Last Thursday I attended another UPA event where a few assistive technologies were demonstrated. For me it was fascinating to see these technologies in action. We talk alot about designing with screen readers and other such technologies in mind but seeing them being used was quite another thing.

Here are some notes I dropped down:

• Don’t auto-start multimedia especially those with audio as they can drown out screen readers.
• Don’t re-load CAPTCHAs when they’ve been correctly filled out but other parts of the submitted form were missing / incorrect.
• AJAX functionality like drag-and-drop can be made accessible via WAI-ARIA.
• Often websites have to revert to a totally different mobile versions (i.e. m.domainname.com) if the main site is totally inaccesible – like Facebook.
• Services like webvism can read CAPTCHAs.
• Horizontal scrolling is very bad as it includes alot more scrolling and clicking around to locate the right chunk of the page.
• Accessibility section of a site can link to various accessibility tools and resources.
• Users who use assistive technologies often prefer navigating sites using link lists as opposed to headings as they’re more reliable.
• Users also prefer using the same screen reading technology. Switching to a different one is a pain.
• Access keys are not too useful. Arrowing down a nav is not too useful and may be more useful to mainstream users who prefer using keyboards.
• You can tag PDFs to make them more accessible but often unsighted users don’t even bother opening them as they’re rarely made accessible.
• British Sign Language users need plain English to be used as BSL is much more limited in terms of vocabulary.
• Use BSL or, as an alternative, computer generated sign language. CGSL is easier to amend (i.e. adding the odd word) but the facial expressions of the signer are not as natural.

I’ve had a lovely week off between jobs. This week has mainly involved shopping for baby stuff, moving lots of things into a self storage unit, our second of three antenatal classes, hospital appointments, and a tour of the labour ward at Kings College Hospital in Dulwich.

Notes from the antenatal class

• Pain-relief in labour is really only needed before you start pushing. Pushing itself acts as a kind of pain-relief (apparently).
• Other 1st-stage pain-relief includes flanels soaked in (very) hot water on the back, the 3 massage techniques (ball of hand on base of spine, finger-nails making an ‘M’ shape on the back, and rotating thumbs all the way down either side of the spine).
• Ideal room temperature for babies is 18 degrees celcius.
• Remember to bring the baby’s ‘red book’ and ‘discharge papers’ (and car seat) to bring the baby home.
• For washable nappies, you will need 18 – 24 for each size. Exact quantity will depend on how often you wash them. Good brands include Tots Bots and Terry Nappy. You’ll need about 3 outer linings. Use microfibre.
• Use Bio-d detergent. No scented stuff. Try mother-ease.com.
• Nappies must be changed at least every 4 hours, regardless of whether it’s been used.
• Wool nappy covers with lanolin sanitises against bacteria!
• Newborns can use large folded muslin squares (80cm x 80cm) as nappies.
• Machine-wash nappies at 50 degrees with an extra rinse. Before putting the nappies in the wash, rinse them / soak them in a bucket of cold water – with a lid on. You can add some white vinegar / bi-carbonate soda. Don’t use nappy san.

Brain-dump over and out. Also, below is a lovely chart about room temperature and number of sheets / blankets to use for the baby.

Had our first antenatal class last Tuesday morning. Didn’t start too well. Sat in the lobby of Kings College Hospital 10 minutes early, it turned out we were at the wrong hospital. Apparently these classes would be based out of a nearby hospital. Thankfully we were only about 15 minutes late. Right. I’m going to ‘brain dump’ all I can remember here as I can already feel myself forgetting 95% of what was said. Point 1: childbirth is painful. Pain relief includes a choice of gas and air, electric current pads, jab in the back or something else. Darn. Can’t remember already. Call the midwife before coming in to check you’re actually ready to give birth. Signs include water breaking. Midwives suggest only taking action once contractions are 4 minutes apart, lasting one minute each. But in reality, you can call once they’re 10 minutes apart – lasting 1 minute. Mothers in labour should not use husbands as support props as they could kill them. Women in labour are apparently very powerful. Especially watch the fingers. Even when contractions start it can be a while before the baby is ready to come out. When water breaks, then start worrying (I think). People have been ‘in labour’ while shopping on the high street. Last point: there’ll be lots of blood. It won’t be tsunami-like but apparently it’ll look like mass-murder just happened.

I’ve always thought the leaving speeches people give when leaving our agency – when people gather round and your line manager talks about you – to be the closest thing to being at your own funeral. And the added bit of ‘here’s a selection of what people thought about x’ make it feel even more like a funeral. Almost expect someone to hang a wreath across my neck. It’ll be mine next week. Quite sad, but time to look forward. Experience-wise and people-wise, it’ll be a hard task for any workplace to live up to the last 2 years I’ve had here.

There’s something insanely beautiful about empty cities. Is it possible to ever see one without having a zombie infestation / alien invasion?