Web site development is writing the code or the programming that makes a web site function. At Autarkik we code and programme by hand. This means we must fully understand how the web works. For example:

• Web sites still need to be as light and fast as possible, as many web users still suffer slow connections
• Different browsers (e.g. Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, and Safari) display web pages in different ways. The same browser on different operating systems (e.g. Linux, Macs and Windows), also display differently
• People have various disabilities, which affect the way they access a web site

therefore, poor web development can restrict access to information on your web site. Below is our 'Home' page as rendered (displayed) in Firefox, Internet Explorer, Lynx (text only), Opera, and Safari, respectively. Each graphical browser renders our web page almost identically. Lynx proves our web site is accessible. Many web sites render very differently in various browsers. Some will only work properly in Internet Explorer. At the bottom of every page on this web site are two links, 'W3C Valid CSS' and 'W3C Valid HTML'. Try the following:

• Copy the full address of any Autarkik web page, select the 'W3C Valid CSS' link and paste the address into the 'Address:' form on the web page that appears
• Simply select the 'W3C Valid HTML' link

In both cases, the W3C web site will confirm our web pages conform to standards. Try the following:

• On your browser, select 'Refresh' then press the 'Tab' key repeatedly. 'Focus' moves from top left to bottom right. Not all web sites do this, thereby restricting access for some users with disabilities.
• Disable the style sheet. Choose the method for your browser:
  • Firefox: Select View, Page Style, No Style
  • Internet Explorer: Select View, Style, No Style
  • Opera: Select View, Style, This page uses a style sheet (de-select)
  • Safari: Select Develop, Disable Styles
  You will notice the web page changes significantly, this is normal. What you are seeing is the true order of the information on the screen, which is not always the same as the displayed order.
  
  For many web sites, the true order and the displayed order is not the same. This means the content is no longer in an order that makes sense. Screen readers 'read' the true order, which means users with a sight impairment are going to hear nonsense.

How a web site looks and where the information is displayed on your computer screen, is ultimately in the hands of the customer. What one person wants and likes, may be very different to another.

However, Autarkik will advise on issues such as, the relative size and position of 'elements' on-screen, the colours used for effective contrast and to avoid common vision difficulties within the population, and so on.

Whatever a customer wants, Autarkik has the skills necessary to produce the textual and media content required.