JavaScript Impressions

HMM well my initial impressions of JavaScript is !!!WHAT!!! I've read chpt 2 twice and it doesn't seem to be jelling yet. Im not really sure how to do the homework even after reading the chapters. Although ill go through the power-point's and see if that helps. Up till now the only experience I've had with JavaScript is using it to create rollover buttons on a web page. Well Dreamweaver used it. I just watched and scratched my head wondering where all that code came from and whether or not i was going to be able to validate with it. Other than rollovers in the text it talks about using JavaScript to do some html hacks and I've seen it used as counters and to create popup windows. Other than that I'm still not sure how to use it. Im hoping to become efficient at it. If i can get good at JavaScript i might be up to trying some other programming languages.

JavaScript is confused with Java because of the name. In the early nineties Navigator had one of the first scripting programs built into its browser which was called Livescript. At the same time a true programming language called Java was making headlines and waves. So in a bold move by Netscape they decided to cash in on the popularity by renaming their scripting program from Livescript to JavaScript. (A very microsoftic move.) So that is where the name JavaScript came from. The difference between Java and JavaScript is that Java is a true programming language whereas JavaScript is a scripting language. It's main purpose is web based and it is a lot simpler than Java.  

A scripting language is separate from the program with which it interacts. Scripts are read by a program such as a browser and that browser will interpret and implement what that script tells it to do. This is different from a program which can execute independently from any other application. A script needs to be read and decoded by a program. Scripts are accessible to the end user and therefore they can be adapted to the users needs.

From what i was able to find JavaScript has gained in popularity due in part to it becoming a more standardized language much in the same way that HTML and CSS have. And also that is has gained far more browser support. It also has undergone a few name changes and then there was the difference between Microsoft's version and Suns version. I read some articles where it is being used in a lot of different non web based programs. I couldn't understand a lot of the acronyms they were using but it sounded impressive and gave me the impression that it was not only being used more extensively but also that it was going to continue to develop and change in structure.

Accessibility

Web accessibility is (based upon what i read) a very important part of the internet. Its implementation as far as disabled accessibility is as it has always been important and necessary if you are creating a very public site. However in practice it seems that not all sites are accessible for screen readers. According to a few websites about accessibility the aspects that need to be paid attention to the most is alt tags and keeping content presentation and actions separate so that screen readers can access the sites content. The alt tag can be very important since there are so many images on websites. One site suggested that the best practice for alt tags is to not describe the image but instead to narrate the intent of the image. Is the image being used for a link or is it simply a design aspect. But yet another site recommends that since links are identified by screen readers as links there is no point is describing the image as a link but rather to say where the link takes you to. Another point was with the use of display: none or visibility: hidden tags. One site suggested they should be used only when they helped to convey information only apparent to sited users. Not to provide additional accessibility or content that sited users would miss out on. After reading more on the subjects and more subjects such as font size and using ems instead of pixels to size fonts and pages it is painfully clear that it is not clear. There are many arguments as to what is best practice. But depending on what side you choose accessibility is important for an equally important reason of improving how your site functions on devices other than computer screens; such as cell phones or PDA's. These devices often have text only based browsers and if you design your site to be easily accessible for screen readers they will be easier to navigate with cell phones or PDA's. As far as resources for keeping your sites compliant there are various software based programs that will navigate your site and provide information. And there are a lot of really good websites that provide tips, ideas, and the latest information on accessibility. I personally feel that the more people have access to your sites the better the site will work. Keeping readable fonts that have good contrast are scalable and easy to understand is not only good for accessibility it will often make good design sense.