How many users can change font sizes ?

B

Bob

I see a great deal of debate about font sizes and sizing pages based
on "em" sizing or similar. Is anyone aware of a survey of how many
users (that is, non web developers or similar) actually know how to
change font size in their browsers ?

IMHE, the percentage is ~zero. I used to train a couple of dozen folks
per week in software development, primarily web development,
and I'd wager that only about 5% of even those folks knew that you
could change font size - and that 5% were all software tech's
or web developers already.

Opinions ? Facts ?

Thanks,
 
R

Richard

Bob said:
I see a great deal of debate about font sizes and sizing pages based
on "em" sizing or similar. Is anyone aware of a survey of how many
users (that is, non web developers or similar) actually know how to
change font size in their browsers ?
IMHE, the percentage is ~zero. I used to train a couple of dozen folks
per week in software development, primarily web development,
and I'd wager that only about 5% of even those folks knew that you
could change font size - and that 5% were all software tech's
or web developers already.
Opinions ? Facts ?

I must be in the 5% then as I turn my font stuff off so I'm in control.
Anything I can't stand is a site that uses 6 point fonts, narrow ones, to
cram in a lot of text, then blast the outer edges with tons of large print
advertising.
So I uncheck two boxes and take control.

Problem is, half the users of a majority of software, don't even take the
time to try out the menu right in front of them.

Go into 24hoursupport.helpdesk and see how many times a week some idiot
can't figure out something simple when all he has to do is look in the menu.
Click the help button? Not on your life. Ask in a forum, it's easier.
 
B

brucie

I see a great deal of debate about font sizes and sizing pages based
on "em" sizing or similar. Is anyone aware of a survey of how many
users

your energies would be better spent developing content than trying to
find stats to back-up your poor design choices.
 
W

West

brucie said:
your energies would be better spent developing content than trying to
find stats to back-up your poor design choices.



that's not an answer to the question!



 
W

William Tasso

West said:
that's not an answer to the question!

yes it is. maybe not the answer the o/p was expecting but still an answer
and far more useful too as it addresses the underlying issue that the o/p is
working towards.

85% of all stats are o-o-d
73% of all stats are based on irrelevant criteria
42.37% of all stats are made up on the spot.
 
W

West

William Tasso said:
yes it is. maybe not the answer the o/p was expecting but still an answer
and far more useful too as it addresses the underlying issue that the o/p is
working towards.


No, Willaim old son, I rather suspect the o/p is still trapped into
wondering whether;
1. specifying font sizes is a bad thing
2. tables are bad
3. css should be used for all web page markup
4. all posters who answer have credibility, or just repartee and writing
skills
85% of all stats are o-o-d
73% of all stats are based on irrelevant criteria
42.37% of all stats are made up on the spot.


BTW, what do you think of
http://www.wannabegirl.org/


Happy New Year to you!
 
R

rf

Bob said:
I see a great deal of debate about font sizes and sizing pages based
on "em" sizing or similar. Is anyone aware of a survey of how many
users (that is, non web developers or similar) actually know how to
change font size in their browsers ?

Probably a very small number, say ten or twenty million, maybe even a
hundred million. Maybe more.
IMHE, the percentage is ~zero.

Nope. The poeple who really need to change their font size can. The people
who are perhaps a little visually impared can. Those who might, like me,
have a very large screen at a very high "resolution" can. Power users can.
I used to train a couple of dozen folks
per week in software development, primarily web development,
and I'd wager that only about 5% of even those folks knew that you
could change font size - and that 5% were all software tech's
or web developers already.

So, you trained them. Did you also train them to use their tools correctly,
that is to be able to use all of the options those tools make available,
like changing font size? Did you tell them that it is possible to change the
font size for their entire system?
Opinions ? Facts ?

Windows, by way of example, comes out of the box with all of the user
interface elements set to a specific font size, IIRC 12 pixels, user
configurable. The menu you see up there at the top of your newsreader.
Windoes explorer. Notepad. The task bar. All of the text in Internet
Explorer that is part of its UI, except for the canvas.

Why should any web author specify a font size for this particular canvas
that is different to the rest of the entire system the user is using? Why
would said author choose anything other than 100% or, if you like 1.0em? Why
do bonehead authors do stupid things like specify font face Verdana and then
specify a font size of 80%?

The font size the viewer has set for their system (however misguided that
may or may not be) is the font size they are used to. It is the one they
like. Let your canvas font size default to that.

Cheers
Richard.
 
W

West

rf said:
Probably a very small number, say ten or twenty million, maybe even a
hundred million. Maybe more.



"say" figures above are "say" wrong!
....so the rest of the post must be credible??
 
