Web Professional: an article by Ted Roe.

1. The differences between trademark and copyright
2. How to develop a strong trademark and
3. A description of the trademark registration process.

Posted by Jim Byrne on Fri 1 Apr 2011

Help Fix the Web!

At last an easy way to complain about inaccessible websites - start reporting now!

An ingenious new campaign called Fix the Web is being launched to tackle the problem of inaccessible websites on a massive scale. Fix the Web is an initiative of Citizens Online, a national charity that campaigns for internet access for all.

The internet has been a liberating force in the lives of many disabled people, opening up a wonderful new world of communication, ideas and networks. In theory, it should have created a level playing field.

With millions of disabled and older people excluded from easily navigating their way around the web, it is often difficult to complain about the offending sites. Fix the Web (http://ww.fixtheweb.net) has been launched to provide a quick and easy way for people to make complaints - as well as to introduce a volunteer-led process for those complaints to be reported back to website owners to get fixed.

Fix the Web is calling on the tech community to sign up as volunteers and the disabled community to start reporting problems. The reporting process takes less than a minute and is easily done through a form on the site: http://ww.fixtheweb.net, via twitter (#fixtheweb #fail, url and the problem) or by emailing post@fixtheweb.net.

Citizens Online believes that disabled people should not be expected to fight their corner alone. For this reason Fix the Web is recruiting a huge taskforce of tech volunteers to champion the cause and report problems back to web owners. The project aims to have 10,000 volunteers dealing with 250,000 websites within two years of launch. This will ensure that disabled users can make complaints quickly in the knowledge that there will be technical support on hand to take things forward on their behalf.

Leonie Watson, who is blind, comments:

I do most of my shopping online, especially at Christmas, as it's more convenient. I'm surprised by how many retailers just don't get accessibility. If their website isn't accessible with my screen reader, I won't spend my money there. It's basic business logic really - more accessibility, more people, more potential revenue.

Blind users report losing, on average, 30.4% of their time due to web access issues (iv). The World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines found that only 19% of the websites met the minimum standard for web access, with only two meeting level-2 compliance and none achieving the highest level.

Fix the Web has been made available as a result of seed funding from Nominet Trust and partners such as AbilityNet and Hanona. The aim of Fix the Web is to introduce cultural change across the web, making it a more accessible and inclusive place where the needs of disabled people are taken into consideration and vital change can be made.

Dr. Gail Bradbrook of Citizens Online comments:

"I believe many techies would be horrified to think that the Web they love so much is excluding people. I firmly believe that this isn't a problem disabled people should have to deal with on their own. It's time a committed group of tech volunteers took charge of the issue and made it their own."

If you want to offer your technical skills to support the Fix the Web campaign or find out more, visit: http://ww.fixtheweb.net.

Posted by Jim Byrne on Mon 8 Nov 2010

Junior Web Designer Wanted

Access - by Design is one of the fastest growing web design houses in the south coast. Soon to be expanding into a brand new office complex, we are looking for a new Junior Web Designer to join our dedicated team. All Candidates will need a sound, if basic, knowledge of PHP, HTML and CSS to apply. However, we are specifically looking for a designer who demonstrates superb skills in art and design such as a compelling application of colour, visual architectural, and use of graphics within their web design ideas. Skills in Dreamweaver, Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator and In Design are ideal and any experience in video production and/or 3d Graphics/animation, will strengthen an application. Yet, all the above will be unnecessary (as successful candidate will receive training in all these areas as standard) if candidates can show they are a quick learners and their web designs demonstrate exciting, individual visual ideas. To apply, please submit two contrasting, single-page web designs, in any format, for any two imaginary clients. All elements must have been created by the candidate. The candidate with the most interesting designs will then be invited to a panel interview to explore what they could bring to our company. The rate of pay will be £7.50 per hour for three month trial period with a view to a permanent post and pay review at the end of this time, dependant on a positive performance review. Our Artistic Director has a ‘Canine Partner’ so applicants need to be happy to work with a dog present. Access-by Design is an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds and abilities. Our current and new premises are fully accessible to wheelchair-users. We operate a flexi-time system to aid talented individuals who are unable to work standard hours. If you have specific needs, please let us know when submitting your designs so we accommodate them at interview. Please send your application to info@access-bydesign.com with CV, covering letter and two web designs. All applications must be received by 5pm on Thursday 30th September.

Posted by Clive Loseby on Thu 9 Sep 2010