Author: vdebolt

An accessibility toolbar

I recently learned about a tool called WAVE that allows you to install a toolbar in your browser that does accessibility checks. It also offers an online URL checking tool that lets you see your page with the accessibility features highlighted. This tool is provided by webAIM.

I have heard from people that installing the WAVE toolbar adds something Spybot considers spyware to your computer. Another tool available is Accessible Information Solutions (AIS) – Accessibility Toolbar Spybot detects nothing when the toolbar from National Information Library Service is used. There is no online URL checking tool with the AIS tool.

CSS Layout Generator

Layout-o-matic from InkNoise creates a CSS layout. The Layout-o-matic will generate several CSS layouts, using either pixels or percentages (nothing with ems yet).

InkNoise has another tool called “The Amazing Rolloverer” that generates Javascript-free, accessible menubars using your own images.

InkNoise’s main business is a personal Web publishing tool. I don’t know how long this free tool will be online here, as it is in a directory on the InkNoise site called experimental, but if it moves into the main realm of this site you can probably find it again.

Software Review: Macromedia Breeze

Macromedia Breeze appears to be a product a teacher can love. I haven’t actually touched the software, but I have participated in seminars presented with Breeze, and don’t think Macromedia’s tagline for this product, “Collaborate, communicate and train online with ease,” is off the mark or overstated.

Breeze takes presentations prepared in Microsoft Powerpoint and converts them to Flash, where they are combined with the ability to use video streams, chat, phone conferencing, surveys, and tracking to communicate in both directions between teacher and students.

If you are required to do any or all of your interacting with students online, this product is worth checking out. It also screams “guest expert” to me, because teachers could easily prepare Breeze presentations by guests or outside experts to augment class materials.

Admittedly, I’m coming at this review from a student’s perspective, never having tried out the software. I think students will love the results. And, in my opinion, it would be worth your time to get your local Macromedia representative to come to your campus and give you and your colleagues a hands-on look at this software.