W

Whitecrest

I see a great deal of debate about font sizes and sizing pages based
on "em" sizing or similar. Is anyone aware of a survey of how many
users (that is, non web developers or similar) actually know how to
change font size in their browsers ?

I would guess that about 60% of the people know how to use it. The only
reason I come up with that number is that is about the population that
wears glasses. (resource:
http://www.allaboutvision.com/resources/statistics.htm)
IMHE, the percentage is ~zero...

Probably wrong.
 
A

Andy Dingley

IMHE, the percentage is ~zero.

Probably close.

However the real question is "Of those users with vision problems,
either their own sight, or their use of ultra-res video and a
physically small screen, how many either know this, or had it adjusted
once on installation ?"

My guess is that that number is rather higher.
 
J

Jay

Bob said:
I see a great deal of debate about font sizes and sizing pages based
on "em" sizing or similar. Is anyone aware of a survey of how many
users (that is, non web developers or similar) actually know how to
change font size in their browsers ?

IMHE, the percentage is ~zero.
Wrong.

I used to train a couple of dozen folks
per week in software development, primarily web development,
and I'd wager that only about 5% of even those folks knew that you
could change font size - and that 5% were all software tech's
or web developers already.

5% of the web surfer population is a very large number of people.
Opinions ? Facts ?

Not everyone knows how to adjust the font sizes in their browser. But the
people that need to adjust it know how to do it and that's what really
matters. If you want them to visit your site and stay or even come back in
the future, don't specify a fixed font size. Web Accessibility Initiative
(http://www.w3.org/WAI/) wasn't developed because the W3C was bored that
year.

- J
 
W

Whitecrest

Web Accessibility Initiative
(http://www.w3.org/WAI/) wasn't developed because the W3C was bored that
year.

But it also does not need to apply to every website in the world either.
A website can CATER to a specific group of people. In this case, many
accessibility initiatives go to la-la-land because they may not apply.
 
A

Andreas Prilop

Bob said:
Is anyone aware of a survey of how many
users (that is, non web developers or similar) actually know how to
change font size in their browsers ?

Is anyone aware of a survey of how many drivers (that is,
not car manufactures or similar) actually know how to adjust
their rear-view mirrors in their cars?
 
J

Jay

Whitecrest said:
But it also does not need to apply to every website in the world either.
A website can CATER to a specific group of people. In this case, many
accessibility initiatives go to la-la-land because they may not apply.

I agree with you. :)

I was just trying to make the point that there are many users that know how
to change their font size by using the demand of website accessibility as an
example.

- J
 
P

PeterMcC

Andreas said:
Is anyone aware of a survey of how many drivers (that is,
not car manufactures or similar) actually know how to adjust
their rear-view mirrors in their cars?

You have an adjustable rear-view mirror in your car?
 
J

John W.

Bob said:
I see a great deal of debate about font sizes and sizing pages based
on "em" sizing or similar. Is anyone aware of a survey of how many
users (that is, non web developers or similar) actually know how to
change font size in their browsers ?

IMHE, the percentage is ~zero.

Come on, even you don't believe that.
A lot of people have followed at least a course where they learned to
use "word" or a similar thing to write letters with a PeeCee, and all
hobby-users buy at least from time to time a magazine in which
newbie-users learn those things, and all those know where to find or
can find that button in the browser whether they use the button or not
is a total different story.

John OO
 
J

John McGaw

Bob said:
I see a great deal of debate about font sizes and sizing pages based
on "em" sizing or similar. Is anyone aware of a survey of how many
users (that is, non web developers or similar) actually know how to
change font size in their browsers ?

IMHE, the percentage is ~zero. I used to train a couple of dozen folks
per week in software development, primarily web development,
and I'd wager that only about 5% of even those folks knew that you
could change font size - and that 5% were all software tech's
or web developers already.

Opinions ? Facts ?

Thanks,
Among those that NEED to change the font size to see the content, in other
words the visually imparied and those descending into old-fartdom like me,
there is probably a VERY high percentage. What fraction of the total
userbase this group makes up I can't say.
--
John McGaw
[Knoxville, TN, USA]

Return address will not work. Please
reply in group or through my website:
http://johnmcgaw.com
 
B

Bob

Is anyone aware of a survey of how many drivers (that is,
not car manufactures or similar) actually know how to adjust
their rear-view mirrors in their cars?

Well, at least you get points for attempting to be humorous.

The answer is that the percentage is quite high, since drivers
are _taught_ about using their mirrors as part of their driver
training - quite often by professional driving instructors.
In contrast, very few individuals are actually taught how to
use a web browser.
 
B

Bob

your energies would be better spent developing content than trying to
find stats to back-up your poor design choices.

Your energies might be better spent answering questions as they
are posted instead of preaching about proper design (as you see
it) every chance you get.
 

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