Malachim
12-17-2005, 04:31 PM
No, I'm not in trouble, yet, I hope, but I am having a go at the buggers. I'm sure some of your know how prissy I get about the under the hood stuff...
Well, I'm fed up arguing with their support staff over their naff code and have fired off this to them:
-----------------------------------------------------------
Copies:
* US Goverment, United States Access Board, A Federal Agency Committed to Accessible Design
* US Government, Section 508
* W3 WAI
* International Center for Disability Resources on the Internet
* U.S. Department of Justine: Americans with Disabilities Act
* Press and Adsense UK at Google
Hi Colm,
Thanks for your clarification
In reply to this line of your reply:
" To uphold the quality and reputation of Google AdSense "
Actually the quality of your default Adsense code is amateurish and considering your standing, frankly disgracefully.
Similarly, amongst usability and accessibility circles, your reputation is in tatters!
Importantly, as IBM found out to their cost some folk actually taking accessibility laws seriously as they are one prominent company that fell foul of accessibily laws:
Google for 'IBM sued accessibility' and you'll find entries like this: http://www.tomw.net.au/2001/bat2001.html ]
Basically, in issuing this sub-standard code you - and anyone that uses it - are liable under US 508 regulations (etc) regarding access for the disabled.
See also
http://www.section508.gov
http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/1194.22.htm
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/508/508law.html
http://www.ada.gov/
http://www.icdri.org/CynthiaW/is_%20yoursite_ada_compliant.htm
http://usability.gov/accessibility/
Well, I'm sure your lawyers can look it up, eh!
Please note that this applies equally to other default codes - code of which cannot be corrected by end users. For instant, both the Adsense and Firefox referral banners both fail to provide even a basic "alt tag".
Basically, any indivual or company that wants to include your banners etc but wants or needs to keep their web site legal and valid under US508 or WAI A, WAI AA, or WAI AAA has only three options:
1. Not use you.
2. Correct the faults, thus violating your T&C at the cost of Adsense account
3. Consider a class action against you as your T&C's force end users to use invalid code, even illegal code
Anyway, here's two annotated pages for you to consider.
The first uses default Google SiteSearch table.
The second** uses a modified form, replacing the table with a div and a valid form
http://www.wwwxbox360.co.uk/googlesearch-table.php
http://www.wwwxbox360.co.uk/googlesearch-accessible-form.php
** This includes pre-populating the box with a generic term 'your terms' as, again, failure to include an entry for the search box, i.e. [ value="some entry" ] violates accessibily rules.
NOTE:
These pages are live for demonstration purposes only and will be deleted after your reply.
Personally - and I ask that you can pass this on to your management and senior directors - I find it both disgusting and morally reprehensible that a company of your size and stature can be so arrogant as to force invalid and in cases (I believe) illegal code, upon countless millions of publishers effectively under the ruling:
"Do as we say or we'll close your account, forever!"
Equally damning, I find, is that fact you can't even make your home page [www.google.com] accessible beyond passing US508. For WAI testing it fails miserably.
To paraphrase Grandpa Simpson: "For shame, Google"
At the end of up, I'm embarrassed to sum up, "I'm right, you're wrong", because I am right - and you know it - and I'm really not happy that you are forcing me to use such poor code because in your arrogance you seem to believe:
"We're right, you're wrong, because if you don't follow our rules to the letter we'll close your account. We don't care, there's always others to take your place".
If you and your company can give me one single reason why you can't offer publishers a selection of 'WAI AAA' and US508 valid code for search boxes, banners etc, I will go away humbled.
Come on, I'm one disabled man, typing away at home, you are a multi-national corporation... I can duplicate a completely valid and accessible search box in every single size and shape of format you offer for Adsense for Content... Give me one reason you can't with all the PhD's you have working for you !
Shame on the lot of you!
Regard,
Paul Ackerley
Well, I'm fed up arguing with their support staff over their naff code and have fired off this to them:
-----------------------------------------------------------
Copies:
* US Goverment, United States Access Board, A Federal Agency Committed to Accessible Design
* US Government, Section 508
* W3 WAI
* International Center for Disability Resources on the Internet
* U.S. Department of Justine: Americans with Disabilities Act
* Press and Adsense UK at Google
Hi Colm,
Thanks for your clarification
In reply to this line of your reply:
" To uphold the quality and reputation of Google AdSense "
Actually the quality of your default Adsense code is amateurish and considering your standing, frankly disgracefully.
Similarly, amongst usability and accessibility circles, your reputation is in tatters!
Importantly, as IBM found out to their cost some folk actually taking accessibility laws seriously as they are one prominent company that fell foul of accessibily laws:
Google for 'IBM sued accessibility' and you'll find entries like this: http://www.tomw.net.au/2001/bat2001.html ]
Basically, in issuing this sub-standard code you - and anyone that uses it - are liable under US 508 regulations (etc) regarding access for the disabled.
See also
http://www.section508.gov
http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/1194.22.htm
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/508/508law.html
http://www.ada.gov/
http://www.icdri.org/CynthiaW/is_%20yoursite_ada_compliant.htm
http://usability.gov/accessibility/
Well, I'm sure your lawyers can look it up, eh!
Please note that this applies equally to other default codes - code of which cannot be corrected by end users. For instant, both the Adsense and Firefox referral banners both fail to provide even a basic "alt tag".
Basically, any indivual or company that wants to include your banners etc but wants or needs to keep their web site legal and valid under US508 or WAI A, WAI AA, or WAI AAA has only three options:
1. Not use you.
2. Correct the faults, thus violating your T&C at the cost of Adsense account
3. Consider a class action against you as your T&C's force end users to use invalid code, even illegal code
Anyway, here's two annotated pages for you to consider.
The first uses default Google SiteSearch table.
The second** uses a modified form, replacing the table with a div and a valid form
http://www.wwwxbox360.co.uk/googlesearch-table.php
http://www.wwwxbox360.co.uk/googlesearch-accessible-form.php
** This includes pre-populating the box with a generic term 'your terms' as, again, failure to include an entry for the search box, i.e. [ value="some entry" ] violates accessibily rules.
NOTE:
These pages are live for demonstration purposes only and will be deleted after your reply.
Personally - and I ask that you can pass this on to your management and senior directors - I find it both disgusting and morally reprehensible that a company of your size and stature can be so arrogant as to force invalid and in cases (I believe) illegal code, upon countless millions of publishers effectively under the ruling:
"Do as we say or we'll close your account, forever!"
Equally damning, I find, is that fact you can't even make your home page [www.google.com] accessible beyond passing US508. For WAI testing it fails miserably.
To paraphrase Grandpa Simpson: "For shame, Google"
At the end of up, I'm embarrassed to sum up, "I'm right, you're wrong", because I am right - and you know it - and I'm really not happy that you are forcing me to use such poor code because in your arrogance you seem to believe:
"We're right, you're wrong, because if you don't follow our rules to the letter we'll close your account. We don't care, there's always others to take your place".
If you and your company can give me one single reason why you can't offer publishers a selection of 'WAI AAA' and US508 valid code for search boxes, banners etc, I will go away humbled.
Come on, I'm one disabled man, typing away at home, you are a multi-national corporation... I can duplicate a completely valid and accessible search box in every single size and shape of format you offer for Adsense for Content... Give me one reason you can't with all the PhD's you have working for you !
Shame on the lot of you!
Regard,
Paul Ackerley