WikiRhymer
An interesting concept for a website is the community website based around Rhymes. Simply type your term in the search box and select your keyword. If there are any rhymes in the system you will be presented with a result.
Using AJAX technologies the search function which is at the core of the site requires Javascript to be enabled in your browser to function. With Javascript disabled you simply can’t search the site.
I feel that this presents an accessibility problem. When I first looked at this site, it was from within a corporate environment and guess what. The strictly enforced IT policy disables Javascript as do other organizations. I almost didn’t come back to take a 2nd look! It was only for the fact that I saw a note at the bottom of the page that says “You must have Javascript enabled to use WikiRhymer”.
This note should be more prominent to avoid loosing visitors.
Ideally, there should be an alternative search function that does not rely on javascript.
Anyone can browse and view all the pages, but in order to add or modify content you need to be a member. Regular contributors are given some recognition by being featured on the front page with a link back to their homepage.
A good and increasing resource for writers, poets and students.
Hi:
Bud Tower here, creator of WikiRhymer. Thanks for the review. Unfortunate that you were coming from a Javascript disabled location. I am curious; you suggest moving the javascript note to a more visible location (than the current location at the bottom of the page); did you not see the following text (in red font on the top left side of the page?
If you are seeing this,
you have Javascript
disabled. Go to your
browser’s preferences
pane and turn Javascript
on and then refresh
this page.
I suppose you didn’t, but that is what is supposed to happen. We programmed in code that is supposed to detect whether a user has Javascript disabled. It works on my MacBook in FireFox, Safari, and Netscape and on my Dell Inspiron (Windows XP Home) in IE7, FireFox, and Netscape. What OS and browser are you using?
Until we figure out what is happening in your case where the “JS Warning” does not show up, we have moved the Javascript caveat from the bottom of the page to the top and thanks for that input.
Thanks again,
Bud Tower
Chief Executive Rhymer
Bud,
Using Windows XP Pro with IE 6 I did not notice the Javascript warning.
I have had a closer look and Javascript is not disabled on the browser. But, you still can’t run javascript. I’m wondering if javascript is somehow disabled via a Domain Group Policy or registry setting rather than at the Browser Level.
I have just tried on my home PC which is also running XP Pro using both Firefox and IE6. I disabled Javascript and yes I do see the warning in both.
John