Google.com has aquired Weblogging software developers Pyra Labs. Self-publishing is becoming mainstream - what does this mean for accessible web design?

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2003

Answers

The (possibly) positive side is that most bloggers use standardised blogging software, and don't modify the code in any way. In this respect, so long as the manufacturers of Blogger / Moveable Text etc. take steps to ensure accessibility (which is in their own interest to do so), the actual act of blogging shouldn't cause any significant problems.

However, the need for education about making the sites into which these blogs reside is still an important one; and if the blogging system doesn't create accessible output, this is of great concern.

Having said that, the fact that weblogging software makes it so easy to change content may mean that publishers think less about the content and its position in the page. Although theoretically content is still king, 99% of blog content isn't.

-- Anonymous, April 30, 2003