This post follows on from the earlier post on the Genesis of StayGoLinks. The CDAP of this title is an acronym for Cross-browser Device Assessment Panel. This facility was developed by the Cre8asite Forums in the early months of 2006. It aimed to help web designers who were trying to get their websites viewable by as many viewers as possible whatever their browser and device might be. It responded to the following realities:
- Websites may look very different in different browsers such as Internet Explorer and Firefox.
- As the mobile Internet world explodes, very different devices are being used by website visitors.
- Checking websites in a variety of browsers and devices is not always easy.
As the staff of Cre8asite Forums discussed the concepts prior to launch, it was clear that, if the aim was to ensure websites were viewable by the widest audience, then this must include the question of Accessibility. This deals with how accessible websites are to people with disabilities. Elizabeth Able, one of the moderators, was a particularly strong advocate for this. She agreed to be a co-moderator on the Panel with Barry Welford shortly after the Panel launched on March 7th 2006.
It’s now six months since the launch and although some interesting questions have been raised in the Panel, there have been very few requests to assess how well particular websites do perform in a variety of browsers and devices. In a sense the Panel is an aid in helping website owners create websites that conform to the One Web Principle. This sets as an objective that content provided by accessing a URI should yield a thematically coherent experience when accessed from different devices.
Perhaps the slow start for CDAP points to the difficulty in applying that One Web Principle. Could it be that the One Web Principle is too difficult to apply? A thread has been started at the Cre8asite Forums entitled,”Is The One Web Principle Do-able?” So far there have not been too many replies, which may be an indicator of how enthusiastic people are about trying to apply the Principle. The replies seem to indicate that the benefits of applying it do not justify the effort involved. We’ll explore in a later post how people are trying to apply the One Web Principle and putting efforts into promoting its wider usage.
Tags: Mobile, Desktop, One Web Principle
Hi Barry
Checked out the Cre8asite forum – a lot of views but like you say not many replies. Perhaps the CDAP is just around the corner in terms of becoming central to users and developers needs?
I do use my own mobile/cell phone to browse the web occasionally but its somewhat painful to say the least. I am also seeing the occasional tech-savvy client of mine use their PDA to surf the web.
When I have mentioned about having their website reviewed and modified so it would work across all devices including phones they have seemed keen but also reluctant seeing as they know there are not that many of their own peers using phones or pdas to surf online.
I guess as it becomes more popular with users then it will become the time they all want to be jumping on board to have a completely cross browser website.
This subject on Cre8asite and your great blog here is one I will be keeping a close eye on in the future.
Daz
Thanks for adding your comments,Daz. I think you’ve highlighted the two reasons why it’s not taking off very quickly. The functionality of web pages on mobile devices is not too good and not too many people are out there in the audience as yet.
Must admit the only time I went online for a specific reason with my phone was in the pub last year during a quiz night for a few answers my team didn’t know. Oh the shame…..
…blame my friends though for putting me under pressure…. I said it was cheating, they said it was “using techology and initiative”…
Daz
PS and no we didn’t win, we still lost!