60. The Web : Encompassing Old Problems and Creating New Problems

As we proceed full speed into the Internet era, we are realizing that the Internet not only encompasses the problems the GUI interfaces had, but it also presents many new problems. "The Internet and technology have moved so quickly that assistive technology has not been able to catch up."HTML opens the door to complex web sites with graphics and interactive content. It began as a simple, predominantly text-based subset of SGML.

However, innovative users pushed the structured assumptions of HTML to create aesthetic designs, failing to realize their creativity did not work with existing accommodation solutions such as screen readers and Braille printers developed during the text only era. Although many users benefit from the improved functionality, many people with impairments can no longer access the content under the new presentation format.

Pictures, image maps, frames, columns, tables, and complex web designs all present obstacles. Improper HTML structure, which new GUI browsers can parse successfully, and new dynamic elements such as Java applets and active-X controls, all contribute to the erosion of the accessibility that users with disabilities, slower connections, and text-based operating systems previously enjoyed. Accessibility issues in cyberspace are neither simple nor straightforward. Real-space solutions are often not applicable in cyberspace, and although some are seeing success through modification, they will not last for long.

The key to preventing retrofitting requires cooperation from technology makers, users, and the concerned community. As cyberspace is still in its developing stages, the current status of new developments must be reevaluated to ensure accessibility. Society must be educated about these changing needs.