The Wall Street Journal-20080122-Best of Independent Street - Excerpts from WSJ-com-s Blog for Entrepreneurs
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Best of Independent Street / Excerpts from WSJ.com's Blog for Entrepreneurs
Businesses Feel the Push to Be
Blind-Friendly, but Is It Easy?
This year, litigation will make businesses of all sizes examine whether their Web sites are friendly to the blind. Small businesses would do well to get ahead of the trend.
In October, class-action status was granted to a lawsuit against Target Corp., charging that the retailer's site is inaccessible to blind shoppers. Now a renewed push is under way to make sure Web sites are compatible with special software that can describe aloud the content of a Web page.
One problem: "visual verification" security tools that ask users to retype a password displayed in wavy distorted letters, which typically can't be audibly described. Another is a lack of labeling for links and images, including charts, product descriptions and instructions, coupons and order forms.
Minneapolis-based Target says it believes its site is "fully accessible and complies with all applicable laws," and that it plans to appeal.
Readers, are your Web sites blind-accessible? Do you think being blind-friendly should be legally required?
Readers say:
"I understand that we should strive to make as many aspects of commerce and society as accessible as possible, but how far should we go? Using text on Web sites instead of unnecessary graphics is fine, but disabling antifraud mechanisms? And to what extent should we make our society accessible? Should auto makers be forced to make cars that can be driven by the blind?"
"In the same manner many Web sites provide Chinese, Russian and other language preferences, Web designers could well create accessible sites for blind and visually impaired persons."
Why 'Regular Hours' Don't Fit for People Who Work
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By Wall Street Journal reporter Kelly K. Spors
I recently had to rush to my local post office before work because it is unfeasible for me to get there before the 4:30 p.m. closing time. It got me thinking: Why do so many businesses keep hours that are unfriendly to the many consumers who work during the day?
My theory: Most people want to work regular hours, so it's difficult to staff a business on evenings or weekends. But I can't help but feel like there is a great opportunity for businesses that cater their hours to the working crowd.
To be sure, some businesses have made a niche for themselves by staying open when so many other businesses aren't. I was ecstatic, for instance, to find out my hair salon took Sunday appointments.
How do businesses' hours of operation affect your schedules? Do you know of any businesses that use atypical schedules? Should more do it?
Readers say:
"I think creative resource planning might help. Like offering employees leave on weekdays in return for working on weekends. This is especially important for purely customer-oriented businesses. These views are completely from the consumer side.
For the businesses, I guess they have to consider customer satisfaction vs. economic feasibility."
"Going against the generally accepted hours of business is very costly. One could add hours, but at the cost of two sets of staff/overtime."
