Dev

As a web developer, my main interest is in helping to create a more ethical web. What do I mean by the “ethical web”? There is no single, universally agreed-upon definition, but In short, the ethical web puts the user and the environment first.

I do my best to only use open-source tools, and I try to only choose products and services from companies with good, (more) ethical business practices, especially those with a stated green policy. I have switched providers when I don't feel that a company's values align with my own (here's one example), and do reassess platforms, tools and services from time to time.

Ethically-designed websites:

• are accessible to any user, regardless of (dis)ability
• are secure, and transparent about privacy
• are lightweight and use minimal device resources
• don’t make many assumptions about the user
• cater to a wide range of devices and internet speeds
• are eco-concious, choosing environmentally-friendly tools and green web hosting

A great reference is the “Ethical Web Principles” document created by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which outlines some of these requirements. The Green Web Foundation is a good resource for understanding the need for a fossil-free internet.

In building accessible websites, these are some of the considerations I make:

• is this site 100% functional for persons using screen readers?
• do all images have appropriate “alt” text?
• can this site work well with javascript disabled?
• is the site 100% useable for persons that rely on keyboard-only navigation?
• are animations disabled for users with motion sensitivity?
• do sliders / carousels have easy-to-use controls?
• is there enough color contrast so that text is easily readable?
• does the site still work at high zoom levels?
• does the site perform well on very slow internet speeds?

I am always trying to learn more about best practices for accessible and ethical web design and development. You can read more about that tools I use below. If you notice anything that needs improvement on this site, please let me know.